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Get those Creative Juices Flowing
Stuck? Can’t seem to get your creative juices flowing? Blank page syndrome?
Writer’s block (noun): the problem of not being able to think of something to write about or not being able to finish writing a story, poem, etc.That’s how Merriam-Webster.com. defines writer’s block, also known as blank page syndrome, but there is so much. Anyone who has ever had to face a blank page or a glowing screen with an approaching deadline can surely tell you about the stress they face. Here are couple of techniques that I use when I am in a rut and need to do away with writer’s block.
How to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing
- Revisit Inspiration: I keep record of ideas I want to go back to, whenever I am stuck and can’t seem to get those creative juices flowing. I will come back and review these thoughts. I jot down topics and ideas I come up with and save them to Evernote before I forget. I will type it up on my computer, my tablet or my phone, whatever I have on hand when inspiration hits. OK, truth be told I am not always that organized, sometimes I write in on a Post-it and stick it to the back of my phone so that I don‘t forget to save it later, but you get the point
- Try something new: The topic you were planning to write about isn’t doing it for you? Try a new one. Sometimes switching up an idea is all we need to get inspired and get your creative juices flowing.
- Research: Not sure what you want to focus on? Do some more investigation, reading up a on a subject maybe just what you need to remember why you were interested in something in the first place or may just teach you something new.
- Think outside the box: Do something completely different, don’t stick to what you normally do.
- Take a break: Staring at a blank piece of paper or a glowing screen sometimes just makes me more frustrated, so I take a break and do something else for a while. Lately I have gotten into doodling and coloring mandalas. There is something soothing and methodical to this that gives my brain the break I need and sometimes that is all I need to get those creative juices flowing. I don’t recommend taking on too complicated of a project or you just might get sidetracked.
- Ask for help: When all else fails ask someone else for their opinion. Sometimes just starting a conversation and getting someone else’s input is all you need to get those juices flowing again.
- Sleep on it: Sometimes the best thing is to just sleep on it. I get some of my best ideas when I am sleeping or when I am just waking up.
About the Author Alexandra Bonilla @chicaperiodista is a journalist and columnist who knows all too well what it is like to face the dreaded blank page when you have an impending deadline.
2 Comments
Suse Barnes
Thanks for these techniques, Alexandra. I recently discovered the value of sleeping on it and feel like I didn’t understand it until now. The key for me was letting go of trying to solve the problem and then coming back to it after sleeping. The key wasn’t necessarily putting it into my mind before I went to sleep, but rather letting go of it. I think that enabled a fresh perspective and I woke up with a beautiful solution which almost seemed too easy. Sleeping is good for so many reasons. Have you read Arianna Huffington’s “Sleep Your Way to the Top”? http://www.inc.com/arianna-huffington/sleep-your-way-to-the-top.html
Alexandra Bonilla (Author)
Thank you. I agree sleeping is good for so many reasons. There is nothing like waking up refreshed and ready to start the day.
Thanks for the article recommendation, I will be sure to check it out.