Creativity is a b*tch...

First, let’s define creativity—not by its dictionary terms, though—because creativity is different to a lot of people. Here are four definitions (it really depends on the day). 

 

1. Creativity is an inner well. Sometimes endless buckets of inspiration come from it, other times the buckets come out dry and you just have to wait for it to rain again. Death by thirst is a possibility.
2. Creativity is a relationship between your mind, heart, and spirit. When they’re aligned something magical happens. 
3. Creativity is overcoming the fear that comes from visualizing the finish line, and all that comes after.  
4. Creativity is a moody b*tch… that bites. 

 

The last one is my favorite. The second is for the optimists, the third is a lot to unpack (so let's save that for later), but the first explains creative drain so well. It can feel like you keep taking and taking and taking, until there’s little left, and then you wait for it to magically fill by itself.

 

This filling time can take forever. Days, weeks, months... Ugh! YEARS! In the meantime, you're stuck in some weird creative limbo, where it's dark, spooky, and downright annoying, just waiting for a spark of light. The truly sad part about this creative limbo, or writer's block, or creative drain—whatever you want to call it—is that during this time many dreams die. 

 

So how do you keep from burying and stamping a big, old R.I.P. tombstone on those dreams? Or at the very least, how do you not let creative drain plague the time you have to write? I'll be 100% honest here.  There's no miraculous, failproof cure, and last I checked, there's no vaccine that provides us immunity from catching the no-word bug.

 

But there are things that can help prevent it and even things that can help us live with the symptoms. 

First, ask yourself three very important questions:

 

        #1 How at peace would you be after losing your dream? 

        #2 What's your why? 

        #3 What's your why not?

 
I have a feeling, for true creatives, bidding adieu to dreams is akin to losing a limb. Or, perhaps more fittingly, a voice. The why is different for everyone. This is not about what motivates you, it's the root. The reason why you want to write/create. The why not? That's what's holding you back.

If you do a bit of research, you will find theories negating the existence of creative drain/writer’s block, saying things like, ‘Writer’s block doesn’t exist,’  or ‘Creative drain is a bunch of lies drawn up by tired creatives,’ or ‘Writer’s block is a symptom, not a condition.’ There are more, but the point of this article isn't to drudge all of them up and enter into a debate about whether or not writer's block exists... because if you feel it, then it’s real and valid. The point of this article is to help.

 

I bring up the why not and the theories because they tie into definition #3. The idea that writer’s block is a manifestation of fear. Fear that we won’t be good enough, fear we can’t afford it, fear that we won’t have time, fear that we’ll make a mistake, fear that people won’t like it, fear that they might. Fear that it’s too much. Fear… Fear. Fear!

 

Fear’s a magnet. It attracts more fear, and the interesting thing about being human? We can find fear in anything if we let it in. That's why knowing your why is important. It's what helps overcome or combat the why not.

 

Here's an example:

Why:  I want to share my experiences. Maybe one day it will help someone. 

Why not: What if no one likes my story?  What if I suck at writing?

To combat: Use the why and answer with your own what-if. What if they do? And what if they do so much that you change someone's life? What if you're writing a book that will make a difference?

 

So if you're wondering what my advice is on overcoming creative drain? Try not to let the well run dry and give yourself grace if it does.

 

Implementing some of the below techniques can get you over the hump, but it’s important to remember two things:

 

When it comes to creativity, fear doesn’t dry the well. It just makes the ‘water’ harder to reach. And yes, creativity can sometimes be a bi*ch!