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We all need a little hibernation from time to time. A quiet comfortable space to withdraw to, a place to rest and recharge. But not for too long! Little catnaps from creativity are fine, helpful even. But too much snoozing and our muse we risk losing.
When you've been hibernating from creating, what energizes you so that you hop back to it, putting yourself out on a limb and exploring your craft once again ... A change of scenery? Reading others' books? Viewing artwork? A brisk outdoor walk? Music?
What pulls you out of a creative slumber?
~Joanne
65 comments:
Delving into research invigorates my writing. The facts I learn spark all kinds of new ideas to bring to my stories, and then the writing nap is over.
A deadline is the most successful way of being dragged out of a sluggish period. Are those bears for real? They look very much like statues to me!
Reading. I find that I instantly want to create my own stories when I read those of others! :)
This isn't usually a problem for me. Going for a run is all I need to do. :D
Rosalind - Deadlines are great motivators. And we're just having a beary good time with the statues :)
Cafe Fashionista - Great choice for inspiration.
Stina - On a similar note, walking does it for me too.
Going outside for a walk or to drink a fresh cup of coffee, on the deck in warmer weather, gives me a latte inspiration!!!:)
My hibernation time, where I find a comfortable space to rest and recharge, doubles as my reading time. And when I read, I am inspired to write. This works out pretty well, I must say.
Spring!
Karen
All of the above. Visiting another art form is really helpful is sparking my creativity. Also, good old fashioned conversations with friends over coffee and/or a long walk. All good.
Yes, all of the things you mentioned in your post...and more! Especially hanging out with my writer friends.
Sometimes just walking away from what I'm doing for awhile helps. I do enjoy those quiet walks in the woods by myself or just me and Little One. I seem to see things differently when she's with me.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Oh baby, I'll be the first to tell ya I'm just a little (majorly) spastic. I'm off doin' something all the time.
I fear 'hibernation' isn't in my vocabulary. I do in fact dream about it though. Heeehehhe!
I have a mind that just doesn't stop. It's a blessin' and a curse all rolled up together.
Godb bless ya sweetie and have a magnificent day!!! :o)
Being outdoors definitely helps and quick cat naps. But I do agree with you, too long away and you risk losing it.
I wish I knew. Sometimes, it's a good book. Other times, I just try to be at peace with the silence and know it won't last forever.
I like to read. Anymore it seems like a real luxury to just do that.
All of the above. I need lots of creative energy around me to get me going again :)
Lately, it's been beta reading! Other writer's magnificent efforts bring out the best in my writerly self.
Getting a gorgeous new piece of vintage barkcloth gets my heart, and my sewing machine racing once again:)
Apparently, traveling and getting out of my comfort zone. I've felt much more creative since I've been taking these weekly trips to the other side of the state. You're right about losing the muse if you take too much time off from a creative work.
Oh, and I didn't answer your question about what I thought your book was about. I thought it was a story about women friends who have coffee together--and how their lives were interwoven. A Sex In the City over coffee type book. lol. I didn't expect the intrigue.
Patricia - You've got a latte good ideas there :)
Cynthia - It's nice how one feeds off of the other, a win/win situation.
Karen- It won't be too long now, though it's felt like Spring a lot this winter here in New England ... Very warm temps.
Mary - I find walking and talking is also a charm, works every time.
Becky - It's fun talking with like-minded friends on the same journey.
Mason - Another Walking vote. I second that.
I think I do all of those. It's mostly just getting away from my normal. My normal stuff makes me hibernate. Therefore i become less creative.
Nezzy - Your energy is infectious ... You go, girl!
Patti - I think so, that there's a fine line between time away, and being done.
Andee - There's something about pockets of silence in our days. We can find a lot in them.
Donna - It seems lately that my reading time has been dwindling, so I appreciate blocks of reading time that I can find.
J.A. - Being around that creative energy of others sparks the muse in so many ways.
Emily - Don't you love it, when you read a beautiful passage that inspires the same qualities in our own words?
Valerie - I like that visual of the sewing machine flying again! Very cool ...
Linda - I find the same, I'm ready to work after I've been away, even if only for a day. And I'm glad to have surprised you with my book :)
JW - Interesting. I'm the opposite, I like routine and expected order in my work.
I rarely know what invigorates me until it does. Sometimes I get a spark of inspiration from out of the blue. Other times I just have to tell myself it's time to write and trust the words will flow.
I'm hibernating right now! Watching my favorite show, taking a break from writing and edits and recharging. Next week, I'll dive back in. :)
Hibernation (meaning a nice, long nap) sounds lovely right now. :) I think switching and doing something else creative gets me energized to get back to the writing.
I'm with Karen. Spring really energizes me after a long winter lull. And travel inspires me like nothing else. Love visiting new places.
Sometimes just going back and reading things I've written gets the juices flowing again.
"Too much snoozing and our muse we risk losing." I love this line! :)
I agree with you about research - it's amazing how it can completely invigorate you and add a new spark to the creative fire. That's definitely been the case with me. After spending four months editing my last book, I was SO excited to start work on a new one, and the two weeks of research I did prior just upped the adrenaline even more. Now that I'm (finally!) writing again, it's such a joy to incorporate that into the characters' lives.
Carol - Yes, I've been there, too, when you just have to get down to business and write, inspiration or not. That's part of the craft.
Miriam - That's a nice place to be, especially after all that snow you got :)
Stacy - I take photographs to inspire my blog writing. So I like switching to a different creativity too.
L.G. Smith - I like to use the different sense of places I've been in my work, places that hold meaning to me.
Sarah - A little too much time away can have that effect on the muse, don't you think?
Shari - I agree. Research forms a large part of my writing.
Believe it or not, positive news/feedback about a story of mine helps jumpstart the process again.
At the moment, I want to try to finish up my current project that has been on the back burner for the past month before tackling those suggested edits over the weekend.
Being around other writers usually gets me going again.
I hardly ever write on the weekend. Instead I spend time with my husband and kids. The break always seems to work well in keeping my creative batteries charged. I'm usually ready to write when Monday morning rolls around.
G - I could understand that. Finishing the backburner project is a way of clearing all the thoughts for those editorial suggestions. Happy writing!
Susan - Always. Just a little shop talk, and we're good to go.
Janel - Weekends are like mini writing-hibernations for you then :)
Fortunately, I've been in a creative mood lately. Working of lots of writing projects.
I'm with cafe fashionista. Also, just really letting yourself rest is important.
Hands down - reading. A book about writing or a writer's biography never fails to spark words of my own for the book I've been working on, for far too long to mention, current assignments in progress or something new.
I like to take breaks from my writing now and again and read something. Not a manuscript from a CP either - something published. That always energizes me:)
Janet - Me, too. It's a great feeling, isn't it ...
Margaret - There's nothing worse than fatigue, is there. When I'm busy with projects though, I sleep well. So busy = rested for me :)
Cheryl - I hope you finish that book soon ... Time to get reading, and get those words sparking to The End :)
Lindsay - Seeing different variations of the craft in others is so inspiring.
Honestly, just doing what I love pulls me out of the creative zzzzs. Delving into marketing, research, pr, web design etc and really committing to it works for me. No time for sleep anymore! ha
I'm doing it Joanne -- catching up on blogs! I've been working so hard lately and have missed visiting you. Looking forward to spring and hoping to someday post more than once a week again!
Often, reading someone else's work pulls me out - I'll stumble upon a phrase that clicks with me on some deeper level and it'll remind me of something else and then....I'm off. Conversation with a good friend also works that way at times - just free-associating on anything is a fabulous way to wake up.
Mary - Oh you said it. I've never been so immersed in doing what I love as I am now, and the creativity is just percolating along.
JGH - Hope all is well, and that work eases up a little. Happy Thursday to you :)
One MN Writer - Getting a think-tank going in conversation is a great motivator.
Just today, my friend pulled me out of my creative slumber. I've been quilting, which is one of my favorite ways to create. But I've been using it to avoid everything else. I need to find some balance and get back to my writing. I'm thankful for my friend's gentle nudge.
What a timely post! I have been feeling like I've hit a wall on my WIP - great suggestions in the comments...
Walking, reading, being on deadline! :D
A brisk outdoor walk is the best thing for me. The fresh air gets my mind moving again!
Sometimes a book. Sometimes music too or even a movie too. :)
I sometimes read a book or watch a marathon of movies that inspire me to start writing on that Romance novel I put away.
Karen - I'll bet those quilts are beautiful. And quilting is a form of storytelling, too.
Kim - Always glad to inspire :)
Christina - I second your vote for walking.
Beth - Yay, join the walking club here!
Jennifer - A latte nice choices there.
Savannah - It's interesting how the visual of movies can inspire words.
Hi Joanne, what a great question! I think when it comes to writing, music definitely energizes me and helps to spark my creativity. I put in music that helps me to "feel" what I want to write about. It works every time so far. When it comes to designing and knitting, I have a wonderful book called "What People Wore". It is a thick book with finely detailed illustrations of costumes from all over the world in various times in history. It always gets me thinking and daydreaming. Then sometimes I will put in a favorite movie and study the costumes and the color combinations. Many of my most favorite projects have been inspired in this way. I hope you have a lovely day ahead! Delisa :)
I feel energized after a great vacation or even a long weekend. You come back to teaching refreshed and ready to go!
I'm still in need of slumber. I started a casual job and am finding now that I'm working far more than I'm ready to, right now. There are creative things I want to pursue and now am finding that I'm too worn out at the end of the day to do anything about them. It's frustrating and hopefully, my situation will be short lived. I'm not happy the way things are currently.
Hi Joanne .. would love to sleep away for a good catch up - time will come .. but for now I keep finding things that stimulate me and interest me ..
I'd love to be able to get to Museums, exhibitions .. but honestly there's so much one can be creative about without leaving town - blogs offer so much too ..
Cheers and enjoy Sunday .. Hilary
Delisa - It's interesting that as much as I love music, and can be drawn completely into a song, I don't really turn to it for writing inspiration. Maybe I keep it set aside purely for my own reasons, my own connection, that I don't want to share in any other way.
Jen - Oh so true. Getting away happens in so many ways, and then, when we come back to our craft, well, there's no place like home.
Carolynn - Sometimes we need that slumber in order to create. I hope you find a few catnaps at least, to help.
Hilary - I think sometimes the best creativity comes from that solitude of home, which leaves a wide open canvas without the distractions of other art.
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