In this article we'll consider:
Embracing curiosity
Letting go of perfectionism
Leaving your comfort zone
Mindfulness as a door to creativity
Connecting with other creatives
Playtime
Rest and reflection
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Perhaps you're one of those writers for whom story ideas, or at least the initial stirrings of them, come easily. So much so that running out of ideas would be a blessing so you could at least see your current project through to completion without distraction.
Or, perhaps like me, accessing your creativity requires a conscious effort. If I'm to write a new story, I have to, as writer Andy Rooney once suggested, "sit down and damn well decide to have an idea."
Either way, creative energy can be fleeting or temperamental. We all have our creative downturns, sometimes blocked by self-doubt, stress, burnout, or rigid thinking. Ironically, if you're writing purely for fun, you're less likely to have a problem with finding new ideas. But if you're trying to maintain a writing career, there may come a time when you'll welcome some actionable strategies to help you nurture your imaginative spirit and harness creativity.
1. Embrace curiosity
We often talk about the seemingly infinite curiosity and creativity of children, and this is true for a couple of reasons:
To a child the world is vast beyond their understanding. Aware they know little about it, they remain unequivocally awed by it and open to learning. The world really is their magical oyster, filled with new, interesting, and exciting things and possibilities they keep discovering;
The younger the child, the less self-conscious they are, and less concerned about the judgement of others. They create for themselves first and foremost, and then for the enjoyment of sharing, without fear, their creations with others.
The problem is that, as we age, we lose this childlike sense of wonder and possibility. We believe we know everything about this life, that no exciting discoveries can hereafter wow us into perceiving our world in a radically new way. We become jaded, set in our ways and beliefs, shutting down our younger self's ability to see things from a fresh perspective, and thus also narrowing our creative potential.
However, there is a way to reverse this rut we fall into, but it requires conscious practice.
It requires us to remove labels, remove assumptions, embrace curiosity.
When we think we know everything, we stop looking. I mean, really looking. We assume we understand what we're seeing, what a person must be like, where a situation is leading, what this world has to offer, etcetera. We believe there is nothing more for us to learn that will shock, surprise or excite us.
It's why some of us turn to fiction writing - to encounter experiences and emotions not, or no longer, accessible to us in our everyday lives. But it's also why some of us only scratch the surface of our infinite creativity.
However, when you consciously clear your mind of labels, expectation, and preconceived ideas and beliefs, you open up the mental space to observe without judgement and inner commentary. In other words, you observe with a child's open-minded sense of wonder and receptiveness to learn.
I'm not suggesting this is a state of mind you strive to achieve constantly; to try might lead to greater frustration (though if you're already spiritually minded, you might find the exercise easier to slip into). Just setting aside periods of time to practise will still be beneficial.
Anytime you're out amongst people - in a cafe, on the train, at work - just relax your mind for a few moments, tune out all thoughts, and simply observe without expectation, without labelling, and without adding an internal running commentary to what you see.
In time, your curious, creative mind will emerge with new connections and considerations without your interference.
The world is full of stories waiting to be told, and we know that, as writers, this requires us to approach life with the mindset of an observer and a learner. But more importantly is how we do that. Consciously clearing our mind encourages curiosity and an openness to new information and ideas that ultimately fuels wonder and creativity.
2. Let go of perfectionism
I've yet to meet a writer who doesn't grapple with impostor syndrome and perfectionism. I'm sure even Stephen King has his doubts with each new book - that it could be better, or if it will live up to the success of his previous books. It would seem every artist, especially those who work alone, can't avoid the shaky pitfall of whether their work is good enough or not.
Cruelly, however, this quest for perfection stifles creativity, potentially setting off a vicious circle of problems that may hinder you from finishing the book, from finishing it to your satisfaction, or even from starting it.
There's only one cure for perfectionism. That is to acknowledge it, then turn your back on it.
Write without judgement: When writing a first draft, set a timer for 10/20-minute intervals, and let the words pour out without stopping to revise. It's only by beginning writing (even any old rubbish) that you'll write your way into flow and later wonder where on earth those words and ideas came from (in a good way; p.s. they came from your subconscious).
Create drafts without pressure: Remind yourself that a first draft is only the beginning of the process. Embrace messy creativity, trusting that editing will fix issues later.
Avoid comparing your first draft to published books: Unless you have a masochistic streak, comparing your first drafts to a published book is no different than removing your own fingernails with a pair of pliers - painful, cruel, and utterly pointless. Let's put it this way... Just remember that Ernest Hemingway wrote the ending to A Farewell to Arms 39 times, and JK Rowling wrote 15 drafts of the first Harry Potter book over five years.
Refining comes later: Early drafts are not the time for dissolving into puddles of hopeless despair. That comes later... Boom, boom! But seriously, writing a book, a short story, or anything, is a process of iteration. It takes time and much refinement to get it to a satisfactory, publishable standard. Avoid trying to make it perfect from the start - this will only hold you back and potentially smother the really good stuff.
Trust me, your best work is hiding shyly behind perfectionism. Freeing yourself from perfectionism opens up your creativity, allowing unexpected and unique ideas to surface.
3. Step outside your comfort zone
Just as repeated patterns of thought dull that childlike wonder, so routine behaviours dull the senses. While we often speak about routine as being beneficial for productivity, especially for fiction writing, outside of actual writing time, new experiences rejuvenate creativity and give rise to fresh ideas.
When you can, find ways to break free from familiar patterns.
Visit a place you've never been before, even if it’s a nearby neighbourhood, or pay closer attention to places you're familiar with. How many times have you walked or driven past the same street, only to one day exclaim, "Well, I've never noticed that before"?
Have lunch at an unfamiliar restaurant, a coffee in a new cafe, take a bus or train ride somewhere (and back), all the while observing your surroundings with a clear and open mind. There's no need to work at anything or look for ideas, just simply let the experience wash over you.
Experiment with changing your writing habits, such as your writing hours or writing environment, with music or without, in private or public, indoors or outdoors. Or break up periods of writing with research trips - if applicable and available, visiting the setting for your story, or similar settings; there's nothing like an immersive experience to give another level of detail and depth to your writing.
When people speak, listen. Really listen - with a clear mind and without judgement or presumed ideas. Avoid letting your mind fill in the blanks and you'll be surprised what you notice.
New experiences blow away the cobwebs, stimulate fresh perspectives, and in turn fuel your creativity and storytelling.
4. Mindfulness as a door to creativity
We've already talked about how clearing your mind and remaining open to experience is beneficial for provoking wonder, new discoveries, and unlocking curiosity. But let's look more directly at the process of mindfulness and what it means for creativity.
As its name implies, mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment, fully engaged with your surroundings. It's a term that's been bandied about quite a lot in the last few years, particularly since the pandemic, but it has its origins in ancient Eastern and Buddhist philosophies and traditions going back thousands of years.
In a nutshell, the idea is to quiet the persistent mental chatter, and in doing so, for writers, unlock creative insights. Think about it... If your inner voice is running a constant commentary you're being forced to listen to, there's no room for anything new.
How to incorporate a simple, non-intrusive mindfulness practice into daily life:
Set a timer, and spend five minutes focusing on your breathing or observing the world around you as if language didn't exist - no labels for the things you see, no ideas or knowledge of anything, a silent mind;
Practice mindful walking, quieting the mind and focusing instead on noticing the textures, colours and sounds in your environment.
During your practice your mind will wander. A lot! That's fine - no expectation, no judgement, remember? When you notice you've drifted, just gently return your focus back to your breath or your environment, quieting the thoughts again. Five minutes is long enough to start with, or even two minutes. If you enjoy it, however, and find it beneficial, you might extend the practice for as long as you wish.
When your mind is calm and present, inspiration can flow more freely.
5. Connect with other creatives
This might depend on what kind of writer you are. I personally work better alone and in silence (too many distractions around other people), but some writers thrive in the presence of company, activity and noise, and particularly within creative communities.
If this is you, then surrounding yourself with other writers, artists and creative thinkers can spark new ideas, as well as providing valuable companionship and support.
Join a writing group online or attend local creative meetups. Maintain an open mind but also a clear goal for taking part - spending time with others, sharing ideas and experiences, and building a network of colleagues are all valid reasons, but if the group doesn't end up fulfilling your needs, there's nothing wrong with stepping away and trying somewhere else.
Alternatively, you may simply be looking for feedback. In which case, you could invite your trusted peers to sound out your story ideas or issues, or evaluate your work-in-progress, in exchange for doing the same for them.
Collaborating and exchanging ideas with others in the industry can help keep your creative energy fresh and dynamic.
6. Allow time for play
Here again is where children have the upper hand. I don't know about you, but my memories of early-years school all contain some form of play - painting, gluing, glittering, sand and water play, dressing up, role-playing shop or house, running in the playground. We were learning but it didn't feel like learning, it was disguised as play.
Then, oh shame, we grew up, play became less tolerated, and we had to put our creative energies elsewhere - the dancefloor, the job interview, the work project, the writing first thing in the morning before the kids got up, or last thing at night after a long shift. In other words, we could still play, but only within acceptable boundaries and around other responsibilities.
Playfulness, however, is essential for creative thinking. Regardless of where you are in your writing career, when you adjust your mindset to approach writing as play rather than work, particularly in the early drafts, you open yourself up to more imaginative possibilities.
So how to schedule play into your day as an adult and get away with it?
Write every book as if it's your first
It's hard, I know, to block out deadlines, publisher/reader expectations, the profit-and-loss account, that prize you're shooting for. But achieving these things will be harder to do if you are unable, on that first draft, to shut out the world and write only for yourself. Forget your commitments - play with ideas, characters, scenarios, let your imagination run riot. Writing is fun, writing is play.
Engage in creative prompts or writing games that have no stakes
If the brain's rusty, start your writing session with some for-fun-only games or freewriting to get you in the spirit. It's not for anyone but you, no one will see the gibberish you come up with, but it'll loosen the binds mentally clamped around your creativity. Think of it as a warm-up to the main event.
Write short, whimsical pieces purely for fun
In between writing sessions or projects, write purely for yourself - short stories, poems, a few paragraphs, random nonsense, anything you like. Again, no one need see it, but you'll be cleansing your writing palate and keeping the lines to creativity open.
Giving yourself permission to play leads to unexpected breakthroughs.
7. Cultivate rest and reflection
And after all that playing... I mean, working... remember to rest.
Creativity needs space to grow. Constant productivity can lead to burnout, while rest and reflection rejuvenate the mind.
So now that you've got to grips with play, how do you switch all that off and get to grips with rest?
Schedule time away from writing to relax and recharge. Making stuff up might sound like a great way to make a living, but it's exceptionally mentally taxing - not to mention a strain on the eyes, the back, and sometimes even our relationships with loved ones or "normal" society in general.
Writers are notoriously bad at not taking care of their physical and mental health. So make sure to step away from the keyboard and outside into daylight now and then. The work will still be there when you get back, and I promise you'll feel better and more invigorated for it.
Take walks, daydream, or meditate to allow your subconscious to process ideas for you. Sometimes thinking too hard on a problem does nothing but give us a tension headache. Release your mind's grip on your work, and let the answers reveal themselves.
Great ideas often come when your mind is relaxed and free to wander. Hence those epiphanies you have in the shower or just before you fall asleep.
Finally...
Creativity can be a fickle beast. Incredible and empowering when it's working, frustrating and soul-destroying when it isn't. But there are ways to tame it.
Staying open to creativity requires deliberate practice and a willingness to embrace the unexpected. Or, basically, become a child again.
By cultivating curiosity, letting go of perfectionism, stepping outside your comfort zone, practicing mindfulness, connecting with others, allowing for play and prioritizing rest, you can keep your creative spirit alive and thriving.
Crucially, by approaching your writing with a sense of wonder and openness, your stories will be richer, more imaginative, and more enjoyable to write as a result.
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Tina Williams of Fiction Yogi is a copyeditor and proofreader who works with writers at all stages, giving them the tools to improve their manuscript and level up their writing so they can meet their publishing goals.
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