The well is empty, but I'm parched.

Of course, I'm referring to the 'creative' well. It's time to reflect on what goes on when the productivity goes down.

I'll be honest - I haven't drafted a single new word in weeks. It's not just a matter of motivation; it's also a matter of having nothing artistic left to give. If you're a writer, I trust you've also experienced this strange and frustrating phenomenon. You're excited about your book idea. You're ready for the story to unfold. But when you open up the page, your mind goes blank. Your inspiration dissipates, and you're left wondering how the hell you can be expected to write.

This is the moment many artists refer to as 'needing to refill the creative well'. Try not to fret; it's not abnormal (or even unhealthy)! It's part of the process, and like most things, it's cyclical. Messy, but cyclical.

So, in the spirit of camaraderie, I thought I'd share some of my favorite ways to refill that well when it runs dry.

Watch TV.

Some people might think this is not a good solution because it'll 'turn your brain to mush'. I disagree. Television is storytelling. Film is storytelling. If you have the mental capacity for something new, I highly encourage pursuing a show or film you haven't seen yet. If you have the ability and energy, I'd take it one step further and say go to the theater. A change in scenery plus an unfamiliar story can renew your energy significantly. Let someone else take charge of your imagination for a while!

Personally, I'm an advocate of even watching something loosely related to my WIP. Whether it be within the same genre, giving similar vibes, or even an aesthetically inspiring setting, I'll find little sparks in those visual stories that I carry with me to the writing desk. For example, if I'm in need of a little 'world immersion' for my Fantasy project, I'll choose something with breathtaking landscapes or addictive, delicious magic systems. If I need to feel more in-tune with my MCs, I'll choose a show or film with characters who resonate with their core personality traits. It's about consumption and enjoyment, but it's also intentional.

Play games.

When I say this, I mean anything that brings you peace and joy. It sounds a little cliché, but just do what you love. For me, this looks like story-based games rooted in magic. The setting and experience of interacting in worlds separate from the one we live in activates my creativity in ways that inspire my writing. For others, playing games might mean engaging in something more competitive, violent, or collaboration-based. It's a release of energy, a distraction from the story that has been consuming your brain in exchange for an entirely different one, and a break from the stress of daily routine and monotony. Whatever this looks like for you, it should occupy both time and thinking-space; it's like mental exercise.

I've learned (both through reading and through experience) that when your mind is working creatively on something unrelated to your current project, there is a lot of subconscious work getting done. Problems or kinks in your story/process work themselves out during these experiences, so the next time you go sit down to write, solutions are easier to find. The words come more smoothly. And, most importantly, you feel more prepared to tackle the next steps.

Listen to music, walk, and daydream.

This one is spoken about a lot. There's a reason for it... it's because it works.

Personally, I struggle with motivation to move my body. I'll say it. I hate exercise. But if I'm totally honest, as I reflect on what has really worked for me when I'm in a writing rut, it's walking while listening to my favorite writing playlists and allowing my mind to wander.

There is something magical about giving your body and mind empty space to explore. Sometimes, I'll walk my dog aimlessly through the neighborhood with my headphones on, my current WIP playlist playing, while I envision the scenes I've already written. Somehow, the story takes charge of itself in those moments, and I can watch them play out. Sometimes, I'll go alone to a park or nature reserve, away from people, and daydream about my characters (with no plan in mind). Just the process of imagining their faces, their voices, and their personalities inspires me to continue crafting their story.

It's annoyingly simple, to walk and listen. Emphasis on the annoying piece because when I'm burned out creatively, the last thing I want to do is get up and force myself to move my body, but it works.

Produce something.

I know how this sounds. How am I supposed to produce anything when my creative well is empty?

I have an answer, I promise.

Produce something you don't have to think too hard about. Personally, as a musician, I find the opportunity and motivation to do this in playing the piano. I'm not a composer or a song-writer, so this is easy! I can find enjoyment and revitalization through producing the music somebody else wrote. It is another way to activate the artistic pieces of my brain without laboring over the creation process.

Other examples of this could include cooking or baking - use someone else's recipe if you lack the skills or willpower to make it up as you go. Color in a coloring book, or if you have extreme decision fatigue, do a paint-by-number instead! Complete a craft with an easy list of instructions, or build a themed Lego set.

Anything will do. The point is to fulfill your creative need to produce while removing the stress of making the 'hard' decisions that lead to the product.

Read.

You knew this one was coming. In all fairness, this option might not feel good to a lot of us. Myself included. There's a reason for that.

I am one of those writers (like so many I know) who struggles with the balance of reading for pleasure, reading for writing (work), and writing. I have guilt when I read for pleasure because I feel like if it's not contributing to my own work, I'm wasting time. I have guilt when I read for writing because I know I'm missing out on so many other wonderful books on my TBR list. I have guilt when I'm writing because I know the only way to improve my craft is to continue reading.

It feels messy and contradictory, and if reading is not something that feels manageable when your creative well is empty, I invite you to not only not do it, but to also not feel bad about it. As authors, should we read? Absolutely. Don't mistake me here; it is a necessary and vital part of the job. But when you're in that space of exhaustion, teetering on the edge of burnout, sometimes a rest from words is what we need.

That said, when I decide to fill my creative well by reading, I try to do so strictly for pleasure, if only to remind myself that the purpose of books is to share in other people's stories. When I go into it with that mindset, it grounds me, comforts me, and encourages me to read with the singular intention of finding connection and joy. It's the author's purpose to connect with me, after all. Who am I to deny them their goal of reaching their audience? Who would I be as an author without those formative reading experiences founded solely in enjoyment?

Rest

We've reached the end of my blog post, friends. Before I go, I want to talk a little bit about this last recommendation for filling your creative well back up.

Resting is a huge part of the writing process. I'm perhaps the author who needs to hear that the most. Again, there is a lot of guilt surrounding the idea of taking a break from writing. I'm that person who tracks their words, sets goals and deadlines, and suffers from a perfectionist personality. Resting feels like a luxury I can't afford, but it's the very thing we all need more of.

Rest doesn't always mean sitting on the couch or taking a nap, though. For me, rest from writing means making time for other people and activities. It means going to the theater with my partner instead of holing up in my office for the night. It means spending an entire weekend shopping and exploring downtown with my sister instead of writing the next chapter. It means going through a period of time intentionally thinking about other things instead of my book. It means living my life apart from the writing. For authors, these things might sound normal, but they feel difficult when the looming pressure of finishing the next project hangs over our heads.

I have to make space for them. I have to be purposeful about it. Otherwise, I'll be forever consumed by my projects, always feeling guilty about how I spend my time, and constantly parched, unable to drink from an empty creative well.

It is my sincere hope that you find at least one helpful nugget from this month's post. Please remember that all of us are different; there will never be a one-size-fits-all solution to creative burnout. At the end of the day, it takes true reflection and exploration to fill a creative well that is uniquely yours, and I'll be here rooting for you all the while.

Keep writing friends. Keep resting, keep caring for yourself, and keep persevering. We're all in this mess together.

xx,

Dane