Help with creative block?

Question

Hi. I used to be quite a creative person, but about a year ago I began to 'suffer' with creative block. My creative juices have stopped flowing! I don't know what to do about it. My biggest problem is that I have been trying to revamp my website with a brand new design, but I'm struggling. I've done about 5 different designs and all of them have been rubbish. I've also wanted to write a book for a long time now, but whenever I try to put pen to paper, my ideas seem terrible.

Any advice for how to solve my problem?

Thanks for any helpful answers!

Answer 1

Im an artist and when i get a creative block i make a mood board.

I get a bit of board and flick through magazines and look for colours shapes and things i like the look of in general and stick them all down it usually gives me some ideas hope this is helpful!

Answer 2

try not to look so negatively on a creativity block. Creative blocks are usually signs of a major milestone in the works. Even if you are struggling to get the juices flowing don't sweat it. Fretting over being stuck only will make this block bigger!

Try investing all that time being spent scratching your head and angrily forcing ideas out of your head into a new hobby or stress reliever. Try pottery or taking a hike. What you seem to be lacking is inspiration and when you do become inspired you are so anxious to create something new just to be passed this block you lose focus of what inspired you in the first place.

Writing a book isn't done over night and the ideas for writing a book rarely come from spending hours sitting at a desk hoping the novel will flow from your magic pen. Again, get inspired. The best books are books based on true life events. You won't have any true life events if you spend all your time fighting this block of yours.

As high school English as it may sound the best way to start a book is to create an outline. Pick a main character, write down who and what you want this character to be like, sound like, act like etc. choose the supporting characters and so on. Eventually the characters will mold the story themselves. Effortlessly.

Answer 3

The problem is...You're worrying too much about what you can't do...Walk away from all of it for awhile and concentrate on the good things that have been happening this past year. I am a writer and sometimes I  intentionally change direction to challenge myself. For example..I recently starting writing comedy and though it was more of a challenge for me than writing consumer columns, I found myself loving it! And..Here's the best part...It's actually helped me in other areas...We all get "creative block"...I think it's a sign that we need to step back and look at things through "new " eyes. I promise you..It does not last forever!

Answer 4

A very great acting teacher taught me that when this happens, you must change your environment....not your room...but you should visit art galleries and museums....famous churches...anything "great" that has beauty in it. It will inspire you and remind you what art is...also books with great works of art in them.

Answer 5

Well when I'm trying to do something "creative" I start out simple with a paper and pencil. Then I just sit for a while trying to not stress and focus on my surroundings. I might not necessarily choose something around me as my creative outlet, but generally seeing one thing sets off a chain of ideas. Hope this helps!

Answer 6

Try writing your ideas down as they come to you and then when you have enough to work with, try to put them together in a form that suits.

Take the 5 different website designs, extract the best bits and combine these into one.

For book writing, you need to look at this as a long term commitment.  Even the best writers suffer creative block, but counter it by looking for inspiration in their surroundings, the people they meet, and the things they do.

Always keep a notepad handy to jot down any ideas as they occur to you.