Writing inspiration comes and goes. It sometimes comes in full-flowing currents, other times in twisting, turning eddies. And it sometimes lies still in quiet pools.
One of the most important parts of being a writer for me is recognizing that there will be downtime, times when the pools grow still. There will even be times when the pools seem to dry up. But under the surface there is hidden moisture in the mud and there are sleeping frogs just waiting for rain.
And the rain will come.
So to my mind there is no writer’s block, there is only writer’s impatience.
If we clench our teeth at the dry seasons and vow not to be happy until the rains come, then we are missing a piece of life, and a surprisingly fertile piece at that.
When we think we’re not being productive, our minds are working in the background — cataloging, integrating, wondering, noticing. If we allow the front of our minds to be calm, then the quiet, unnoticed parts of our minds have space to work their silent magic.
In acting, this calm, still space is sometimes called by the name Octaz. These are moments in time that look like nothing, they look like stillness, they look like emptiness. But there is a gathering of energy in that stillness. It is action within inaction. And it is not only a fertile, important part of life, I believe it is essential.
I like to call these times stillness in motion.
I use this trick in all of my creative endeavors but it is the most dramatic in my ceramic arts. I will sometimes take years-long breaks from playing with clay. When I come back to it, I am more skilled than the last time I got my hands muddy. Every time I dive back in, I am surprised at how active my mind has been without me even noticing.
If you want to kick this practice up a notch, take that downtime and play — do something fun and rejuvenating. For me this can mean taking the dog for a walk somewhere new, going to the park and playing on swings (yes I still love playing on swings), going for a drive in the mountains, even just twirling in circles until I feel a little bit dizzy. When you’re not playing and your worries start pestering you, just talk back to them. “Thank you for trying to help but let’s give other parts of our brain peace and quiet to do their good work.”
Whatever form of play or relaxation you choose, use that stillness-in-motion time to build joy.
The next time you feel like your creativity is blocked, take a step back and allow for the possibility that your mind is working silently, preparing presents for your future self.
And when your writing comes again, notice how sweetly it flows.
Your Infinite Library 