Creative Blocks Help

As I said, I have had some severe blocks. The technique I found most effective the last time was this one.

**Technique 2: Don't Talk About Your Block**

At one point my best friend, who lives in another state, asked how I was. I said, "Fine, except for the writer's block." She asked how long that had been going on, and I said a couple of months. She then wanted to know, of course, why I hadn't told her, and I said, "Talking about it makes it worse."

So I don't talk about my creative blocks.

It's akin to technique 1. It's the same principle. When you talk about it, you make it bigger and more real. If you ignore it in your conversation, you focus on it less, it seems smaller, and you feel better.

Try this. Just don't talk about it. Try not to think about it, but definitely don't talk about it.

If you do find yourself talking about it, try to extricate yourself from the conversation by saying, "But you know, I'd decided not to talk about it. It's not bad, really, but talking about it makes it seem a lot worse. I hope you understand." Usually, they will.

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Technique 3: Take Some Time Off

I said in the first technique that creative block is not cause for a sick day. Often, that's what we do. We can't write, or paint, or whatever, so we pack it in. We don't work. But we don't just not work. We pile up in bed with a book or on the couch with a stupid movie and we wallow in not working.

What I'm suggesting is not that you take a sick day, but that you take a vacation day. Don't feel like you can sit down and write or stand at your easel and paint? Don't even think about doing it.

Get in your car and go to the beach, or to the park, or spend five dollars at the dollar store on things you absolutely don't need, or actually go to a movie, with other real people.

Do something you'd do if you could afford the time to take a day off. Because you can. You need a day off. You deserve a day off.

Do something for you. Get your hair done, get a massage, go to the gym.

And if you want to pile up in bed with a trashy novel, or curl up on the couch with a silly movie, go ahead. That's great. I love a day off in bed with a stack of books and the alarm turned off so I can nap as long as I want. Sometimes that's the best day off for me. But do it because that's what you want to do on your day off.

Have a good time. Find something or many things you want to do, and go for it.

And don't do it because you're blocked.

Do it because you're long past due a day off.

[End of Part 2]