I’ve realized that if I take too much time away from writing, when I do sit down again, it’s hard to get started. Topics evade me, the words don’t flow. Ok, I’m not sure I can say that they ever flow, but they come a whole lot easier. The time I successfully completed NaNoWriMo, the first couple of weeks things definitely flowed. I was a little shocked in fact at how well it started out. But it’s never really flowed like that since.

Granted, I’ve also been struggling for the last, almost, 3 years trying to have a baby and suffering recurrent, unexplained losses. All that grief, the rollercoaster of hormones, I really shouldn’t expect myself to have a lot of energy left over for creativity of any kind. I wish I had kept at the daily writing though. There are a lot of elements of this journey that I now wish I had documented, I would really like to use my story to help others, but some things have gotten very fuzzy. I suppose it’s a mental defense mechanism to forget parts of the journey. I heard other women going through this too that have said the same thing. If you’re on this path too, trust me, document. Even if it’s just for yourself. Even if you don’t ever go back to look at it, if you want to, it’ll be there.

But back to the topic, if you want to be more creative, make the effort to be creative regularly. Preferably ever day. It doesn’t have to be lengthy, and you don’t have to do the same activity every day. You can stick with mediums you are comfortable with already, or you can try something new. While you’re at it, expand your definition of creativity. It doesn’t have to just be writing, or painting, or music, what about plating your meal creativity? Or dressing in a way that feels creative. How about just solving a problem in a creative way?

So far, this 30 challenge is already working wonders, it’s only day two, but I caught myself thinking this afternoon thinking about coming home and writing. Thinking about short stories I had started in the past that I’m starting to get a little excited about starting up again to find out what happens. Thinking about what else I could write about. Even wondering if I could write something to submit to a writing competition. I don’t know if I will actually do that but, writing daily definitely feels good and brings me peace. I wonder if I’ll keep this going beyond the 30 days?

Do you struggle with your creativity? Or do you have tips on how to keep the juices flowing? Leave me a comment below and let me know.

Create on my friends,

Jane