What to Do with Creative Block (writing, art, etc.)

So, have you ever found yourself lacking or stuck on your stories, art, or anything else creative?  That dreaded creative block or faithless muse seems stop a lot of people from moving forward and can be super frustrating.  I know I struggle with it at times.  When it hits it sometimes seems like it will never go away.  However, creative block is a challenge to vanquish, not to surrender to.

Here are some suggestions on ways to fight creative block:

• Take a little break from your story/art.  Just a little one.  Maybe a day or two at most.  Go for some walks, listen to good music, experience something new.

• Learn about something you don't know much about.

• Do some writing/art exercises.  Find a prompt and write something with your characters that doesn't have to do with your story, or make up some new characters and have fun with that.  Or, for art, follow some tutorials and practice different techniques.  Some good books for that are: The Writer's Block and The Creative Block.  (These work great for both writing and art)  There are loads of books and websites with prompts, ideas and exercises to try.  I also own The 3 A.M. Epiphany, but have yet to crack it open and see what it offers.  It looks really cool, though.  I'll have to try it and let you know how it goes.

• Write on a different part of your story.  Do some different art.

• When writing, ask yourself what you think would be fun to see happen with your characters, then write that.  When arting, ask yourself what would be fun, ridiculous, or risky to try, then do it.

• Talk to friends about your story/art.  They might ask good questions to get you thinking, or talking might spark ideas.

• Go take care of things that have been piling up.  Clean the house.  Organize.  Write letters.  Catch up on the non-creative stuff you keep meaning to do.  Getting something done should help you feel better since you were productive, and it will also ease your mind and free it up so it can start having fun again.

• Just slog through it.  I know this option stinks, but sometimes it's the only way.

Ultimately, though, once you do those things the most important part is to GET BACK TO WORK.  You have to push through creative block.  Write some crappy junk.  Make a mess on that "canvas," whatever it may be.  You can edit and fix it later.  You can even start over.  Just don't let it stop you.  SHOW your muse who's BOSS!

After all, good creative products are 10% inspiration and 90% hard work.  You are awesome, and you can do it.