I seem to have a creative block lately, both in art and my writing. Any ideas for getting rid of it?

Sometimes, it best just to put the camera, or pencil down. And walk away for a little bit. Totaly forget about it for about a day, and take the time to clear your mind and relax your self.

Also, for when your trying to write, try sitting next to an open window, and put on some soft, classical music. Thats what i do.

But sometimes, muses just like to go away. So it might take a bit for you enlightment to come back. But never fear, it will soon!

-Cat

too true - sitting staring at a blank canvas waiting for something to happen rarely produces any results - I know i've tried :-)

Alcohol & recreational drugs used to do the trick for the old masters - that doesnt work for me either :-)

hey .. I'll try that last one .. thanks phil .. (*wonders why he didn't think of that*)

On your way out the door to buy alcohol and recreational drugs .. stop and smell the roses

I am attending a writing critique group in RL, so I was hoping to have something to bring on Wed. I may just sit down and revise something.

LOL on the alcohol and recreational drugs. I wonder if caffeine would help? Although I'm on a diet and trying to wean myself off of caffeine.

I usually go do some crosswords or jigsaw puzzles or play scrabble against my computer to wake my brain up and send it on a different track. (the computer cheats btw)

For myself, what I sometimes do when I sit down at the computer, is I will start out with a basic shape, warp it around and play with it, with no expectations. Sometimes, that is all it takes to get my muse interested. That is how my recent "Blue Bird of Happiness" came about. In fact, I think that is how a lot of my creations happen. It never turns out how I think I want it too, or attempt to create. How did that painter on PBS, Bob Ross, put it... "They are happy mistakes."

Of course, this has also why I have an untold number of odd shapes and tid-bits cramming my computer, with the idea that "Someday, this could come in handy". :o)

Yep i been there... the only way to get it back is to have a break.. go do something else.. it will come back to you..

I ended up revising my story again. I think what I need to do is be creative doing something else, like cooking or making art. If not fractals, then Bryce. I need to put Bryce on my new computer anyway. I'll have more time on the weekend for that.

Well ... I am glad that we could be of little assistance. :P

'Cause ... I was just about to ... literally ... just about to suggest finding another creative outlet. No, really ... I was.

Oh, ok ... on a more serious note, as I have no idea how you approach your writing, but, for me ... a good jump start is a letter to a friend ... works for me. It puts me in a narrative frame of mind. Annnnd ...

I am a little surprised that you have found no inspiration in the works available here on the site. I was going to say do the art gallery, library thing ... but, it's all right here. Check out the poetry thread. Good good stuff.

Okay. Thanks.

Mostly, I approach my writing by sitting down and writing. I don't really plan, I just write what comes to mind and revise later.

There's gotta be a museum somewhere online that has webcams or something.

Uh ... me again ... this time, a little more sheepish and a little less flippant.

I reread my own post after reading your subsequent words. Annnd ... then I went off to your site and read some of your poetry. My apologies for my attempt at some levity. I leapt before doing the looking thingy.

It's quite obvious that you have talent in wordsmithing and in other areas. My first reaction to your request at the outset of this particular thread was, 'hmm, should I make mention of the do not create and edit at the same time rule?' Which quickly devolved into my drivel, lol. Sorry.

I resurrected the "Poetry" thread that appears on these "Offtopic" DB's. I have found some, if not all, of the work quite excellent. Perhaps, if your mind is tired ... and you are in need of some respite ... lend an eye (?) and have a read through. I am sure that the authors would appreciate hearing comments from someone more aligned with the art form.

'K, hope your writing critique group went well for you.

Hmm, perhaps you would like to share the work ... that, ahem, we helped inspire ... in some shape or form? <------ oh, oh ... there's that flippantness again ... down boy, down!

Okay, I will check out the thread when I get a chance. It's been a few months since I've written any poetry. I'm working on an original story right now.

I do edit a lot. I tend to be a spelling and punctuation nazi when I'm writing. It's hard for me to just keep writing and resist the urge to revise very much. I have to work on that.

The original story I'm writing is still very much a work in progress. You can find it on my lj.

http://amethystmusings.livejournal.com

It's not that I haven't found inspiration here. I just don't want to do something that's too similar to what someone else has done. As a writer, I'm sensitive to that.

Good, good ... I am glad we cleared the air, as they say.

Ahh, I know of what you speak ... when you refer to being 'a spelling and punctuation' proponent. Me ... too, me too. What did and do I do? Use the cheapest paper with a pen that deliberately leaked. For some reason, my 'care' level lessened and I proceeded forward.

As to how or what or when we get inspired ... hmm, don't quite agree wholeheartedly with you as to the opinion you expressed. Perception and perhaps, our own mental filters that are operating at the time, as well as our mental paradigm, can surprisingly cue us to veer off the path and beat a new trail at the crossroads.

I, too, will take a look at your live journal entry ... now, my curiosity is peaked. :)

Okay. I posted the lastest revision yesterday.

Uhm ... took a peek through the link you provided on this thread, but, could not find your story.

A lil' help, when you get the chance to address the apparent navigation problem I am having.

Try this.

http://amethystmusings.livejournal.com/tag/stories

It's the most recent. The others are mostly early drafts.