Rec
at least for me, writer's block occurs when i feel like i've exhausted thoughts, ideas, motifs, etc. that used to fuel creative output previously – but changing your perspective (either by changing your influences, or your environment, etc.) will put more gas in your tank to write new, exciting things, and to experiment with how you write about those things
in the artist's way, julia cameron mentions how a core tenant of the program is "artist dates" where you go out on a solo excursion to give yourself more creative "input" like novel life experiences, new perspectives on familiar experiences, etc. that can then funnel into creative output
i think a similar effort is just reading more; for example, i like sci-fi as a consumer, but when i was reading parable of the sower by octavia butler for a book club, i was so inspired by it that previous projects in that genre i had parked because they felt uninspired became exciting to work on again. new sci-fi projects came to me and gave me some runway to outline / draft them. same for fantasy, non-fiction, etc
the more you're inspired (either by your experiences or your influences) the easier it will be to write more, because exploration will often take less effort than refinement. both are essential parts of the process, but if you're exclusively refining based on a body of work limited in scope, it's going to take more time / be more agonizing / feel less worth it; if you can expand that scope, there'll always be something to say on the page
in the artist's way, julia cameron mentions how a core tenant of the program is "artist dates" where you go out on a solo excursion to give yourself more creative "input" like novel life experiences, new perspectives on familiar experiences, etc. that can then funnel into creative output
i think a similar effort is just reading more; for example, i like sci-fi as a consumer, but when i was reading parable of the sower by octavia butler for a book club, i was so inspired by it that previous projects in that genre i had parked because they felt uninspired became exciting to work on again. new sci-fi projects came to me and gave me some runway to outline / draft them. same for fantasy, non-fiction, etc
the more you're inspired (either by your experiences or your influences) the easier it will be to write more, because exploration will often take less effort than refinement. both are essential parts of the process, but if you're exclusively refining based on a body of work limited in scope, it's going to take more time / be more agonizing / feel less worth it; if you can expand that scope, there'll always be something to say on the page
Feb 10, 2025
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Rec
🗿i dont know if this will be helpful. Or confusing. But when i experience writers block i like to live with it (?) i think that its natural and you have to ride the wave. i think art comes to you. Not the other way around. Yes it is fun to create. but inspiration must naturally strike
I would get an ounce of an idea and i would push it and stress over completing it. And then get so frustrated And then its not fun anymore.
but now when i get an idea i transfer it to a physical medium and once i get stuck, i leave it alone. Until it comes back to me again. Or not at all. And that’s ok too. Not everything has to be completed
Keeping creative endeavors in the back of your mind can let them marinate and get nice and lovely. easier said than done but try not to get discouraged that you’re not writing right now. There is some kind of beauty in its absence
I would get an ounce of an idea and i would push it and stress over completing it. And then get so frustrated And then its not fun anymore.
but now when i get an idea i transfer it to a physical medium and once i get stuck, i leave it alone. Until it comes back to me again. Or not at all. And that’s ok too. Not everything has to be completed
Keeping creative endeavors in the back of your mind can let them marinate and get nice and lovely. easier said than done but try not to get discouraged that you’re not writing right now. There is some kind of beauty in its absence
Feb 11, 2025
Rec
📝Unfortunately there's no solution that works for everyone all the time. (If there was, I'd be published by now🙈.) BUT here are some things that I sometimes do to try and conquer the block:
•Let it sizzle: This is my least favorite suggestion, so I'm getting it out of the way first. Sometimes that project/idea/etc. needs time to marinate before you can keep going. This is especially a good idea if you've been working at it relentlessly, and possibly grown fatigue. If it loses its novelty and stops impressing you, you're gonna be less inclined to WANT to keep going. Leave that doc alone for a week or two, and return when your mind is fresh. Sometimes you'll get lucky and find inspiration/have a shower thought that prompts you to go back.
•Put canon aside for a sec: Start with a writing prompt. This can be a one word prompt, or an absolutely ridiculous scenario to put your character in. Allow yourself to write a non-canonical or semi-canonical snippet/oneshot around this prompt. This is something I usually do begrudgingly, but it HAS helped me get in my characters' heads, further establish their voices and mannerisms, and learn a lot about how my worlds operate outside of The Plot.
•Delete the section that's stumping you and rewrite it from memory: This is a weird one, but it's helped me before. If you're stuck and can't move forward from a particular spot, it might help to (momentarily) cut the text out. Attempt to rewrite it from memory, and see where it takes you. It may land you in the same dead end, but every so often you'll end up with something better than before.
•Write out of order (write what you want): I always do this anyway, but mad respect to anyone who's structured enough to NOT jump around all the time. But uh... this is sometimes what you NEED to do, I think. I've started writing where I can, and putting placeholders like <THIS HAPPENS> <TIME PASSES> <IDK WHAT'S NEXT> where I can't. Sometimes, by skipping around and writing that one special scene, I simultaneously create the context needed to fill in some of those gaps.
•Change up your text, visually: I think this is a tip I saw on Tumblr of all places. Taking what you've written and changing the font is something that will quite literally alter the way you look at the text in front of you. Nothing may come of it, but it may psychologically trick you into reading it from a different perspective. Try a more whimsical font, or one that matches the tone and theme of the work. Make it bigger. Smaller. Change the color. Change the background color. You never know what might help🤷♀️
•Make a playlist: This actually hurts me more than it helps, because I'll focus on doing stuff like this OVER writing my thing. But it can be fun to make a playlist of songs that remind me of my story. Whether that's songs to embody my characters and their personalities, songs that I think they'd listen to, songs that fit the mood and ambiance of my story, songs that remind me of certain scenes or locations, songs that would play in a theoretical soundtrack/AMV, etc.!!! Once you've compiled 'em, listening through could conjure up ideas to get you back in the game. Doesn't hurt to give it a go!
•Watch or read something in the same genre: I'm not encouraging plagiarism or anything, but am saying that reading "Frankenstein" and watching "Nosferatu" really put me in the mood and mindset to forge on with my gothic horror novel. My mind was RACING with macabre inspiration. I think this sort of ties in with the playlist suggestion for that reason.
•Devote a notebook or bullet journal to this project: Use it for EVERYTHING except writing the actual work. Give yourself ten minutes to write as complete of an outline as you can. Make a list of everything that's stumping you. Be CANDID: admit when you're having a hard time growing fond of a certain character, or fitting in a certain scene, or overcoming a plothole. Make a list of all the things you need to research. Brainstorm dialogue. Paste in pictures from magazines that remind you of your world and characters. Go crazy!
Ultimately it's hard to know what will and won't work to get you out of your slump. Sometimes it feels like you'll never make it through. Every writer is different, and what works like a charm for one person can actively harm another's creative process. But keep trudging on, and look for inspiration everywhere. I believe in you, and wish you luck on your journey!
•Let it sizzle: This is my least favorite suggestion, so I'm getting it out of the way first. Sometimes that project/idea/etc. needs time to marinate before you can keep going. This is especially a good idea if you've been working at it relentlessly, and possibly grown fatigue. If it loses its novelty and stops impressing you, you're gonna be less inclined to WANT to keep going. Leave that doc alone for a week or two, and return when your mind is fresh. Sometimes you'll get lucky and find inspiration/have a shower thought that prompts you to go back.
•Put canon aside for a sec: Start with a writing prompt. This can be a one word prompt, or an absolutely ridiculous scenario to put your character in. Allow yourself to write a non-canonical or semi-canonical snippet/oneshot around this prompt. This is something I usually do begrudgingly, but it HAS helped me get in my characters' heads, further establish their voices and mannerisms, and learn a lot about how my worlds operate outside of The Plot.
•Delete the section that's stumping you and rewrite it from memory: This is a weird one, but it's helped me before. If you're stuck and can't move forward from a particular spot, it might help to (momentarily) cut the text out. Attempt to rewrite it from memory, and see where it takes you. It may land you in the same dead end, but every so often you'll end up with something better than before.
•Write out of order (write what you want): I always do this anyway, but mad respect to anyone who's structured enough to NOT jump around all the time. But uh... this is sometimes what you NEED to do, I think. I've started writing where I can, and putting placeholders like <THIS HAPPENS> <TIME PASSES> <IDK WHAT'S NEXT> where I can't. Sometimes, by skipping around and writing that one special scene, I simultaneously create the context needed to fill in some of those gaps.
•Change up your text, visually: I think this is a tip I saw on Tumblr of all places. Taking what you've written and changing the font is something that will quite literally alter the way you look at the text in front of you. Nothing may come of it, but it may psychologically trick you into reading it from a different perspective. Try a more whimsical font, or one that matches the tone and theme of the work. Make it bigger. Smaller. Change the color. Change the background color. You never know what might help🤷♀️
•Make a playlist: This actually hurts me more than it helps, because I'll focus on doing stuff like this OVER writing my thing. But it can be fun to make a playlist of songs that remind me of my story. Whether that's songs to embody my characters and their personalities, songs that I think they'd listen to, songs that fit the mood and ambiance of my story, songs that remind me of certain scenes or locations, songs that would play in a theoretical soundtrack/AMV, etc.!!! Once you've compiled 'em, listening through could conjure up ideas to get you back in the game. Doesn't hurt to give it a go!
•Watch or read something in the same genre: I'm not encouraging plagiarism or anything, but am saying that reading "Frankenstein" and watching "Nosferatu" really put me in the mood and mindset to forge on with my gothic horror novel. My mind was RACING with macabre inspiration. I think this sort of ties in with the playlist suggestion for that reason.
•Devote a notebook or bullet journal to this project: Use it for EVERYTHING except writing the actual work. Give yourself ten minutes to write as complete of an outline as you can. Make a list of everything that's stumping you. Be CANDID: admit when you're having a hard time growing fond of a certain character, or fitting in a certain scene, or overcoming a plothole. Make a list of all the things you need to research. Brainstorm dialogue. Paste in pictures from magazines that remind you of your world and characters. Go crazy!
Ultimately it's hard to know what will and won't work to get you out of your slump. Sometimes it feels like you'll never make it through. Every writer is different, and what works like a charm for one person can actively harm another's creative process. But keep trudging on, and look for inspiration everywhere. I believe in you, and wish you luck on your journey!
Jul 15, 2025
Rec
🎨First things first: it doesn't matter the quality, the quantity, or the end result. If you create, you're a creative, full stop! Don't tell yourself you're a copier, think of it as adopting little pieces of the things you love and using them as inspiration to drive you. As long as you're not straight-up plagiarizing, there's nothing wrong with using something you love as a stepping stool to grow your own abilities, or as a palette with which you paint your own world.
Also, it's totally normal to feel stuck in a rut, or unoriginal, or to fall out of love with something you've made, or to feel doubt start seeping in. And it sucks! I'm often stricken with the realization that I'm one voice in a sea of millions, and I feel insecure that people will see me as lesser. Or worse: overlook my creations entirely. It makes me lose momentum in my creative process, and makes me feel more disheartened and nervous to put my stuff out there in the first place. "What if I put my heart and soul into this and nobody sees it?" "What if I bleed onto the pages and the consensus is "it's mid"???" "What if I'm wasting my time, and come back in two weeks and think this is utter garbage?" "What if people think it's too close to <other person's work>?"
But then I remember... we're kind of ALL out here, putting our hearts into stuff, trying new things, throwing around ideas, and hoping something sticks. And that's how pretty much EVERY work of art is made! And while it's awesome to get outpourings of support on the things you make, and recognition makes your work feel worthwhile... nothing is going to make you feel more fulfilled than putting your heart and soul into something you're passionate about, and seeing it through to YOUR satisfaction. Ultimately it's not about what other people think, it's about keeping that passion alive in you, and cultivating it so that it never dies.
So what can we do about burnout? Or lack of inspiration? Or when the hope levels are too low? Unfortunately all my "tips" are more abstract than practical step-by-step fixes.
Personally, I recommend steadily and eagerly engaging in the things that you tend to "copy" in the first place. Stop for a moment, and picture the word "enthusiasm." What comes to your mind? What makes you feel that way? Chase that feeling down like it's your most treasured keepsake floating away in wild rapids! Watch shows with artstyles you aspire to. Listen to songs that get you daydreaming. Get out in nature during the sunrise/sunset. Go see animals in a zoo/aquarium, or go people-watching in a mall/park. All the while, don't stop THINKING and MAKING THINGS. Doesn't have to be cute, or fleshed-out, because the beauty is in the moment. Snap candid photos, sketch freehand vignettes of what you see, jot down prose inspired by your surroundings, do whatever you can to keep your momentum without losing the joy associated with it.
The more you let yourself create freely, the more comfortable you'll be in the future when faced with the dreaded Block, the bumps, the discouragement, or anything else that may try to slow you down. And honestly? If you still find yourself stuck, good news: you're still a creative! And that will hold true as long as you desire to be.
TLDR: Don't stop making beautiful things, and if you get to a point where you feel you can no longer make beautiful things, make "ugly" things and surround yourself with things you see as beautiful.
Also, it's totally normal to feel stuck in a rut, or unoriginal, or to fall out of love with something you've made, or to feel doubt start seeping in. And it sucks! I'm often stricken with the realization that I'm one voice in a sea of millions, and I feel insecure that people will see me as lesser. Or worse: overlook my creations entirely. It makes me lose momentum in my creative process, and makes me feel more disheartened and nervous to put my stuff out there in the first place. "What if I put my heart and soul into this and nobody sees it?" "What if I bleed onto the pages and the consensus is "it's mid"???" "What if I'm wasting my time, and come back in two weeks and think this is utter garbage?" "What if people think it's too close to <other person's work>?"
But then I remember... we're kind of ALL out here, putting our hearts into stuff, trying new things, throwing around ideas, and hoping something sticks. And that's how pretty much EVERY work of art is made! And while it's awesome to get outpourings of support on the things you make, and recognition makes your work feel worthwhile... nothing is going to make you feel more fulfilled than putting your heart and soul into something you're passionate about, and seeing it through to YOUR satisfaction. Ultimately it's not about what other people think, it's about keeping that passion alive in you, and cultivating it so that it never dies.
So what can we do about burnout? Or lack of inspiration? Or when the hope levels are too low? Unfortunately all my "tips" are more abstract than practical step-by-step fixes.
Personally, I recommend steadily and eagerly engaging in the things that you tend to "copy" in the first place. Stop for a moment, and picture the word "enthusiasm." What comes to your mind? What makes you feel that way? Chase that feeling down like it's your most treasured keepsake floating away in wild rapids! Watch shows with artstyles you aspire to. Listen to songs that get you daydreaming. Get out in nature during the sunrise/sunset. Go see animals in a zoo/aquarium, or go people-watching in a mall/park. All the while, don't stop THINKING and MAKING THINGS. Doesn't have to be cute, or fleshed-out, because the beauty is in the moment. Snap candid photos, sketch freehand vignettes of what you see, jot down prose inspired by your surroundings, do whatever you can to keep your momentum without losing the joy associated with it.
The more you let yourself create freely, the more comfortable you'll be in the future when faced with the dreaded Block, the bumps, the discouragement, or anything else that may try to slow you down. And honestly? If you still find yourself stuck, good news: you're still a creative! And that will hold true as long as you desire to be.
TLDR: Don't stop making beautiful things, and if you get to a point where you feel you can no longer make beautiful things, make "ugly" things and surround yourself with things you see as beautiful.
Jul 19, 2025
Top Recs from @alaiyo
Rec
a treatise on the attention economy - checked it out on libby and got through it over the course of a work day, a lot of really interesting social and cultural explorations about how time itself is the final frontier of hypercapitalism and what decommodification of our attention and time should look like
the book starts with a story about the oldest redwood tree in oakland and how the only reason it’s still standing is bc it’s unmillable, and how being uncommercializable is essential to our survival. it ends with an exploration of alt social media platforms (mostly p2p ones) and what keeping the good parts of the social internet and rejecting the bad ones should look like
all in all a super valuable read; my only nitpick with the book is that odell isn’t just charting the attention economy but also attempting to “solve” it and relate it back to broader concepts about labor and social organizing, but her background is in the arts which leads to some really wonderful references to drive the points home while also missing some critical racial + socioeconomic analyses that one would expect (or at least really appreciate) from the book she promises to deliver in the introduction. but this does also make the book easier to read which is good because everyone should definitely engage with what she has to say
will definitely be revisiting
the book starts with a story about the oldest redwood tree in oakland and how the only reason it’s still standing is bc it’s unmillable, and how being uncommercializable is essential to our survival. it ends with an exploration of alt social media platforms (mostly p2p ones) and what keeping the good parts of the social internet and rejecting the bad ones should look like
all in all a super valuable read; my only nitpick with the book is that odell isn’t just charting the attention economy but also attempting to “solve” it and relate it back to broader concepts about labor and social organizing, but her background is in the arts which leads to some really wonderful references to drive the points home while also missing some critical racial + socioeconomic analyses that one would expect (or at least really appreciate) from the book she promises to deliver in the introduction. but this does also make the book easier to read which is good because everyone should definitely engage with what she has to say
will definitely be revisiting
