Remember how last month I was tapped into a well of endless creativity? Well now, I am having writer's block! Of course, the well of creativity was going to dry up sooner than later. I was just hoping it would be much later.
July 2025 has been difficult to navigate creativity. I find myself uninspired, bored, drab. Everything I DO write just isn't hitting me like it was last month. I guess that is what happens when you are off the hypomania of bipolar disorder and you start to even out.
How do I manage to create when I am feeling these things? I don't.
I take the pressure off myself to create. I only create when something really moves me. And if only one thing moves me, I let myself create that one thing -- whether it is a blog post, a poem, or some prose. I tell myself "get this idea out of your head and onto paper". And then usually, when I write that one piece, that one post, that one prose, I get a couple more ideas that come to me and I am writing for at least an hour.
I don't force myself to write. I take a break from writing and creating when I am really not feeling it. And I think more people should do that in anything. Whether it's a job (take your damn vacations!), or a creative hobby or passion. Sometimes a little R&R will help us come up with inspiration all on its own, or it rekindles the flame. Or it helps you figure out your priorities.
When I do feel like writing and nothing is coming to me, I like to search for writing prompts on the Internet. I recently came across an Instagram called poemsbypogi. He creates monthly prompts on his Instagram that always gets the thinking and creativity going. I recently wrote a poem using one of his prompts called "Weeping Like a Willow Tree". I highly enjoyed using that prompt to create something.
When I am feeling meh or down about writing, usually that is when I don't force myself to create at all. I let ideas come and go. I figured if one idea nags at me, it will pull me out of the funk and I will be forced to write it anyway just to get it out of my system.
You don't always have to be "on". You don't always have to create. Matter of fact, terrible writing advice is "to write everyday". No. That is a for sure way you'll burn out.
I find eventually the writer's block fades once you stop forcing yourself to create. You just have to give yourself time, patience, and self-love.
If you are a writer on a deadline, the best advice I can give you is to set goals that are achievable and realistic.
I like to set goals for myself that are reasonable. I recently told myself I would write my 200th poem by December of this year. Guess what? I was so inspired that I surpassed my 200th poem by July! I've written 210 poems now.
And honestly, quantity doesn't matter. Quality does. You can use this "downtime" to edit and revise your already existing work. Make it more polished for publishing or sharing on social media. And chances are, maybe an existing work inspires you to add more to it, or you create a whole different piece of work completely from the inspiration of the first thing you write.
My advice to writers in a nutshell:
1. Don't force yourself to write. Allow ideas to come and go.
2. Quality over quantity. Use the down time to edit and revise your previous works, submit to publishers, or spiffy up for social media.
3. Use writing prompts. Search "Writing Prompts", "poetry prompts", "writing ideas" in Google or even ChatGPT. Just don't let ChatGPT write it for you! ;-)
4. TAKE. A. BREAK. Seriously, take a vacation from writing and creating. You deserve to let your mind and body rest.
5. Set a reasonable writing goal you can handle. "I'm going to write 2,000 words a week", "I'm going to write 300 pieces of writing by December" etc. it doesn't matter how big or small the goal is.
I hope this helps other fellow writers :-). Tell me, what do you do when you are in a writing funk? What's something that has helped you break out of writer's blocks or "meh" attitudes? I would love to hear them!
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