Need help with recharging creativity?

[madskye]

I am kind of creatively tapped out, lately.

I work in sales and marketing, own my own consulting business, and due to the economy the last six months, at least, have been really intense. Project-wise, I am in the middle of a catalog, and an event, and some advertising that I need to write and my brain is just dry.

I cannot come up with anything creative, or funny, or clever at all. Any advice as to how to get it back? Last Spring I was a creative machine--I had so many ideas and this "dry" feeling makes me a little panicky.

[GuildJenn]

I'm an editor/writer and I feel your pain.

Julia Cameron talks about "artist's dates" which is where you book time into your schedule to go and look at things which inspire you. I think any creative professional should be booking this kind of meeting with themselves for 3 hrs a quarter, minimum.

These can be galleries or shows; in your case maybe hit the library for past issues of trade magazines related to sales and marketing or AdBusters or whatever you find fills your well - doesn't have to be directly job related. For me it's often the magazine rack at the library (I pick a nice library with a greenhouse seating area).

The whole idea is just to amble and allow yourself the TIME to be open and reconnect with things that you love.

[caenach]

I'm mostly echoing GuildJenn here, but I find that when I hit those dry-spells, it's usually because I'm so absorbed with the work of writing. Sometimes it seems that the more I pursue inspiration, the harder it is to catch. Getting "out" is what helps me. Out of the physical space of the office/house. Out of my own head for awhile. Museum visits. A few hours walking in the woods. A weekend road trip. That can be hard to do when the paycheck depends on staying put/working through it, I imagine.

[staceychev]

I actually think Julia Cameron's whole Artist's Way thing is great. Even if you don't get through the whole 12 weeks (I rarely do!), the process of Artist's Dates and Morning Pages is really creatively reinvigorating.

[VSIMom]

I'm a director/producer and, like the other responses, I find just getting out is the best solution. I try to walk every day sans children/spouse and I find that's when I come up with my best material. No iPod/music for distraction, just quiet.

Good luck! Sending creative vibes your way.

Anna

[nina_yyc]

Are you getting enough sleep? When you're tired the first brain function to go is creativity.

[madskye]

Thanks for all the responses--I have been going to sleep really early lately--9:30 almost every night this week.

We went up to VT last week, but work followed me via the stupid blackberry. So a change of scenery but not much recharging.

I think I'm going to go to library or bookstore today and try to read some magazines and get some different perspectives. I just feel really dull. I usually get the winter blues in February, so that's part of it too, I'm sure.

Morning pages is a great idea, too. I used to do those and they really do help. I have The Artist's Way so I'll break it out of the book vault tonight.