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Am I Running Out of Creativity? Or Just Running on Empty?

By Hannah | A very confused Monday

Today I sat down to write something educational, enlightening, something that screams ā€œLook at me, I know stuff!ā€ And instead… I stared at my screen like it had personally offended me. Nothing. Not a single useful thought. Just vibes. Questionable ones.

Naturally, I panicked. ā€œAm I out of ideas? Out of creativity? Is this it for me?ā€

This spiral reminded me of those poor authors who smash it with one brilliant debut, land on bestseller lists, get praised to the high heaven and then people expect them to do it again. Instantly. “No pressure”.

So they write book two, and everyone’s hyped, expecting another masterpiece.

And then they read it and go, ā€œSorry, who wrote this absolute nonsense? Is this the same person who made me cry on the train last year??ā€

Turns out, being brilliant on demand is hard.

Especially when there’s a deadline breathing down your neck and your brain’s gone into full ā€œfight or flightā€ mode. Mine usually chooses ā€œfreezeā€ and sits in a corner eating crisps.

That’s the problem with creative work it doesn’t like being told what to do. You can’t schedule inspiration between 9 and 5. Some people thrive under pressure. Others, like me, want to disappear into a blanket burrito and wait for the urge to create to return… (naturally. Hopefully. Eventually).

I’d love to be a writer one day. But ideally, the kind who writes when they feel like it. Not when a deadline is looming like a tax audit.

Anyway, if you woke up thinking it was Friday and then realised it’s bloody Monday….same.

Let’s try again tomorrow.

Loads of luv

Hannah

17 responses to “Am I Running Out of Creativity? Or Just Running on Empty?”

  1. I had an urge to write today too and it felt like a necessity that I needed to remember at all costs, else I lose a life changing opportunity to write something if a greater significance than anything I’ve ever written. That is a great thing, but sometimes it isn’t as strong, but if you listen to it then it’ll provide you with so much serenity. I love that you have that too, and it makes me want to write more and more. Especially when I’m in between semesters. Sometimes it works to just cut people out of your life and listen to yourself, not comparing to others and their work, but just looking at yours and trusting yourself. I find that difficult at times

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    1. You inspire me to keep going, thanks luv 😘

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  3. Better not to force it. I experience that too. Sometimes I have it already written in the rough on the hoof, and I know it only needs to be typed up and a little bit rounded, but I find at times it simply won’t be persuaded today.

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    1. It’s comforting to know I’m not the only one who’s had to wait for them (words) to come round in their own time. Thank you for this it feels like a writer’s hug🫶

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      1. oh, yes, and it was intended as one as well šŸ™‚

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  4. Well, without even trying, you succeeded in writing something very worthwhile. So, there!

    As far as “creativity”, I can tell you from a VERY long time as a “creative” that even taking a day off leads to more creativity. You paint and write and are navigating a precious relationship, as I do, so you have more than one outlet for your creativity.

    I have also found in life that there are few people who use their creativity. I suspect it has something to do with “basic education” and “corporate needs” that discourage creativity. In my mind, those are the two things I stay away from. I am mostly self-educated, even as a University student I took my studies well beyond what was “required”. Natural curiosity and creative thinking led me down a path few have chosen and I am so GLAD. And I continue my education every day.

    Keep writing, Hannah!

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    1. That”s two of us, Phil šŸ‘Œ

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    2. Thank you for such a lovely (and oddly validating) comment! Honestly, I feel like creativity sometimes packs its bags and goes on a silent retreat without telling me but your words reminded me it always comes back… usually when I’m half asleep or nowhere near a pen. I admire your rebellious dedication to curiosity and avoiding the soul-crushing grip of ā€œcorporate needsā€
      cheers to that! I’ll keep writing, promise (even when the brain feels like soggy toast).

      Hannah

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  5. I know that urge to write, like dressing up to go nowhere.

    Me, I do dress up every single day whether or not I’m going to be seen by even one other person.

    And when I want to write and have nothing to say I go live a little, watching the people around me while I do. They’re stories walking by ~ will tell you their stories of you seem halfway interested.

    After 65 years of it there is never now a time I wish to write and find myself with no material.šŸ‘Œ

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    1. That image of dressing up to go nowhere? Utter perfection. And you’re right people really are stories in motion, aren’t they? I need to take a page from your book (quite literally). Sixty-five years of gathering material? You’re basically a treasure chest of stories

      Thanks for the inspiration and the lovely reminder to keep my eyes (and ears) open.

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      1. Basically, I really am! There really aren’t many people who walk by me any more in whom I cannot clearly see the good and the evil combined. The good news is, it’s easy to get this way ~ basically, you just forget all about how you might be looking to them at that moment and get out of your own way, and then people just open up to you. They’ve done that to me all my life ~ it’s one reason this crime network is so eager to keep me absolutely isolated. They don’t want people feeling loved.

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  6. Oh, I feel this!
    You can write one best seller, but if the second book isn’t going anywhere, you’re toast. It’s a lot of pressure, I’d imagine.
    I could make a comparison between,let’s say, Freida MC Fadden who poops out books like she is eating curry every evening. But in my opinion, the topics are quite interesting, but the writing is mediocre, at best.
    Liz Nugent, my favorite author, produces a books only once a unicorn appears, but they are worth the wait for me.

    With blogging, things are different of course. You certainly cannot post 5 times a day. But also not, once every 5 weeks.
    I think the best content is either something you’re passionate about, or just daily frustrations.
    For what it’s worth… I wish you posted more often šŸ˜‰ selfish,I am 🤭

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    1. Oh Andrea, you’re absolutely lovely.
      And I like you even more now that I know you’re familiar with Freida McFadden! I’ve read every single one of her thrillers she’s a machine, isn’t she? Five books a year and a neurosurgeon or something equally outrageous… she must be brilliant. Though I must admit, once you’ve read a few, you do start to spot the formula. The Housemaid was definitely my favourite of hers.

      As for blogging, well, I suppose now I’ve got no excuse, have I? For you, I’ll try to show up every week šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚ I can’t have you disappearing on me x

      And I’m off to check out Liz Nugent now if you love her, she’s bound to be incredible xx

      Loads of luv
      Hannah

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      1. I am going to give ā€œthe housemaidā€ a try. But I swear, if it says how beautiful, but briliant, but modest the husband is, I quit 🤭

        The last I read of her is ā€œthe surrogate motherā€. Students called the wife on her HOUSEPHONE (is that even still a thing for a couple in their 30s) to ask her amazing husband out on a date. Dude, what?

        Between the big English speaking countries, I do prefer the British books. It’s more… European. And therefore… more down to earth. If I can express that type of opinion these days šŸ˜…

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      2. Sometimes it’s just like that šŸ˜‚ You’ve got to talk yourself into it and make it all make sense in your own head.

        And listen, I can’t promise the husband isn’t dashing, rich, and utterly swoon worthy šŸ˜‚ but I can promise you won’t regret giving it a read.

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