I don't know about you but last year was a hard one for me. There were lots of up and downs - more downs than ups it felt like at times - but here we are at the beginning of a new year. It's time to start over, start anew, begin again.
 |
| Gify.com |
Sometimes it feels like we are always going at a million miles an hour.
After the craziness of Christmas and New Year it is nice to spend some time dreaming, reflecting, and relaxing not just the body, but the mind, too.
It's time to re-fill the creative well; the place in your head where all good things begin to grow.
How can you re-fill that creative well?
There are plenty of ways. What works best is really up to you.
- Take a short break away from the everyday, get away from it all
- Take time out to watch that TV series you have been recording all year
- Read some of those books on the To Be Read (TBR) pile/shelf/bookcase/room
- Perhaps take a long hot bath
- Go for a walk along the beach
- Go to the movies
- Get a massage
- Go to a museum or art gallery
So are you in need of Refilling the Creative Well? How do you re-fill the well?
Love to Love: Growing my own fruit and Veg in my mini vege patch.
Love to Laugh: at Romantic comedies like Love Actually.
Love to Learn: new ways to re-fill my creative well.
I find going for a walk does wonders. That and having a shower!
ReplyDeleteHi Cathryn. Yes, I find the shower really has a way of clearing the mind. I come up with all sorts of good ideas in the shower. Walking is a good way of keeping the body and the mind in shape.
DeleteHi Cassandra. Like Cathryn, I find going for a walk gets my muse into thinking mode. My muse also likes the shower. Listening to rock songs also does it for me. Amazing what a few words from the lyrics will visualise in my mind.
ReplyDeleteHi Enisa. It is amazing how inspiration can come doing normal type things like listening to a song or having a shower.
DeleteThank you for this Cassandra. I really need it. Might take up one (or maybe even two) of your suggestions today!
ReplyDeleteWonderful Dee. Let me know which ones you felt worked best for you.
DeleteWent for the walk...instead of my daily run and it was so lovely. Truly refreshing. Will try the bath tonight (hopefully).
DeleteSometimes taking it a bit slower allows the mind to wander. Enjoy your bath.
DeleteGreat suggestions! also (don't hit me! I'm not encouraging procrastination, I swear) chat with people on FB or Twitter.
ReplyDeleteSocial interaction is a great way to have a break...as long as it doesn't take up all your writing time. We need more Jenny Schwartz books!
DeleteI'm with you, Jenny. Catching up with friends and family, whether on FB or in real life is one way I love to re-fill my well. The anecdotes that come out are always good for a laugh or a reflection on life that can lead to great story ideas.
ReplyDeleteOh yes Marilyn, chatting and laughing with friends and family is a great way to re-fill the well. Plus some family story could spark and idea that becomes your next book. Congratulations on the release of The Farmer's Perfect Match too. I've got my copy.
DeleteThanks for the congrats, Cassandra! Yes, it's a very exciting day for me today.
DeleteI love refilling my coffers. That often means reading, watching a Box Set, meeting friends for coffee. Lovely, lovely things to do, and so restful and inspiring at the same time. I watched that short of Love, Actually, and it's made me want to see the film again... Haven't watched it for years.
ReplyDeleteLove Actually is my Christmas movie so I watch it at least once a year. I don't get much of a look in on TV at my place but I do like to record my fave shows and binge watch them on a Sunday morning while everyone else is still asleep. Really looking forward to the return of GOT and Outlander in April.
DeleteGOT and Outlander are two of my faves as well. Also Vikings which is back this month. Yay!
DeleteGreat post Cassandra. Life has been a bit of a challenge of late and the well has been dry for the past couple of months. Thank goodness in the last week or so it's beginning to flow again. Walking helps a lot but I also think that you can't beat yourself up for not making the word count. Sometimes a little forgiveness goes a long way - even when it's for yourself. :) xx
ReplyDeleteHi Nicole. Self loathing is definitely one way to chase off the muse and drain the creative well. Forgiveness is much better. We can't be writing machines all the time. Happy to hear the words are flowing again.
DeleteTime out works best for me. Whether it's walking, doing a jigsaw puzzle, watching the TV series I love like Cranford or Upstairs Downstairs, or even scrolling through facebook posts. Any activity that allows my mind to wander seems to spark new ideas and possibilities.
ReplyDeleteOh Sharon I love Cranford such an awesome tv show. I have them on dvd. Over the Christmas break I didnt write a word. My well was dry. I needed the time out. Then amazingly the words came back.
DeleteOh Sharon I love Cranford such an awesome tv show. I have them on dvd. Over the Christmas break I didnt write a word. My well was dry. I needed the time out. Then amazingly the words came back.
DeleteHi Cassandra, I'm a bit late to comment on your blog this week, like your post, sometimes you feel like you are getting nowhere, going backwards. That what this week has been like. There is always something to do isn't there and as much as its great to take time out I must say I always feel guilty when relaxing, like I should be doing something. My resolution this year is to be more organised time wise so hard work can be rewarded with time out.
ReplyDeleteI totally get where you are coming from Karen. As a busy mum and full time worker it is so hard to find enough time for everyone and everything. Always a 101 things on the to do list and not enough hours in the day. I try and schedule my writing time which does work most of the time but like you I feel guilty when relaxing (I may have even forgotten how to do it. lol). My resolution this year is to have more time for me as I've come to understand that if I don't and I get run down I am not much good to anyone, let alone myself. I hope you find your organisational mojo this year Karen.
Delete