How to Fight Back Against Creative Drain and Writers Block!

When I hit a low point, whether that be seasonal, post-product-release dopamine let down, lack of sleep, or <insert any other reason here>, creativity feels more like a chore than a privellege or opportunity. If you’ve been there, you know how frustrating it is to want to create but feel stuck... You feel that ember to start a fire within you, but the damp blanket just keeps on smothering that drive and passion down.

I want to share what helped me find my way back to music when I was feeling down. Chances are what worked for me, won't work for you, but I am hoping it can serve as motivation for others, knowing these two things.

1. It's not just you. It's everyone at some point. It's everyone quite a bit, but we don't talk about it.

2. It will improve. Maybe not later in the day. Maybe not in the week or month even. But naturally, when we are pulled away from our creative source of energy, we will find our way back somehow. (Maybe just not the typical ways we imagine!)

When that DRAIN hits hard. The Block hits harder.

The first step is to accept that feeling drained (or anxious, etc.) easily impacts creativity. It’s not a personal failure or lack of talent, even though you might feel like it because you struggle to power through it. When I was overwhelmed by stress, I noticed my ideas felt flat, my mixes sound like junk, and my ideas never seemed to come full circle, no matter how much I tried to force it. Ultimately, that makes my motivation disappear. Instead of pushing harder, I learned to pause, take a break, and come back to it.

What I do? Stop forcing creativity. Not because I can afford to, and certainly not because I want to, but because doing anything under duress can lead to poor(er) decision making, and in the world of creativity, one bad creative decision can derail a whole vision!

Maybe that means I switch to mixing, or cleaning up earlier parts of a piece, or heck, even do bookeeping... or cleaning. Don't feel guility about it. Give yourself permission to take a break from composing. I've often beat myself up too much over this.

"WHY CAN'T I JUST TRIUMPH OVER THIS LIKE MOZART OR BEETHOVEN!!"

Well, simply put. I am not them and neither are you. It is easy for us to look back in the past and see all of their struggles and triumphs in a single breath.... But that isn't how we experience these moments in our own life. Understanding that I am my own person created space for creativity to return naturally, rather than forcing it.

Focus on small tasks. Small energy. Small victories.

When I feel too drained for tasks or projects, I turn to small, manageable tasks. Often these are musical/technical, but not always. These habitual practice of focusing and retooling to work on small tasks can allow us to seamlessly transition from the "draining" things to the small things without even much of a pause.

Sometimes I lift weights or exercise for 20-40 minutes. Or I take a lunch break with a bit of a walk. Othertimes I listen to other composer's music for studying. Often I find myself reading scripture and praying as well. Praying the rosary, which may not work for many, seems to really bring me a sense of calm and peace, and that calm and peace is really what we want to strive for.

Musically, I've also tried just experimenting with creating short melodies or motifs, rhythms, grooves, or even synth patches. Something that is "creative" but doesn't seem gargantuan in scope. Whatever it is. that brings you that sense of calm, strive for it. Do it, and take that victory. Getting out of my own headspace is often the W for me.

Change where you are. Literally. Or mentally.

Sometimes, opening that project up or reading those emails that force the reality of a deadline or timeline, only feed fuel to the inferno burning down our creative happy space. A few things that I've done is to:

Move to a different space literally to work. Be it on the couch, on the floor, change your chair, change your shoes. Whatever it is really... CHANGE something. While we are creatures of habit, sometimes we need that shift in focus, to regain focus.

I wish my piano space looked like this. Mine is covered with dried applesauce and marker stains.

Rearranging stuff and cleaning... Yes. That is boring and seems so far away from being creative. But if you've ever been in a LONG funk... this could maybe help. Just like a fresh haircut, or new shoes, a freshly mowed lawn, can give you a bit of a boost in energy, this can do the same. Spring cleaning in November? Sure! If it helps you feel like you've accomplished something and earned a W, take it.

Close your eyes. Cliche, yeah. But we do so much noise making, talking, constant noise distractions... Just close your eyes and sit in silence somewhere. Hear yourself breathe. Maybe you will wink off for 10 minutes. Great, that has always seemed to help me.

Take a nap if you can? If not, maybe don't worry about being creative. 75% of the time when I am feeling drained and negative towards my creativity... a little sleep will correct that. The worst thing to do is worry and beat yourself up.

When it comes back. Ride that wave!

Hopefully.. when your funk goes away you will feel a surge of energy, a renewed sense of creativity, and a boost to your creative drive! Don't look back too much and feel overwhelmed or stressed by what has happened. We can't work in the past, only the future. When you have the good vibes going, use them to the best of your ability. For me, that is usually when I am able to creatively problem-solve the problems I created when I was funked out.

Talk to people. Talk to other composers.

When I was younger I often felt isolated, both literally, but also communally as well. Not only because I am in the middle-of-nowhere, nusquam, but also because I have always kind of felt like a loner. Not because I want to be alone, but just because I feel not understood. It's easy to feel that way, and even though it feels very real, sometimes it is only just that, a feeling, and not a true reflection of reality.

There are so many other composers out there who are experiencing what we experience, on a daily basis, and they have developed their own techniques and ways to escape these funky moments of creativity. Talk to them. Don't be afraid to speak about your life, as it is more than the sum of all of our creative endeavors. Just talking sometimes, whether I am seeking a conversation, or I am helping someone else, can make me feel boosted.

As much as I grew up on bulletin boards and forums, which have now transferred over to Discord channels, and various groups, it is hard to find that 1:1 conversation that you can have with someone personally on a forum or a group. A good old fashioned phone call, or coffee grab and chat can be so helpful. You aren't alone.

Set A Realistic Goal. Don't be disappointed to miss it.

Many times I am often deflated creatively as a week goes on, because I have failed to meet my goals that I thought I would for Monday... then Tuesday... then Wednesday... Here it is Thurday and there is no way I can accomplish anything great this week!

Don't pressure yourself this way. Art takes time. Good art takes more time. Great art takes even more time, patience, and reflection.

Point is, I am so often my own worst enemy. I know that and yet I continue to do it o myself. A bad habit I suppose. I've imposed my own deadlines as a way to force myself to feel motivated (as a counterance to this creative drain!), but it can rear its ugly head too. So whatever goals you set, and methods you use, give yourself a break when you need it.

Embrace the imperfect?

When it comes to my music I struggle to let things pass. If a horn line is too loud, or a mix is bad... it eats at me. All day, all night. Weeks later... Until something else comes up and I am forced to just leave that where it is, for the moment.

Maybe that isn't who you are. Maybe you only want perfection and will focus on that until you achieve it, and for that I applaud and support you! For me, I have a lot of ideas I want to see come to life, no matter how perfect or imperfect they are. Ideas I had 20 years ago that weren't made perfect? They've come back into my life (and projects) in other ways. Not the literal "same melody and chords yo!" back into my life, but the concepts, emotions, and purpose of those ideas, and I have a second opportunity to mold and sculpt those ideas, and to forge new creativity in new directions.

Is it perfect? No. Am I perfect? No way. Do I want to be perfect? Too much stress for me. I will settle for 5th place.

A child rendering of how angry I feel when I can't create!

You? Find what works. Be forgiving. Don't stres over the lack of creativity. Let it find its way into you, through the past of least resistance! Happy creative.

King Bee, Verba Ex Nusquam