Every once in a while the well runs dry for me.
That’s where I am at the moment with writing: fiction or poetry or what have you. It’s been at a bit of a drip feed for a couple of months now, so I am going to do what I always do when this occurs: continue to write with less poetry and fiction in the mix, let my creative energies either rest or try new things to “break it up”, and let that well recharge.
It’s not that I don’t have ideas. Rather, it is that they translate in a garbled manner or refuse to come out of hiding. I’ve learned that the best thing to do when that happens is to not force it. When I have forced creative writing, then comes the blocking and I don’t want to do that. It’s kind of like an insomniac trying to force themselves to sleep; the more one thinks about the lack of sleep, the less likely they are going to sleep.
So, I don’t sweat it, keep in the habit of writing (just not poetry or fiction), and consider other outlets for that kind of energy while the creative writing well fills back up.
How about you? Does your “well run dry”? If/when it does happen, how do you approach the matter? Do you power through? Or do you give yourself a break? Or does the dry spot break you?
Sound off below. Please focus your comments on your own experiences rather than commenting on my current state — I’m good, and I’m more interested in how you handle yourself than getting advice on how I should handle me.
52 responses to “Half-penny thoughts — 17nov25”
The dry spot pretty much breaks me, as it has over the past 5 years. I continue to edit other people’s work to “stay in shape,” and write the occasional music interview, but I think forced retirement broke my spirit. It is what it is.
Hmm. I had a bout like that myself in the early 90s for about 4 years. Then, boom! It came back with a vengeance.
Maybe your time is just around the corner? As you say, it is what it is, but here’s to hoping you can get back into it if it gave you joy in the past.
Thank you for that….there may be hope yet!
I bet you just need the right catalyst to stop on by and rattle your bones. 🙂
Hey, I was wondering what was going on with you. I’m going through the same thing. I too had to switch gears. What I’m doing is still working on music theory and comp and vocal training. I’m using the “writing time” for other things (like research and reading).
My own Mom, scared me so badly that I don’t want to return to poetry for a while. What she said, I understood came from fear and some form of “love.” But… they were unrealistic and warped demands. I went to several medical professionals to have testing done and asked them, if what my Mom said was valid. I was informed that, “I’ve met, and am maintaining my goals during a difficult time.” I got several hugs and “congratulations” from the medical professionals.
Actually, I’m one of the only patient’s my Dr. has that actually does exactly what she says that I need to do. Her and two specialists put me on the diet that changed my appearance and improved my overall health. It took me four years to reach the weight she and they recommended. I am there now and even when I was starving (due to economic issues that were wide spread) I still managed to not lose more weight than what is considered within the maintenance range. 5 pounds above or below. I only lost 3 pounds, but have gained two back, since food arrived. During the lean times, I cut out most of my exercise routine because it would’ve made me lose too much weight. Instead I stayed with Yoga, ballet, and jazz dance, to keep my joints and ligaments flexible. Also, as an effort to not experience as much muscle atrophy.
I’m still recording videos too, but taking my time putting them together. If you need a friend, I’m here My email is [redacted]. Sorry, I don’t want it written out correctly, for AI and others to copy and paste. Keep your head up.
I, too, am switching gears for the time being. Similar track — picking up an emulation of a classic synthesizer and teaching myself how to create my own patches instead of using presets. For all the years of playing music, I’ve never taken the time to craft my own sounds on a synth (quite possibly because most of my older hardware synths had all of that hidden behind an interface). I can get lost in crafting songs, which is something I think I need to do to get my brain off of words for a spell (aside from reading).
I suppose I’m lucky that most of my family considers my writing to be a “hobby” that doesn’t need their attention. Even as a teen, my parents largely ignored it, and that was when some of my darker writing really presented itself. Sorry that you have to deal with that.
Congrats on all of the successes, however! I probably should have stuck it out with Taiji; my body would probably feel less spite for me if I had 😂
I’ll drop you a line sometime soon. It’s always good to have someone to bounce thoughts off of. Thanks for the offer.
No successes, just struggles that turned out okay (for now). I didn’t start changing until my life was at risk… so, I’m still in a bit of rough shape lol. After making the changes, I do feel better though.
Learning to relearn everything, to “train” myself to change how I was living, was uncomfortable. I had to learn how to be both kind and strict with myself. As someone who was always at war with myself, it was unsettling to begin to love and accept myself (especially when I failed and had to try again).
Take care,
X
Even the small successes are still successes. 💙
I know what you mean, its not easy to recover (whatever the problem) at times. I still struggle some days with my own problems having an alcoholic’s brain, and its been over sixteen years since I’ve been a practicing alcoholic.
It takes time. Take care, too.
If i don’t feel like writing I just let it rest; I’ve been doing it long enough that I know I’ll feel like it again, and forcing it when I’m not inspired just leads to throwaway work. I’ve never really suffered from writer’s block, per se; if I’m having trouble thinking of something to write when I’m actually sitting at the computer and inspired to write I just start throwing words down on the screen until I pick up a good thread. Not being inspired is a different thing than that; any art requires so much enthusiasm to complete that I just wait until the feeling passes and then I get back into it.
That’s pretty much one of my techniques that I picked up from my high school writing teacher. I would sit in from of my writing book and write, even if it was to write “I can’t think of anything to write,” over and over and eventually my brain would say “enough of that shit”, and something would eventually come out — occasionally something even worth reading!
Great attitude, Ted. I expected something along those lines for you.
Don’t worry Michael, it’ll come back. And we’ll still be here when it does. 😉
It usually does, much to my readers dismay 🤪
I’ve never felt that I have to write every day, and I never force it because I never come up with anything halfway decent if I do. If I have no ideas for ages, so be it; I keep my hand in writing book reviews and blog posts. I just published a book that I’ve been picking up and putting down for about 4 years, while writing others that came to me during that time; at one point I had no ideas for a year, then came up with a 4th, 5th and 6th book to add to an existing trilogy and make a series – all one after the other and at great speed. Just under 2 weeks ago I had an idea – neither of the two I’d been toying with – and it just took off, so I’m about 29,000 words into it and still going strong. A pantser aproach, I guess, but it works for me. I’m sure your drive will return – just give it time to do its own thing in its own time. Best of luck with it. 🙂
The itch always does return for me, I’ve just learned not to fight it when things aren’t coming — that just makes it worse. And slower to return.
It’s great you can keep the momentum. I used to have that energy myself until the past few years. I’ll blame having kids hit their teenage years 😂
Keep pounding away at them keys!
Sounds like a position similar to my own. I’m sure you’ll be pounding the keys again when the time is right. All the best for it. 🙂
Thanks!
My mentor and I have such different writing styles, our conversations are full of different perspectives which helps me bunches. A change of scenery sometimes helps. And just not working on a project for a while helps me see plot holes. Or places I can add to the story.
There is that element. Space creates places for new ideas to sneak in.
I wasn’t aware you had an official mentor. That’s cool. Casual or professional?
Causal
Awesome. I used to have a group of like-minded folks year ago that I could talk about things like that over coffee, but we fell away from each other and I have no clue where to find them now. Hang on to that!
I pray to. 🙏🏻
I’m sorry y’all lost touch. I really enjoy reading about C. S. Lewis; including the stuff he’s written. He talks about his writing friends, a group called the Inklings. How amazing that must have been.
Yeah, well, my drinking and moving out of state didn’t help matters on that one. I lost a lot during that period and don’t blame anyone for not looking me up.
Maybe in your new environment you can find a different group. If you live in a bigger city, the library might have a group. I went to a few creative writing classes at our library. I left so out of place. Those folks had been writing for years and it showed.
We have a couple of places. They miss the accidental nature of the other group’s meeting, where someone pointed out that all of our lattes had gone cold because we were all madly scrawling in our notebooks 😂
Lucky for us, the barista felt bad for us and remade all of our drinks.
That was nice to get warm drinks.
He liked us. We all tipped well.
I always thought that I wanted a work from home job. But so many of my ideas are sparked from being around others. Not exactly social. People watching.
I like working from home, I won’t deny it. No rush hours, no office spaces with hinky climate control, no bagged lunches… but I really should hit the coffee shops more often so I can people watch. There’s not much of that to do in my basement office, although the six cats give me plenty to observe at times.
Take a shopping trip to Wal-Mart; you’ll get all kinds of fuel. 😉
LMAO. Yes, indeed. Especially our closest local store. Whee!
😂 The world is your oyster.
Oyster in a tin. Past its best-by date. After an alley cat licked it.
🦪
There is a mental picture.
I call ’em as I see ’em. And that store… is a doozy.
I suppose I’ve never thought of it as a dry spell. It’s more or less that I complete something and decide what I want to do with it. Some things I don’t complete for hours, days, weeks etc. I write with pen and paper whenever I start anything. Only one extensive project have I only typed besides some work things.
I guess I give dry spells a different label which might change perspective for me.
[…] of the things I have been considering is futzing about with music again. Like creative writing in my previous post, that also has a well that dries up, especially as I don’t usually have collaborators to […]
I always write even if it’s journaling, but sometimes that’s all I can write because creative writing just isn’t flowing. Like you, I feel like it’s all a jumbled mess sometimes. Like I forgot how to do it or something. I tend to read more when that happens. I don’t beat myself up anymore because well, I don’t have energy for writing or reading most days, let alone beating myself up. That’s what has me most frustrated. Why am I exhausted reading 5 pages? Why am I feeling like I need a nap after writing one poem or maybe 1,000 words of Ted’s story project? It’s been a journey with this fatigue. But it’s whatever. I’m doing what I can. I feel you’re right to rest and recharge. Often when I need to do that, the ideas I have sit long enough to be ready to flow out on their own.
I hear you. I am exhausted myself most days — to the point that I wonder if I need to have someone look into it for me — and that certainly doesn’t help with the writing.
What I hate is when you look at what you wrote and you’re like, “What? What is this even supposed to mean? Did I mix some ancient language in with my native English?”
I’m still hoping you’ll make a remarkable turn around on your fatigue and other stuff, that one crisp morning this autumn you’ll wake up and carpe all of the diems. 💕
I believe all writers should follow what is natural. Some need to write every day to feel they are staying ahead of the curve of productivity. Some are indolent by nature and work in spurts, accomplishing much in little time because their brains have been stewing for long on something that needs to be written, and when the energy starts to flow and thought and imagination are falling into place, some writers need to take advantage of that. Similar to Coleridge’s Kubla Khan. The writing is done in a sort of trance, and they don’t like to be bothered while they are working. Seems like the dog has to go out 2x as often whenever those spurts occur.
Same issue, different cause. Six cats suddenly need attention (“You’re writing? Lap-nap!”) and all three daughters want to have a heart-to-heart (in tandem).
Agreed. I have nothing that I am trying to accomplish with my own writing most days other than participating in the act itself, but I can see the “productivity” mindset that drives people. Like you mention, I tend to write in more like a trance state, which is a large part of why I tend towards shorter pieces that are easily accomplished in short periods of time.
Thanks for the thoughts and your comments. I appreciate both.
Hi Michael! This is interesting because I think drying up, so to speak, is something that happens to all writers. When this happens to me I tend to do something else like watch a film or do something physical such as going for a walk. Forced writing doesn’t work for me, it shows in the writing. Then, you get those little moments when you are washing up and a brilliant idea drops into your head….
That usually happens when I am focused on something else, right? The idea pops up and if I am unlucky, escapes before I can write it down. I have some of my best ideas that I can’t recall as I drift off to sleep.
Thanks, Sharon 🙂
I understand completely! The trick is to have notebooks everywhere, including by your bed! You still have to be very quick though because as you pointed out, the idea can vanish!!!
Happy writing, Michael! ☺
Thank you. Happy writing to you as well.
Thank you, Michael! 😊
Hell, yes. Sometime spent in the ‘shit, I’ll never write anything ever again’ mode then bury myself in something else. I try to let any random ideas bounce around in my head rather than force them out (as this invariably results in nonsense – and pretty crap nonsense at that). I figure that if they have legs they’ll still be there when I feel ready to write. If not then they weren’t meant to be aired!
It took a while to get to this mentality, but I don’t feel any pressure to write these days.
Good! Now sharpen your pencil and chop-chop!
Just kidding. 😂
I think it takes a certain maturity to be able to give yourself permission to not be productive. We have so many counter-examples in popular writing culture that it seems like we’re not taking our writing seriously when we allow ourselves to just rest when our brain needs a rest.
It is much easier when one allows themselves the accomplishment just in the act of writing — the stakes are much less oppressive when you write to write.
Thanks Chris.
Cheers. You are, I believe, spot on here – which is why doing something you truly enjoy as a profession is not something I’d crave as I think that the pressure created can kill one’s creativity.
I read an interview with Gary Numan the other week where he was saying that, despite the outward look of his career, he now never listened to music as the pressure it created to produce something better had become too much.
Catch-22.
Gary is an interesting person. I can’t decide if he would make a good friend or if he is one of those people best left to himself. It is fun to watch him perform some of his newer music with his kids. You can tell he is enjoying the hell out of himself. The kids are nervy as hell, though, and it shows.
I think he probably has his own world in to which few are admitted.
I liked his very early work and his more recent albums too. I think he lost his way a bit through the ’90s imo.
I agree 100%: 70s, 80s, 10s and 20s were decent decades for him. 90s and 00s…. less so.