“The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones.” – John Maynard Keynes

Sometimes, getting out of a creative block requires escaping from the gravitational pull of old ideas, other times it might require diving into them to get re-inspired. Below, we’ve shared a variety of perspectives, insights and advice on how to overcome creative blocks

Bryan Duffy

I find that once I’m out of ideas, I simply take a break from writing. I don’t stress about it. It’s obvious to me that my brain needs a break from creating.
To get back into it, I start reading books, watch documentaries to see if there is anything that sparks. Read More>>

Amanda Jaffe

When I write, I’ve learned to let go of a need for perfection in early drafts. It’s taken a lifetime, but it doesn’t bother me in the least to write a muddy first draft. (A lot of writers use a more descriptive word than “muddy,” but I’m trying to keep this clean.) If I don’t get words on the page, I won’t have anything to work with. Read More>>

Devin Noir

I love this question. Whenever I come across any type of block, I’ll talk myself through it first. After that, I change up my routine. Creativity is tied to experience. Experiences lead to inspiration. Sometimes, just approaching aspects of my life in a different way will lead me to inspiration. The mind is a powerful muscle. Provide the right inspiration, and the muscle gets stronger. Read More>>

Kate Flake

For me, creative blocks happen for two reasons: stress in other areas of my life and anxiety about what to make. As a grad student earning my MFA, I’ve had to learn how to juggle working 20 hours a week, taking classes, and maintaining a studio practice. My first year of grad school was terrible. I didn’t produce a lot of work, and I struggled to complete everything that was being asked of me. It ultimately led to taking medical leave from my part-time job towards the end of my first year. Read More>>

Eddie Egesi

Well, it hasn’t always been easy. There have definitely been times when I struggled to come up with ideas. And it’s not just about having ideas—it’s about coming up with ideas that are actually good.

Over the years, I’ve developed a few strategies to prevent creativity blocks. One thing that really helps is mindful meditation. I’ve found that when I maintain a calm, focused state for long stretches of time, my thoughts flow more freely. I start to notice things that others might miss simply because my mind is clearer. I also like to go for walks to reset my mental state and keep ideas flowing. Read More>>

YoungJun Lee

When I experience writer’s block, I tend not to dwell on it. Instead, I shift my focus to other productive activities—meeting people, attending performances or exhibitions, or simply engaging with different forms of art. Surprisingly, many of my ideas come not from music itself, but from other disciplines. I often find inspiration in visual gestures from paintings, academic texts, or through conversations with others. Dance and theater, in particular, offer rich sources of non-musical imagination. Read More>>

Dori Gronich

It takes time and doing something else unrelated to the creative project. Creativity comes and goes. When I feel the urge to write or draw sometimes I get the motivation to do so when I’m supposed to be asleep. Unfortunately for me, I can’t resist and I could pull an all nighter when in reality this is not a good decision. Read More>>

Kyle Spratt

Writer’s block is still something I’ve been learning to work through but it’s definitely getting better. I’ve been researching Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way” and learned that a lot of my creative blocks are either rooted in fear, perfectionism, or lack of input in my life. I can’t have more input (“life-living”/inspiration) than output (music); it doesn’t make sense. So I haven’t completely conquered it but we’re getting there. Read More>>