Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chloe Spencer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Chloe, thank you so much for making time for us today. Let’s jump right into a question so many in our community are looking for answers to – how to overcome creativity blocks, writer’s block, etc. We’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have.
I’m no stranger to writers block. I’ve had days where all I’ve wanted to do was write, and as soon as I’ve sat down to find the time to write, either my motivation or my ideas were gone. But over the years, I’ve discovered that there’s often ONE reason as to why you experience writers block:
You’re bored.
Often times, you’re not bored with the project itself–at least from my experience–but your life may lack enrichment. When I was experiencing my worst bouts of writers block, that was usually during the times in my life where I was the least adventurous. I wasn’t venturing into the world to try new things, and when you’re not doing things to stimulate your brain or feed your sense of curiosity, you likely need to get out and do something new: try a new restaurant, take a class on something you’ve never tried before, or visit the museum you’ve always driven past, but never bought a ticket to.
Now in today’s economy, trying new things may not always be a viable solution. Things cost money. But there are little things you can do at home or build into your routine to introduce your brain to new experiences without breaking the bank. Listen to an album by an artist you’ve never heard of before. Go for a run every single morning and try to change up the pathway around your neighborhood. Stream a film.
If you’re continuously introducing your brain to new experiences, you’ll likely have thoughts and feelings regarding them. Maybe you’ll hate that pottery class you take, but it’ll give you the idea for a great enemies-to-lovers romcom set in a Color Me Mine. There’s little to be gained from sitting around at home all day worrying about writing, but there’s a lot to learn when you try something new.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
As an author, I primarily focus on the horror genre for both adults and teenagers. My books are often genre blenders that combine elements of sci-fi or fantasy, and romance is a large component to the storyline, as well as LGBTQ+ and mental health themes. My upcoming novella, Mewing, which releases on February 27th, focuses on an Instagram model grappling with body image issues as she rises to stardom in the fashion industry.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
My most important skill is my time management. As a mom to two cats and someone with a full time day job, time management is critical to ensuring that I have enough time to write while also making sure that my life is well rounded, and that I’m not slacking on my responsibilities. I can look at my schedule for the day or week ahead and know when I need to carve out time to write.
In conjunction with time management, I’m great at prioritizing tasks and creating goals for my work. I set reasonable word count goals and complete prewriting tasks within a timely manner.
Finally, my final skill is finding ways to be adventurous. This is critical to avoiding writers block and ensures that I develop new ideas for stories.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I’m feeling overwhelmed, that’s usually because I’m not taking care of myself. I try to exercise five times a week while leaving room for rest. Cardio helps to manage my anxiety. Additionally, and I know this may be hard for some to do, but limiting my time on social media generally makes me happier. I have an app called StayFree which limits the number of hours I spend on TikTok or Instagram, which not only ensures that I’m actually working on writing, but that I’m not taking time away from self-care. It’s critical to me to have a bedtime routine where I wind down my day, and often times this also involves reading before going to sleep.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.chloespenceronline.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyitschloespencer/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/chloespencerdev
Image Credits
Haunting Melody & Monstersona Cover: Illustration by Alex Moore with Tiny Ghost Press Mewing Cover: Designed by Alan Lastufka An Affinity for Formaldehyde Cover: Designed by C.V. Hunt with Grindhouse Press
