“Creativity takes courage.” – Henri Matisse
Even with all the courage in the world, every creative will eventually run into a creative block, so we asked some of our favorite creatives to share how they overcome creative blocks.
Emre Korkmaz
When I face writer’s block, it’s usually because I’m staring at a blank page with no clear idea where to start. The longer I struggle to begin, the more anxious I become. To overcome this, I find it essential to have a strong opening sentence that I’m passionate about before sitting down to write. A good opening sentence gives me hope and fuel to press forward, as well as a standard to uphold.
Recently, I’ve discovered the joy of writing longhand with a fountain pen. The sensory experiences – the smell of ink, the feel of paper, and the ritual of refilling my pen – make writing a physical and enjoyable process. When I’m stuck, I write about my struggles, and soon ideas start flowing more freely. Writing longhand helps me slow down, consider the next word I’m about to write, and write more concisely. Transferring my work to the computer becomes the first rewrite, and the text already reads more polished. Read more>>
Kagan Okudan
In my career, I have encountered creativity blocks on several occasions. One particularly challenging time was when I was working on a high-profile project for a global brand. The pressure to deliver something extraordinary was immense, and I found myself staring at a blank screen, unable to generate any new ideas. It felt as though my creativity had vanished overnight. Techniques and Strategies
To overcome this block, I employed a variety of techniques. I started by taking short breaks throughout the day to clear my mind and reset. I would go for walks, listen to music, or engage in activities unrelated to my work. These breaks helped me gain a fresh perspective and often sparked new ideas. Additionally, I changed my environment by working from different locations, such as cafes or parks, which helped stimulate my creativity. Focusing on Core Abilities
When I feel a creative block, I always focus on some core abilities or skills, like the basics of photography or core black and white photography techniques such as pinhole cameras. I force myself to re-engage with the fundamentals of something I love, trying my best to practice the core aspects of any idea or technique. For instance, I often shoot black and white analogue photos and process the film myself. This hands-on approach helps me reconnect with the essence of my craft and reignites my creative spark. Recently, I have been diving into art theory, exploring notions of aesthetics to find new ways to break free from depression or creative blocks. Read more>>
Jeri Evan
Any time that I’m feeling lost in the sauce, I like to retrace my steps. So much of my creative spark comes from past experiences, and I consider a lot of my work to take on the appearance of the environment I’m in. Whether it’s a place I am, how I’m feeling in the moment, or especially in recent years who I’m collaborating with. Embracing the weird has allowed me to fall in sync with people who see things the way I do in an extremely organic way. I feel so blessed to have finally found my tribe after years of growing pains and not quite feeling like I fit in anywhere. It was like going through Design puberty. I excel working in a team environment, and having a community to bounce ideas off of has been what’s reined me in. I’ve felt a lot of support from my peers in making me a much better Designer. Read more>>
Sulema Fernandez-Honn
As a creative entrepreneur, I know firsthand that creativity is the lifeblood of my business. But even the most innovative minds can hit a wall – Creative Block is a real phenomenon that can strike anyone, regardless of experience or skill. It often strikes when we’re trying to launch something new or wrap up a project. When this happens to me, I’ve learned to take a step back, whether it’s for a short break or a longer hiatus. That’s when I seek out inspiration from others, immerse myself in stimulating environments, or simply give my brain time to recharge. Sometimes, all it takes is a little rest to get the creative juices flowing again. Read more>>
Sage TAvalon
I think creativity blocks definitely come with the terrain as an artist. One way to overcome that is incorporating a new idea that isn’t the way you normally do things. For example, experimenting with gold leaf opened up a new door for me with painting. If I want to write a song and don’t feel any inspiration picking up the guitar like I normally do, I might feel more inspired starting on piano (rather than guitar like I usually do) or collaborating with someone and bouncing off their ideas. And sometimes, you just need to recharge and have faith that inspiration will come at the right time. Balance between absorbing the outside world and creating from your inside world is important. Read more>>
Mersum Khokhar
If I cant think of a guitar riff I like to start songs with a drum beat or a synth tone instead. I tend to do this more often than not and use the guitar as a supplementary tone to enhance the rest of the track. I think the best way to beat creativity blocks are exiting the comfort zone and begin experimenting. Go deep into searching for something that clicks with you. It could be as simple as a single note. For our single “Places” I had no clue how to start the song off so I whipped out a piano. and hit 2 keys and from there I had a vision for how I wanted the intro of the song to kickoff. Another example is our latest single “Bring Me to the Beach” where in that case I had no guitar ideas in mind and so I messed around with some pads and some arpeggio’s and from there a slide guitar melody came to mind and Ive never even picked up a slide so I had to learn that but man did it pay off. Read more>>
Bobby Gerhardt
Whenever I hit a wall with creating anything, I usually end up cleaning something. When I am in my shop, I start sweeping or putting tools away. Eventually, I will find something that sparks some type of idea. Ideas can range from improving a production process, to finding a different way to store commonly accessed inventory. I run my own business outside of my normal full time job. There is always somewhere to improve processes. Once that spark comes along and I’m moving on an idea, that usually leads to more creativity along the way as well. Read more>>
Susan Joyce
Creativity evolves from inspiration. As a novelist, when I need inspiration I go back to the basics—plot, character development, setting, pace, point of view, etc. But it is more often that my characters inspire me most. I find myself asking what and who shaped these characters? I ask questions of them, such as: what would embarrass this character the most, and why? What is this character’s deepest darkest secret that they will go to their deathbed before they reveal? What have they denied themselves, and why? What do they do when no one is watching? What do they do when everyone is watching? What is their secret talent, hobby, activity? I continue to probe my characters until something inspires me. This helps me better understand my character which makes it easier for me to write their reactions to the plot elements I have in place. Read more>>
Mary McDonald
I think a lot of time creative blocks are a state of mind. For me, I do a few things to break them and get back into the groove. First, I change my physical state meaning, I might take my dogs on a walk, sit on my back porch for awhile, turn on Aretha Franklin and have a dance party in my living room, something to get my mind off “I need to finish this creative project.” When I do any of the above I set a 10-15 minute timer so that I can relax and only focus on what I’m doing in the moment. It takes the pressure off my thoughts of “Am I just procrastinating again?” and “You should really be working right now” and allows me the freedom to dissociate from the creative block I’m having. Read more>>
Reinalis Ayala
I think it’s very important to take breaks, ESPECIALLY from social media. As an entrepreneur, social media is a big part of marketing your brand but with such a big platform comes many different opinions and controversies. Not only can this affect your creativity but also your mental state. I find that taking a step back from everything can help you realign your truest desires and values, keeping you grounded. It genuinely frees up a space in your mind allowing new thoughts & ideas to flow freely. Read more>>
Katherine Yang
Overcoming a creative block can be challenging, but revisiting past memories often reignites my creativity. When I encounter a block, I need to disengage from the present and immerse myself in the past by turning off my phone, playing music that evokes strong emotions, watching influential movies or shows, or simply browsing through old photos. Past experiences provide a rich source of inspiration. Music transports me back to pivotal moments, movies and shows remind me of important life lessons, and photos trigger vivid memories. These moments of introspection and solitude allow my creativity to flow more freely, and reflecting on past emotions with a fresh perspective deepens my understanding of myself and my journey. By tapping into these authentic experiences, I infuse my work with a sense of authenticity and depth that resonates with others. Read more>>
Juliette Langari
As a content creator, I’ve faced my fair share of creative blocks. With everyone being so closely connected to the internet nowadays, it makes it harder to make something creative without feeling like you’re copying someone else’s idea. Over time, I’ve learned a few techniques to overcome these blocks and get back into my creative groove. The first step is always acknowledgment and deciding what I need to do. Is this an opportunity where I can step away and refresh or do I need to create something soon for a deadline? Usually, regardless of the need, I always take a walk. I love clearing my head and listening to some of my favorite tunes. It’s almost more helpful for me to take a few hours to forget about what I need to get done, rather than obsessing over it and getting burnt out. Once I’ve cleared my head, I set some small goals. Say I need to create content for a hiking boot brand, I find a trail I’m curious about and drive there. Usually, the environment sets up my shots for me! It’s also been big for me to connect with others, sharing my struggles with fellow content creators has been incredibly helpful. Joining a community not only gave me great friendships, but also tips and tricks and a whole lot of accountability. Creative blocks are a natural part of the process, but don’t let them derail you. Take a step back, breathe, and march onward. Read more>>
Bonnie Teitelbaum
When I am dry and out of ideas the best way to get inspired is to fill my head with images. A great way for me is to take a road trip and see the sites of America. My car is a convertible and driving the back roads less traveled always fills me with inspiration. Closer to home a trip to a history or art museum works as well. I love to study the art work and critique it. Why it is good or bad in my opinion gets my art muscle moving and analyzing why a painting works or not helps in my own painting analysis. Read more>>
$Profit
Keep trying to picture a story in my head,constantly listening to beats,never stop your writing process,eventually the thoughts and words will come together Read more>>
