“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.
Kat Leroy
I like to work on multiple projects at once. Whenever I hit a creative snag, I move to a different project, be it a story, a screenplay, or a voice role I’m about to record. I stop thinking about the paused project and focus on something else. But my brain never stops working the problem and I usually come up with a solution pretty fast. I just have to stop trying to find it so hard. Read more>>
Tachena Winterhalter
Making art just for the sake of making art has never been something that’s interested me. It took me years to learn that sometimes I’m not going to create as much as I did last month/year/etc. Creativity, like anything in life is ebb and flow. I used to try to force myself to paint if it had been weeks or months that I hadn’t produced a thing. Because I had such a passionate love affair with creating art. What came out of me when I forced it was not something I loved or enjoyed. So when a block happens, I wait it out until it passes. Read more>>
Brandice Pondexter
Overcoming creativity blocks as an entrepreneur in a creative industry is challenging for sure. The number one thing that has helped me is to make sure I am taking active breaks and resting . When you get burnt out and you’re tired it’s hard to function as a human let alone a business owner. Read more>>
Tyler Williams
sometimes it’s ok to just step away from whatever you are creating and go about a normal life for some time. If I am not feeling creative, I’ll just start sweeping my house, watch a music documentary, yard work, not making any music until I get inspired by a random thought or memory. Read more>>
Susan Lee
I’m an unconventional creative. I’m not an artist, I don’t create with my hands, and I have a mathematics background. I refer to myself as a serial pivoter: I’m a teacher by trade but have also worked in nonprofits, consulting, and technology. I love learning, so I have a hard time sticking to one thing. Read more>>
Melanie B
Whenever I get to the point when I can’t write, or my characters doesn’t want to talk at the moment, I take a step back from writing. Take a few days off and then come back to the book. That has always helped me. Read more>>
Fatin Afiqah Md Asrul Saniy
As a writer, I’ve faced my fair share of creativity blocks. To combat these roadblocks, I’ve found that immersing myself in the world I’m creating is incredibly effective. For instance, when writing a scene underwater, I’ve tried to visualize myself in that environment. I imagine the cool, wet sensation on my skin, the salty taste of the water, and the rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore. This sensory experience helps me to create a more immersive and detailed description. Read more>>
Yu Harn(yuko) Hwang
As a 3D artist, I’ve encountered creativity blocks many times, but I’ve developed several strategies to overcome them. One of the most effective ways is to take a break and step away from the project, allowing myself to return with a fresh perspective. Seeking inspiration from other artists, films, games, or even different mediums like fine art and architecture also helps reignite my creativity. Drawing from various sources broadens my thinking and pushes me to explore new directions in my work. Read more>>
Mengyuan Xue
During the two years that I cared for my father, who was battling the rare disease of heart cancer, I found solace in writing bits and pieces of a novel centered around a heroine coping with the pain of gradually losing her father. I found the task challenging because my published novels have focused more on the spectacle genre rather than realism. Though I had never ventured into biographical writing before, the process proved to be cathartic and helped me navigate through the difficult journey of his illness. Read more>>
Sheryl Belson
I think creativity blocks come in various shapes and sizes. Sometimes it looks like losing my passion to create. But sometimes it looks like being “stuck” on how to solve a problem or design something out of the ordinary. And there are probably more, but these are my most common sources of blockage. Read more>>
Miranda Myles Jackson
Creativity block is a very real concept. Through the years I’ve learned that the ability to overcome it is what sets apart the creative professional from the novice. Personally, for me to be creative I have to de-stress and also take in outside creative inspiration. Read more>>
Babi
This is such a common topic on artists conversations, and we mostly talk about the negative of it. Early this year I decided to take a different approach, whenever I get stuck on a chord, a melody, a line or simply a sound, I take it as moment to break the pattern, like the spirit is telling me to go a different route, as crazy as it might look. Read more>>
Lolo Ostia
To overcome creative blocks, I break down large projects into 1 smaller task that I can complete within an hour. Once I’ve tackled the first task, I gradually move on to more complex creative work. I’m also a strong advocate for minimizing distractions, often leaving my phone on mute and out of reach. To maintain focus, I’ve deleted all social media apps from my phone, ensuring I can fully immerse myself in my work. Read more>>
Yaz Reve
Even though creative blocks are truly the enemy of an artist, I believe that every creative goes through it at some point so it feels grounding to know I’m not alone when it comes to this experience and it makes me feel validated as well. Read more>>
Olivia Chapman
When I have a creative block, I try to be very gentle with myself. If something isn’t inspiring me, it’s just not worth doing at that time. I try to stay open to new ideas, new styles of art, and new ways of making to keep the inspiration fresh. Some people say a certain style is important, but I think that an artist’s identity will often show through no matter what they are doing. Read more>>
Lydia Hadley
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron has helped me in so many ways especially the part about taking your inner artist on artist dates. Doing something creative that’s not associated with your art but inspires you and your inner artist. Another big thing that’s helped me the most is asking fellow artists if I can photograph them while they’re creating. I’m making art of them making art. It’s extremely refreshing and I learn from them and how they do what they do which, I think, might be the best thing to do for artist block. Doesn’t even have to be something that’s in your field, just something new. You’ll take it into your art. Read more>>
Daniel Gomez
For me, overcoming creative blocks is about embracing the process and recognizing that creativity ebbs and flows. One of the most effective ways I’ve found to break through a block is to step away from the project temporarily. Often, I’ll immerse myself in a completely different activity—whether it’s watching a movie, going for a walk, or even reading something unrelated to filmmaking. These breaks help clear my mind and often lead to unexpected inspiration. Read more>>
Kelly Ramdeen
Sometimes you hit a wall. No creative humans are safe from it. Writer’s block, burnout, artist block. Staring at a page that reflects the empty space where your creative muse used to be. When I had my first child, suddenly my art supplies looked foreign to me. I made a few small mixed media journal pages. Tried to dabble here and there. I imagined that bringing forth new life would restore and renew my artistic power. But it was as if i had used up every bit of myself and given it all up to becoming a parent, a spouse, a neighbor, a friend. So I gave it up for a while. But something inside me went missing. Read more>>
