Let’s face it, even if you’re a creative type, you sometimes need a boost of creativity. And when you’re a writer, you might have all kinds of characters and plots swirling around in your mind and heart, but it’s another story (no pun intended) getting those characters from mind to paper. This is when you need tips to boost your creativity and access those elusive muses.
We’re going to start with the three primary ways to boost your creativity. These points will be longer because they’re so important. And then afterward you’ll find seven more hacks for accessing your creativity as a writer.
3 Main Ways to Boost Your Creativity as a Writer
Creativity is the lifeblood of any writer. Creativity fuels the … well, creation of engaging stories, compelling characters, and worlds that ring true. If you feel your creativity has hit a wall, here are some places you might find the tools to break down the wall, climb over it, or find a way around it.
1. Know Yourself
This concept from a variety of ancient philosophies and belief systems might sound a little too deep for a blog post on creativity … but stay with me because it’s important to who you are as a writer.
You need to know yourself.
That is, you have to know what works for you as a writer:
- What feeds your creativity?
- What steals from it?
Something I’ve learned about myself over the years is that I need space to write. When I forget or neglect this, I begin to wonder why I’m having a hard time accessing my creativity.
But then, I get that space I need and suddenly the ideas start flowing and I’m writing again.
What do I mean by space to write?
I don’t mean having a perfect little writing nook (although that would be nice). This space is more mental than physical in some ways. It’s not that I need to be off in a cabin in the woods (although that would also be nice).
But I need to know that people aren’t going to be coming in and talking to me at all hours, interrupting me when I’ve just gotten into the writing flow of an idea or concept or scene.
This is not easy to come by for a wife and a mother, freelancer, and student; space is something I’ve struggled to gain over the years.
For me, the space for writing is two-fold. It constitutes a physical space, yes, but it is also a mental space, if that makes sense. This might sound weird to you if your needs as a writer are completely different.
And they might be, which is why you need to know yourself as a writer.
2. Read Good Books
The second way to boost your creativity as a writer is by reading. No good writer is not a reader.
This is so important!
Knowing how to access chat GPT and ask them to write something for you does not make you a writer. Deciding you have something to say and drafting all your thoughts together does not make you a good writer.
But reading good books written by good writers can assist you along the road to becoming a solidly skilled writer.
You have to be a reader if you’re going to be a writer because you have to traffic in words; story must be your chosen medium—what you love to work with and immerse yourself in.
I do not think I would trust any writer who doesn’t also love a good story. It would be like a master chef who hates to eat or a pilot afraid of the sky.
The kind of reading that you do as a writer is up to you. It depends on what you write. If you’re a creative essayist, then you probably want to read authors such as:
- Michel de Montaigne, who some consider the original essayist.
- Annie Dillard, remarkable essayist and authors of creative collections such as The Writing Life, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, and Teaching a Stone to Talk.
- Lia Purpura, whose essay collection On Looking is both lyrical and deep.
- Patrick Madden, author of Disparates and Quotidiana.
- Elena Passarello, whose Animals Strike Curious Poses will astound you with just how “outside the box” an essay collection can be.
- Philip Lopate is another terrific creative essayist.
- Here’s an example of a creative essay I wrote several years ago: Wrestling the Angel.
If you’re looking to write a memoir and need some solid memoirs so you know how it’s done, you might want to read books like:
- Jerald Walker’s The World in Flames
- Joe Wilkin’s The Mountain and the Fathers
- Anne Lamott, of course, in Traveling Mercies or Operating Instructions, both amazing memoirs. I love all her nonfiction.
- Mary Karr’s memoir The Liar’s Club is also a remarkable story.
If you are looking for a boost of creativity to write good nonfiction, you’ll want to spend time with authors who write a variety of nonfiction and don’t stick to a particular genre. Some of the above authors fit that description, such as Anne Lamott, who also writes fiction, as do:
- Frederick Buechner, one of my favorite authors. I wouldn’t know where to begin, because I can’t decide which of his nonfiction books I like best. He also wrote fiction.
- Tracy K Smith, who wrote the memoir Ordinary Light and also writes poetry.
- Poet and essayist Christian Wiman.
- Sho Baraka, voice artist and author of He Saw That It Was Good
- Andrew Peterson’s Adorning the Dark and The God of the Garden
This is only a starting list of good nonfiction creative essayists, memoirists, poets, and in some cases, musicians and spoken word artists.
And that’s just nonfiction.
If you’re a fiction writer, you need to read good fiction in the genre that you enjoy. So, if you need a boost of creativity to write a fantasy novel, read good fantasy. And even that is such a broad category; there are various forms of fantasy (high fantasy, dark fantasy, magical realism, historical fantasy, etc.).
But in short, don’t read stuff that sucks. Don’t read just a bunch of genre fiction that is published to satisfy the palette of readers who are too easily pleased. You learn to distinguish good, solid stories from poor ones by reading the good stuff.
There are good books and there are poorly written books. Even if a book has an exciting plot, it doesn’t mean it’s well written. Learn to recognize the stories that are well-written, the stories that are going to be enjoyed by readers for generation.
Some fiction writers that have stood the test of time (or that I’m pretty sure will stand that test) are:
They don’t all write fantasy; some write literary fiction or other forms of fiction. But they all deserve to be on a bookshelf in your home library.
I know this point was long, but it’s such an important part of boosting your creativity as a writer:
Read good books!
3. Just Start Writing.
Sometimes this is just what you need to do to access and harness your creativity:
Just start writing.
Don’t wait for the perfect environment or time. And if you’re completely stuck on what direction to go in your current WIP, set that aside and write something completely different.
- Try journaling about how much you’re not in the mood for writing.
- Write something totally out of your genre like a poem.
Along the same lines, try boosting your creativity by writing in a different format:
- If you usually put pen to paper, try writing on the computer.
- If you’re always on the computer, grab a physical notebook and pencil.
- Or try using voice-to-text to jot down some thoughts or a scene in your story.
(I often use voice-to-text to draft scenes or dialog while I’m driving to pick up my son from school or heading to a grocery store. I save it as an email to myself and copy it into my story when I’m back home and at my computer.)
Boosting Creativity in Your Writing Life
While the above three points are the three foundational ways to boost your creativity, here are seven more ways to enhance or access your creativity, along with some links to further reading if any of these tips interest you and you want to learn more about them.
Embrace Mindfulness:
Mindfulness practices, such as meditation and deep breathing exercises, can enhance creative thinking by fostering a calm and focused state of mind. Incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine can help clear mental clutter and pave the way for fresh ideas to emerge.
Engage in Divergent Thinking:
Engaging in divergent thinking exercises, such as brainstorming and free writing, can expand your creative repertoire by encouraging you to explore multiple perspectives and ideas. Set aside time each day to engage in divergent thinking exercises to stretch your creative muscles.
Seek Inspiration from Nature:
Nature has long been a source of inspiration for writers, and scientific research supports its creative benefits. Exposure to natural environments can enhance creativity by promoting relaxation and reducing mental fatigue. Take regular nature walks or simply spend time outdoors to recharge your creative batteries.
Collaborate with Others:
Collaboration can be a powerful catalyst for creativity. Collaborative projects can lead to greater creativity by providing opportunities for brainstorming, feedback, and diverse perspectives. Seek out writing groups or partner with fellow writers to spark new ideas and perspectives.
Embrace Constraints:
While it may seem counterintuitive, embracing constraints can actually boost creativity. Constraints can lead to more innovative solutions by forcing you to think outside the box. Challenge yourself to write within specific constraints, such as word limits or genre requirements, to stimulate creative problem-solving.
Take Breaks and Rest:
Rest is essential for creativity. Taking breaks and allowing your mind to wander can enhance creative thinking by facilitating unconscious mental processes. Schedule regular breaks during your writing sessions and allow yourself to rest and recharge.
Experiment with Different Mediums:
Exploring different creative mediums, such as visual arts or music, can stimulate cross-disciplinary thinking and inspire new ideas. Engaging in diverse creative activities can enhance cognitive flexibility and creative problem-solving skills. If you don’t know where to start, try looking on YouTube for online art prompts and lessons. You can also look into local adult schools that teach various arts, music, dance, and more.
Step out of your comfort zone and experiment with new creative outlets to broaden your creative horizons. These kinds of creative activities can reduce stress and improve overall mental well-being.
Conclusion
While there are probably countless ways to boost your creativity as a writer, some ways are more effective than others. Some are also more foundational than others. You’ll want to start by knowing yourself in that you know what works for you in boosting your creativity. You also want to read good books and just start writing.
Other effective means to harness your creativity include: embracing mindfulness, engaging in divergent thinking, seeking inspiration from nature, collaborating with others, embracing constraints, taking breaks and rest, and experimenting with different mediums.
You Might Also Enjoy:
- Six Ways to Organize Your Writing Life
- Want to Be a Better Writer? Trust Your Reader.
- The Best Books I’ve Read on the Writing Life
A couple notes on this post:
First, many of the authors and books linked above are affiliate images. I don’t randomly link books or authors I have not read; these are all books I’ve read and would personally (and in most cases, highly) recommend.
I love sharing book recommendations with friends and loved ones, and would gladly loan you any of these books from my own home library if you were near at hand. In lieu of that, the links. If you do purchase any books using the links, I receive a small commission, which helps me as a writer. Thank you.
Second, this year, I’ve decided to learn more about how to use AI in my creative world. I tend to be a “late adopter” of things, and with technology changing so quickly, I am trying to keep up. In this case, I’ve used help with the images, and I’m honestly having fun seeing what kind of prompts can produce various images. What do you think?
If you’re interested, for the images in this post, I used Microsoft Designer’s image creator and requested:
- A Claymation image of a female writer with a book and bees illuminating the sky.
- A Claymation image of a writer with a pen, books illuminating the sky.
- A Claymation image of a child writing a book and bees illuminating the cozy bedroom.
Bonita Jewel 