Guest Post by J’nell Ciesielski

I may be biased, but writing is the greatest gig out there. You get to spend hours and hours playing with your imaginary friends, spinning castles in the sky, and crafting the wittiest comebacks and quips that you can never pull off in real life at the exact moment you need to. It’s glorious.

However, as much as we all love writing there are times when we simply … can’t. This can’t paralysis usually falls under one of these categories: physical, mental, or emotional. Or perhaps you’ve been given the triple-whammy of all three. Let’s explore these creativity stranglers a bit closer, shall we?

Physical

When you physically cannot put your fingers to the keyboard or hold a pen. Perhaps you’re too busy running errands or doing chores. Perhaps you’re slathering sunscreen on the kids at the pool all day. Or working overtime. Volunteering at a shelter or being the caretaker of a loved one. Most often “writer” is not the only hat we wear and while many of these occupations bring us a sense of accomplishment or help others in some way they don’t always allow us the time we need to sit in a chair and write.

Mental

My personal nemesis. This is the thief who sucks the well of creativity dry. When your brain is overloaded and simply refuses to function beyond simple tasks. You can kiss worldbuilding and lyrical prose goodbye because you are mentally blocked from stringing complex words together. Perhaps you’re overwhelmed at work, or the kids have told you one too many nonsense jokes, or any number of things are taking up residence in your head. It’s here where your imagination is shoved into the back corner.

Emotional

When you simply don’t feel like it. Life is stressful and hard times take a toll on our emotional well-being. The last thing we want to do is sort through them or even push them aside and write a story where all the problems and cares can be resolved in a way our own personal issues can’t.

If you’re nodding your head at any of this, then lean close because I’ve got a secret to spill.

I’m right there with you.

When summer break hits my creativity takes a nosedive. I’m the mom slathering on the sunscreen so her daughter can gleefully splash at the pool (although I like to splash too 😊). I’m the homemaker ensuring my house is clean, clothes are washed, and meals cooked. I’m the author trying to make sure my posts are relevant and engaging on social media. I’m also the writer trying to carve out a slice of success in this beautiful book world by writing stories that make my heart pound and imagination fly.

But then summer hits and school is out and my job description goes from full-time writer to some-time-if-I’m-lucky writer. That brick wall hits hard and it’s like going through the twelve stages of grief to come to grips with what my life and schedule has suddenly become. Shock, denial (I linger here for a while), disbelief, confusion, guilt, anger, bargaining, depression (here too), loneliness, acceptance, hope, and renewal (yay school is back!).

Are you still nodding your head at this point?

I hope so only to comfort you in knowing you’re not alone.

So what can you do if you find yourself in the physical/mental/emotional can’t boat?

Read

Now is the time to catch up on your reading! Like any proper book lover, you no doubt have an entire tower of TBR books waiting to topple over on you so now is the perfect time to tackle it. Sink into those pages and let those words wash over you, let them settle into your pores like defiant wrinkles.

Stories are transportive and sometimes you just need to slip away into another world that will refresh your spirit. It’s also a great way to see what’s trending in the publishing business or help you see plot angles from a unique perspective. Tuck those gems away for future use.

Movies & TV

Many people don’t watch TV and that’s OK. I live for my couch viewing time at night because I can finally relax and turn my mind to pure entertainment. Being a visual person there’s nothing that stokes my imagination more than watching mist sweep across the moors of Scotland while clans battle it out, salty air billowing out the sails of a pirate ship as they hunt for treasure, or a ghost falling in love with a woman living in his old cottage. I can’t count the number of book plots that have sprung upon me in the midst of a soapy historical drama. You never know when a simple line or look can spin into plot gold.

Business Side of Things

Long gone are the days where writers can squirrel themselves away in their office and write to their heart’s content. We now are expected to handle much on the business side of things. If you’re finding yourself with a bit of downtime, use it to revamp your newsletter, create social media posts, tidy up that idea file, connect with other authors, and attend workshops and conferences. Learning more and putting thought into how to grow your audience and brand will help you to pull ahead of the pack.

Travel

Overseas, cross country, or even the next small town over. Whatever your preference or budget may be there’s something to be said for stepping beyond your front door to see the greater world and all the story possibilities just waiting to be explored.

Take in Experiences

Take that pottery class you’ve been wanting to study. Eat that cuisine from lands far away. Scale that hiking trail. We are the sum of our experiences, and from big to small those experiences influence the stories we tell.

So instead of fretting over the lack of pages you’re compiling remind yourself that while out doing things you’re stuffing full the idea bag that can one day be spun into words on a page.

So don’t stress because this too will pass and when it does, you’ll be raring to go. You got this!

The Winged Tiara by J’nell Ciesielski

Esme Fox accidentally marries Jasper Truitt the night the Great War ends but leaves him the next morning. Four years later, Jasper, now a jewel thief, finds Esme at a charity event wearing the winged tiara he’s seeking. They embark on a thrilling chase across Europe, pursued by a hitman, with their hearts and lives at stake.

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