✍️ 6 Ways to Unblock Your Creative Process
Feeling stuck? Here are 6 odd ways to get out of a creative rut in your writing.
Life has been abuzz with energy lately — I’ve been finalizing the details for my trip to Copenhagen that I’m taking before attending Emma Gannon’s writing retreat in Tuscany.
I spent this week doing a taco crawl with some people in my new neighborhood (more on some of my big life news later!) and joined a local writer’s group.
I’ve also started working with a new memoir client and am (happily!) booked and busy as a freelance book writer and editor.
As cool as it is to be running around doing lots of stuff, I find that creative pursuits can become overshadowed by a packed schedule. As I write this, I’m overdue to do some serious brainstorming on an outline for a new novel.
Today’s newsletter will touch on the 6 ways to unblock your creative process — especially in the wake of a go-go-go lifestyle.
In today’s newsletter, you’ll read about:
✨ 6 ways to unblock your creative process
✍️ Writing jobs you may have missed last week
📚 A list of my favorites: what I’m reading, eating, and watching lately
✍️ Missed This Past Week’s Writing Jobs?
Did you miss it? Here are the writing jobs on this past week’s job board:
A movie & TV critic writing job
A freelance copywriting job starting at $42/hour
An author is hiring for both a developmental editor as well as a line editor for her book
If you missed the last issue of my writing job board, check it out at the link below:
📖 Bookish News & Links
…to give you more conversation starters with your writer friends!
🍴 The “CIA book smuggling ring that helped bring down communism”
📚 Evelyn Skye breaks down what book blurbs are — and if they’re evil 😈
🙌 I’m hiring 5 paid beta readers to read and give feedback on a romance novel written by one of my clients
🫖 Sunday Tea: 6 Ways to Unblock Your Creative Process
When I feel blocked, here are 6 things I do to shake off the proverbial dust on my keyboard and get the sparks of creativity flowing again!
Go on a nature walk with a moody playlist that matches my work-in-progress. I’m lucky to have access to some gorgeous hiking trails around me, and when I need a bit of inspiration I love to put on a themed playlist and walk through the forest. Walking has always been a time-honored creative supplement, and when paired with a themed playlist I find it becomes even more effective.
Read the first 50 pages of different books until you can’t put one down. If I’m in a writing slump, chances are I’m also in a reading slump. Some of us can be a bit too devoted to our books, but sometimes you need to cycle through a few until you find one that you absolutely ~ can’t ~ put down. A great book will also help you feel more inspired with whatever you’re working on.
Journal from the POV of your villain. If you’re a fiction writer, take this exercise literally. Write from the perspective of your villain and describe all of the ways they’re thwarting your hero, and how they feel justified in their mind. This will help you add more conflict and tension in your book, and give your villain a better reasoning for their actions. If you’re a nonfiction writer, take this exercise figuratively. If you’re an essayist, write from the perspective of your greatest setback. Anthropomorphize your problems at will and watch how you can better articulate what you — and the reader — are trying to overcome by reading your work.
Join a writer’s group — or several. I find mind-melding with fellow writers can be a great way to hold yourself accountable and also find inspiration by helping other writers with their work.
Write your manifesto explaining why your story must be told. If you can recover the fervor of why you set out to write this project, it can help reconnect you with the passion and creativity that came to you when you were inspired to begin on your journey.
What do you do to get those creative sparks flying? Would love to hear in the comments!
💫 Amy’s Favorites
Not sponsored. Just my faves.
Reading
I just started reading ’s new Substack publication Golden Hour, which is a dream if you’re a foodie and traveler. Here’s what Golden Hour is about in Laura’s own words:
“Golden Hour is about fostering those “I see you, and you see me” moments with others. As a travel writer, I have the privilege of visiting some of the world’s most stunning properties and experiencing things out of my wildest dreams, but those stories often get told, and outlets for them will always exist. There is still a visible gap, however, in Asian representation in travel media; and I’m itching to see more stories written by and written about people who look like me.”
Eating
I’m obsessed with this brand of cashew milk when it comes to my morning hot chocolate or turmeric latte. Elmhurst does a great job having super clean ingredients — and very few of them! — which you can’t say about all of the other brands of faux milk out there. This cashew milk is also super creamy and great for adding to the drinks that you want to be extra frothy.
Watching
I’m super late to the party, but I just started watching Outlander (Starz) for the first time. So many authors at RomantasyCon cited historical romance novels as a great place to find tropes and inspiration for their romantasy books, so I’ve decided to start doing a deep dive. I started reading Outlander but wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style, so I switched to the show instead and am having way more fun. (Also, if you have a historical romance novel you love, would love to hear your recs!)
📚 Author Corner: One Month After Launching The Ash Trials
It’s still so surreal to see book influencers and readers giving The Ash Trials such kind praise out here on the open Internet. This book was a result of hundreds of hours of research, writing sessions, and sheer love of the genre.
I could only hope during the writing process that people would read it — and maybe even like it! — so it’s been such a joy to see such a positive reception for my debut romantasy novel.
I’ve started work on book two, but don’t have a set release date yet. I’m still getting back into the swing of novel writing after some exciting life changes (!!!) and I’m amidst work on a secret project that I’ll be writing before I fully get to draft on the second book of the Septerra Series.
I’ve learned so much in this process, and I can’t wait to share what I have in store for you next. Thanks again for everyone who left kind reviews on the book — I appreciate you and thanks for spreading the word! As an independent author, every review and recommendation helps me continue to do what I love.
Enjoyed today’s post? Please give it a “heart” ❤️ and share or restack it.
Sending creativity and good writing vibes your way,
-Amy
Listening to music is always a great way to get back into the writing groove. Sometimes I like to role play and see how my characters would get through some mundane scene or event, and it can give me an idea on how they get through an actual scene in the story.
Congratulations on the success of your first book and wishing you all the best in your second! I read your first book and it was delightful.
I would hate to sound presumptuous, and please let me know if I do, but if you ever need a proofreader I would be honored to lend a hand.
I look forward to meeting you, I’ll be at Emma’s Tuscany retreat as well ☺️