Refilling the Well

As creative people, writers are constantly pulling out of their imaginations to design and write their stories. If you’re always pulling out, and never putting in, you will soon find yourself depleted of ideas and diminished creativity. Writing takes a lot out of us creatively, and it’s physically taxing as well. When you’re ill, you go to the doctor or take an over-the-counter medication to make you feel better and alleviate symptoms. When you’re stressed, you might do some yoga or go to the gym or take a walk in the woods to settle yourself. So, it’s as important to take care of your creative self as it is your emotional and physical selves.

I don’t consider myself to be a creative person. I fight to come up with story ideas. When one does appear, I’m certain I’ll never have another one. Ask me to write an essay, and the topics won’t stop coming. But fiction writing is fairly new to me. (Writing partner, Karen, has a plethora of story ideas. I have no idea how she does that.) While novel writing has been a life-long goal and desire, I was never sure I could come up with an idea for a story let alone know how to actually write the thing. It has been a hard, but successful journey to write two complete novels. I love writing—the plotting, the words flowing from my fingertips onto the screen. I don’t love coming up with ideas—names, places, timelines, twists and turns, conflict. It’s hard for me. I really have to work at it. Hence, I need to keep my creative well full so my meager imagination has ideas to pull from or inspiration for those ideas.

The turmoil of the last couple of years has added to the stress and strain of my creative life. I’ve had to look for new ways to fill my creative well because the ones I’ve relied on were not available. In the past, music concerts, museums, and travel were some ways I refilled my creative well. I find myself turning to music more because it’s something I can stream and listen to at home or in the car. While I can’t listen to music with words when I’m writing, I’ve been looking for lots of different genres of instrumental music that I can write to. Because things are starting to open up, my husband and I went to a jazz concert.I can’t tell you how wonderful it was to hear live music again. There’s something about live music that just makes my soul sing. More importantly, hearing those old jazz standards sung made me remember a host of songs and music I can add to my writing playlist.

Last weekend we went to see a Picasso exhibit at our local art museum. It was an amazing exhibit, and I’m in awe of people who are creative in that way. I can’t draw a stick figure. What was especially amazing about this exhibit was that Picasso was influenced greatly by the books he read. There was a quote from him that said something to the effect that he wished he could paint the way Dickens wrote. I read a lot to refill my well. I’ve always been a voracious reader, but I find myself reading even more these days. I like many genres such as historical fiction, women’s fiction, chick lit, non-fiction including memoir and biographies. I’ve become part of a book group. Reading what others like and hearing their ideas about the books stretches my brain and helps me think differently.The more widely I read the more my mind opens up. I’ve found new genres and authors to help expand my mind more. I read lots of romance, too, since that’s what I write. Even then I read across many different subgenres. It helps keep the sparks igniting. Since writing two novels, I find I read differently. I learn about the genre that I write in—how plots twist and turn, how they’re structured, how characters develop, how to weave in backstory, how to show not tell. I don’t really get ideas for stories, but it helps me see what’s wrong in my own novels for revision. I understand structure or plot development in new ways. It’s good to see how other people take ideas and bring them to life.

Another way I fill my well is with travel. Sadly, the last two years have put those plans on hold for the most part. One of the biggest challenges has been finding new places to go without flying or driving too far. Walking around my neighborhood has been one way to do that. There are lots of great parks nearby I can go to for some communing with nature. Another thing I’ve done is make my way back to exercising at the gym. Something about walking on the treadmill or going on the elliptical machine lets my mind wander and wonder. Also, keeping your body healthy and moving is important for us writers who spend a good deal of time with our butts in a chair. I’ve been giving meditation a try. Gardening and yard work are great when the weather is nice. I worked out many plot points for my first novel while mowing the yard.

The point is that it takes a concerted effort to refill your well. You have to allow time for it. Stepping out of your comfort zone to do things you wouldn’t normally choose to do isn’t easy. I’ve put yoga on my list of things to try this year. There are so many ways that we can refill our creative wells. Maybe you have a tried and true regimen for filling yours. Maybe you don’t have an idea what to do or you’re looking for new ways to expand your mind. Give it a try because you never know where that experience will take you. You could find the idea for your next novel, poem, or painting. But whatever you do, make sure you take care of your creative self. Find a way to make it a consistent habit for your writing life. It’s as important as going to the doctor when you have the flu or going to the gym to stay in physical shape. Keep your creative self in shape by refilling that well.