On Finding Creativity

In an uncreative season

On The Sunny Side #20: a weekly round-up where I share a few sunny things that have brightened my days, what I’m reading, watching, and obsessing over too.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about creativity. About how, we as a culture define it, as well as how I view it on a personal level. You see, I struggle to consider myself creative with the definition I’ve come up with in my head (ironic as I’m writing, I know). I spent years avoiding creative pursuits because of the horror of my god awful art class attempts—I kid you not, if you saw my grade school pinch pots, you’d understand. So in my head, I accepted I wasn’t a creative person. I could play piano decently but I wasn’t a musician like my mom. I could hold a brush to canvas but I sure as hell was no artist like my dad.

In my head I dubbed creative people *artists* in the most general sense: the painters, sculptors, drawers, musicians, designers, photographers, writers, etc. The ones that can look at a blank page/canvas/sheet of music and let their imagination run wild. Which is exactly what I’m doing right now… it’s what I’ve been doing for years. It’s what I do in small ways every day without realizing it.

Because you see, creativity, in all it’s many wonderous forms, encompasses a broader spectrum than just art. It’s problem solving, inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, and having fun. Since I’ve come to this realization, I’ve recognized my creative tendencies expand wider than I thought. This has also made me more aware of when my creative ebbs and flows.

And with the dark winter months, endless grey skies, this has resulted in me being in a creative-writing rut. I’m trying to be kind to myself during this period of time (I spent a good chunk of February interviewing and March onboarding at my new job), but still I can’t help when guilt creeps in and that little voice in the back of my head yells at me for not utilizing my time better—getting words in, drafting, querying, editing, etc. It doesn’t help that I’ve also been in a bit of a reading rut, too. Reading is where I derive most of my inspiration for writing, so in a way it makes sense. I’ve questioned if I’ve lost the creative ‘spark’ more than once.

So how do I get that spark back?

I could power through and hope by sheer willpower I’ll get out of this rut, stare at a blank page for hours or draft a shitty outline (which let’s be clear, can be a good exercise in and of itself).

Or…

I take a step back and let creativity find me in other ways.

sparks of creativity lately

After gobbling up,

Jessica Joyce

’s recent newsletters, I decided it was time to take a step back from writing to let the next story come to me. Side note: Joyce’s newsletters are amazing and you should 1000% be reading them. Even if you aren’t a writer, her voice and honesty is extremely refreshing. This article in particular really struck a chord in me:

about being good

As I’ve given myself this break from writing I’ve noticed I’m flexing my creative muscles more when it comes to my wardrobe and outfits, Substack posts, the yoga flows I come up with for class, and even the playlists I put together for those classes. It’s a renewed vigor that I am loving.

I’m having fun! I’m leaning into the creative flow when it hits, and although it looks differently than my usual outlet, I’m not bothered by that.

It’s that reminder I needed, that creativity isn’t just one thing. It isn’t *just* writing. It can be as simple as cooking a new recipe, laying out new plants in your garden, or putting together a really great outfit! And I have the sneaking suspicious that allowing myself to explore creativity in different facets of my life now is going to pay off in my writing later (we love a full circle moment over here).

Maybe you also feel this way about creativity or you’re in an uncreative season of life, too? All good, you’re clearly in good company! Embrace (and recognize) creativity in all it’s many, amazing, forms. That flow state will hit you when you least expect it. And with the change of seasons from winter to spring, you might feel a reawakening. Bask in it when it comes and be kind to yourself if it doesn’t. That’s what I’m going to do, too.

That’s all the yap I’ve got in me today 🤎 thanks for reading friends! Drop a note in the comments. And if you liked this post please like, share, comment, do all the things—it means so much.

Until next time,

MacKenzie