The creative well. You’ve heard of it, haven’t you?
It’s something that many in the writing and creativity space know all too well. And sometimes keeping it filled can mean the difference between being in a state of flow (loving every second that you’re creating) or becoming frustrated and wondering why you’re bothering to create something at all.
“Fill the creative well.”
I’ve heard it many times throughout the years. But what exactly does that mean? And why should I care? And if I decide to care, how do I fill it?
It’s really not that hard. If you can go out and live your life, then you’ll have more than enough to fill your creative well. And sometimes it can be the most enjoyable part of the creative process, as long as you keep it in check. Like with any well, you want to be careful not to overfill it.
What’s the creative well?
Well, the creative well is… well… a part of you that may need to be filled from time to time in order to help the flow of ideas come to you more easily. (Haha, see what I did there?) Think of it like an imaginary well filled with water (or in my case, magical creativity juice). Imagine it sitting gently inside a well waiting for you to take a sip or a small bucket full. And it’s your job to keep it from drying up.
Is this magical well where all my creativity comes from? That depends.
It depends on many factors and who you ask. If you ask me, I’d say creativity comes from both within yourself and from something external. It takes two to tango, after all 😉
Regardless (and jokes aside), chances are good that you’ve felt empty or dry creatively at one point in your life. For example, writers know all too well the “horror” that is “writer’s block” but that’s a post for another day. And that’s where the creative well comes in.
There have been many times throughout the years where I’ve had to find ideas for my next creative project (in this case, writing). And having a creative well that’s full or close to it is never a bad thing.
Here are some practical ways I like to fill my creative well:
Go on a nature walk
I love going for walks, especially nature walks. What’s a nature walk? Basically walking while being surrounded by nature. Nothing too fancy, lol. You don’t have to travel to distant lands for this, but my only rule here is: The more trees, blue sky, or water around you… the better. All I know is, when Mother Nature calls, I usually listen.
Listen to music
Who doesn’t love listening to music? It’s one of the best ways I know of to help fill the creative well. Music is one of the few things in life that we feel at a deep level. It goes into your body and can help bring out your creative nature. Perhaps it’s part of being human. It’s one of those innate things we feel and can’t always fully explain. Maybe it’s primal, who knows?
Draw or paint something
My girlfriend gave me a book of drawing prompts for my birthday this year. She remembered when I told her I was trying to draw more. It’s something I used to do as a kid all the time and something I’m trying to get back into. I actually forgot how refreshing and useful it was to draw something from scratch. I get a similar feeling with free writing, as well. Try it.
Do something that’s NOT “artsy”
Believe it or not, stepping outside of the worlds of writing, art, and creativity can actually be a good thing, creatively. Even if it’s only for a little. It can help you look at the world through a different lens or perspective. It can also help give your creativity much needed rest and relaxation. And who couldn’t use more rest and relaxation?
Take an art class
On the flip side, I was at the mall the other day with my girlfriend, and a small art & wine boutique caught our eye. We went inside and took in all the beautiful artwork. (And by beautiful artwork, I mean lots of fancy “Day of the Dead” styled paintings lol). Soon we realized we could sign up for painting classes, private lessons, etc. I think it’s safe to say that it helped fill a part of my creative well.
Go to the library or a bookstore
Being surrounded by books (or portals to other worlds, as I like to think of them) is a great way to fill the creative well. Not only can you find inspiration from other authors, writers, and creatives, but the atmosphere of being in a quiet place can be beneficial too. Peace and quiet works wonders.
Do some freewriting or journaling
Sometimes I just love to open up a blank document on my computer (or more recently, a pen and my classic journal) and just write some of my thoughts. It’s a great way to explore what’s on your mind and how you feel (especially for my fellow introverts).
Reading
I love books. This is by far my favorite way to fill the creative well. Like I said earlier, I like to think of books as portals to other worlds. They can teleport you from planet Earth to Middle-Earth to cyberspace to outer space to any period in human history and beyond. Did I mention I love books?
Live life
This is probably the most important one and the one that’s the most practical. Just live your life. Keep your eyes and ears open (as well as your mind and heart) and things will come to you. Trust that they will. Write things down and use what you learn as inspiration for something down the road, if that helps. Just live life.
There are many ways to fill the creative well. These are just some of the ones I prefer to do. Some people may find other ways to fill the creative well. Whatever works, right? Go outside, live your life, immerse yourself in whatever it is you’re doing, pay attention to your surroundings, listen to your heart, sprinkle in some common sense, and you might find your creative well filled in no time. The important thing is to fill it in ways that work best for you. What are some of your favorite ways to fill the creative well?
Jeff Aybar is a writer, writing & creativity coach, Sci-Fi/Fantasy nerd, INFJ, veteran, and all-around creative. You can get a free copy of his guide for writers and other creatives on starting the creative journey by signing up to his newsletter HERE.