If your creative spark has gone dark, you’re not alone. Here’s what to do when inspiration feels out of reach, and how to find your way back to the words.
A Letter to Every Writer Who’s Ever Felt Empty
It’s a question I get every time I teach a class or make a presentation, “what do you do about writer’s block?”
The frightening idea behind this is… “I think my muse has left me.”
You’re not alone!
If you’re a creative, especially a writer, you’ve likely been there, too. That quiet fear creeps in: the ideas have stopped, the spark has dulled, the joy feels… far away. You sit in front of the page or screen, and nothing good comes. Or nothing comes at all.
Let me reassure you of one thing right now:
Your muse isn’t dead. She’s just worn thin.
And maybe… so are you.
Let’s talk about what to do when it feels like the inspiration well runs dry and how to gently coax your creativity back to life.
First, Stop Panicking
Creative droughts are part of the writer’s life.
We don’t like to admit it, but the path of a storyteller isn’t always bursting with brilliance and energy. Sometimes it’s blocked by exhaustion, overwhelm, doubt, or distraction. That doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re human.
There’s no shame in feeling stuck. There’s only an invitation to slow down, shift the approach, and listen more deeply.
Reframe the Narrative
When a someone tells me they’re worried about writer’s block, I often respond with this:
“You can’t wait for the muse to show up. You have to invite her.”
Our creative selves don’t thrive under pressure, perfectionism, procrastination, or punishment. They flourish in curiosity, in joy, in the lightness of exploration. If you’ve been trying to force your way back into flow, try inviting it instead.
Write something silly. Doodle. Journal. Write a letter to your character. Write a bad poem on purpose. Bake something. Watch a favorite old movie. Walk somewhere without your phone.
In other words: Let go of the outcome. Let joy take the wheel for a while.
Try an Artist Date
This term comes from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, and I return to it often when I’m feeling flat.
An artist date is simple: take yourself out to do something that delights you. Alone. No agenda. No productivity goals. Just fun.
Visit a museum. Go to the beach. Browse a bookstore. Wander a farmer’s market. Watch back-to-back classic movies. Eat something wildly indulgent. Go somewhere weird. The goal is to fill the well, to give your senses and soul something to feed on.
You cannot give from an empty tank. Go fill yours.
Write Something Tiny
If your current project feels too big or heavy, zoom in. And don’t feel like you have to start at the beginning of a scene or chapter. Just write where from where you hear it starting.
Write just one scene.
One character sketch.
One juicy bit of dialogue.
One sensory paragraph about the setting.
One question you want to ask your heroine.
Sometimes we lose momentum because we’re trying to carry too much at once. Break the boulder into pebbles. Then move the pebbles, one by one.
Talk It Out
Isolation is a creativity killer.
Don’t underestimate the power of one good conversation to bring your ideas back to life.
Call a writer friend. Message your critique partner. Invite someone you trust to brainstorm over coffee. And don’t worry about sounding silly, sometimes the “bad ideas” lead to breakthroughs.
Also? Don’t forget about professionals. I’ve had breakthroughs by picking up the phone and calling real-life coroners, detectives, and crime scene experts. Their insights gave me what Google never could, and sparked scenes I didn’t even know I needed.
Check in With Yourself (And Your Schedule)
Here’s a hard truth: sometimes, what looks like creative block is actually burnout.
Are you working long hours?
Running on empty?
Spending all your energy on others and leaving none for yourself?
Too many of us are operating at 110 percent with no margins left in our lives. What would life look like if you operated at 80 percent and left a 20 percent margin of space?
Yes, there are times we have to juggle more than our share in order to accomplish a goal. We may be working a full-time job, while taking classes to complete a masters degree and balancing family and other obligations. Guess what? Now, is not the time to try to write that great American novel.
Just push pause.
The brain and body need margin in order to create.
So take an honest look at your calendar and your commitments.
Can you make some space?
Can you say no to something?
Can you rest without guilt?
Even the muse needs a nap now and then.
Don’t Compare, Connect
It’s easy to look at other writers and think, She’s always writing… he’s always productive… they must never struggle.
But that’s a lie. We all struggle. We just don’t always show it.
You’re not behind. You’re not broken.
Your creative rhythm is your own, and it doesn’t have to match anyone else’s.
Instead of comparing, reach out. Ask for support. Join a community. Attend a writing group. Let someone else remind you of your voice when you’ve forgotten how it sounds.
Talk to the Creator
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever gotten?
“Ask the Creator. He knows what it’s like to create. And He’s really good at it. I mean, have you seen the manatee?”
Humor aside, this is serious:
If you’re a person of faith (as I am), don’t forget that you can ask for inspiration. Invite divine guidance into your creative process. Pray. Meditate. Sit in silence. Surrender the stuckness.
You are not creating alone. You are co-creating with The Great Creator!
If you’ve been showing up and nothing’s flowing, take this post as a permission slip to try something different.
✅ Be gentle.
✅ Take breaks.
✅ Get curious on an artist’s date.
✅ Ask for help.
✅ Make it small and fun.
✅ Pray for inspiration.
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