Hit Refresh
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I just finished a book and I'm struggling to come back to a previous novel (the sequel to [dis]connection). How do I pick up with a giant project after just finishing a giant project?
No matter who you are, it can be difficult to restart your creative engine after working on a long project. You may feel like you've lost momentum or that it's impossible to top what you just accomplished. However, it is possible to get back into the swing of things and finish your next project with just as much success.
Here are a few tips to help you restart your creative engine after a long project:
1. Give yourself a break:
You deserve it! After finishing a big project, it's important to take some time for yourself. Relax, recharge, and do something that has nothing to do with your art. This will help clear your head and give you some much-needed perspective.
For me, I'm going to do a lot of reading to catch up. Here's a book I'm starting. I'm also exploring Darcy Coates' Discord community and learning a ton about how to build a wonderful and supportive reader community around my writing (hint, the secret is...well, I'll share that in my newsletter. Sign up now to find out.)
2. See things through a new lens:
Once you've taken some time for yourself, it's time to start looking at things with fresh eyes. Try a different medium, or approach your art from a different angle. You may be surprised by what you come up with.
I did a video on how to break out of "Creator's Block" a while back. For me, the key is to get into a different medium. I love writing stories but I also love Dungeons & Dragons games for my nephews. I've taken an existing game (The Book of the Raven - yeah, it's spooky) and modified it to leverage some of the tools I learned at DragonCon two weeks ago. Super fun times and it really is refilling the creative well quickly.
3. Find inspiration in unexpected places:
Art is all around us, so keep your eyes open and let yourself be inspired by the world around you. Sometimes the best ideas come when you least expect it.
I was at DragonCon and they had an entire floor dedicated to costumes. I was really inspired by all of the creativity and effort that people put into their outfits. Seeing all the amazing costumes and cosplay helped me double down on my story efforts because one day I want to be at DragonCon and see someone cosplaying as one of my characters. That'd be so amazing!
4. Brainstorm with someone:
If you're having trouble getting started, talking things out with someone can be a big help. Brainstorming can also give you some new ideas that you wouldn't have thought of on your own.
I was talking to my daughter about the story and she had some amazing ideas. Also, over the summer I was working with my brother on a story. He and I came up with some fun storytelling mechanics and experiments that I can't wait to share with you all soon. Spoiler alert, my element of the story is a horror story.
Check out my free e-book before THE LIGHT OF ENKI comes out.
5. Get organized:
This one may not be as fun as the others, but it's definitely important. Having a plan and being organized will help make the creative process easier and less overwhelming.
Yeah, this one isn't for me but apparently it works for other people. This was suggested to me but, I'd rather wing it.
Hit Refresh
Satya Nadella’s book Hit Refresh is a perfect manual for taking moments to reimagine your way forward. All the moments need not be huge, just impactful. Restarting a novel isn’t huge, it’s fun, it’s hard, it’s impactful. But it’s worth it.
No matter how big or small the project, finishing always brings its own unique set of challenges. The most important thing is to not get discouraged and to keep moving forward. I hope these tips help give you the boost you need to get started on your next masterpiece.
Refreshing
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When will it load?
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I hit refresh.
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I hope you enjoyed Refreshing. Thank you to Kate Apel for hosting Poetry Friday this week. Make sure to check out her blog. Thank you Jill Burrow (https://www.pexels.com/photo/layout-of-sliced-juicy-oranges-5987179/) for this blog post’s amazing cover photo.