Musicians/Artists/Writers/Creative types: How do you deal with blocks? ( Archived) (27)

Jul 17, 2019 4:06 AM CST Musicians/Artists/Writers/Creative types: How do you deal with blocks?
Sethan
SethanSethanPort Of Spain, Tunapuna/Piarco Trinidad and Tobago4 Threads 1,080 Posts
Those periods of time where it seems almost impossible to come up with new ideas or material, or even be inspired. How do you work through, or get pass it?
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Jul 17, 2019 4:26 AM CST Musicians/Artists/Writers/Creative types: How do you deal with blocks?
I go and have a cup of tea.

Usually, my head sorts things out while I'm thinking about something else, I'll have an ahaa! moment and go back to work.

Failing that, I've designed some of my best theatrical costumes playing bubblehit. There's something about distracting myself with an utterly mindless task, allowing my head to work without interference which works for me. laugh

I think it takes away the element of pressure to perform, or any anxiety associated with that.
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Jul 17, 2019 4:40 AM CST Musicians/Artists/Writers/Creative types: How do you deal with blocks?
Sethan
SethanSethanPort Of Spain, Tunapuna/Piarco Trinidad and Tobago4 Threads 1,080 Posts
jac_the_gripper: I go and have a cup of tea.

Usually, my head sorts things out while I'm thinking about something else, I'll have an ahaa! moment and go back to work.

Failing that, I've designed some of my best theatrical costumes playing bubblehit. There's something about distracting myself with an utterly mindless task, allowing my head to work without interference which works for me.

I think it takes away the element of pressure to perform, or any anxiety associated with that.
Wanna trade brains? laugh Wish mine worked like that.

I seem to go through long stretches of over analyzing, or just straight up being so critical of anything I come up with, I just scrap it. Usually takes me a couple months to work through it, but I have had 4-6 month stretches where I'm too critical to be satisfied with anything. It sucks. Tried the distraction thing and it works only to a point. Still find that I won't be satisfied with anything, until I'm on the other side of the block. dunno
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Jul 17, 2019 4:42 AM CST Musicians/Artists/Writers/Creative types: How do you deal with blocks?
Sethan
SethanSethanPort Of Spain, Tunapuna/Piarco Trinidad and Tobago4 Threads 1,080 Posts
Thanks for the reply and advice, by the way. thumbs up
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Jul 17, 2019 11:47 AM CST Musicians/Artists/Writers/Creative types: How do you deal with blocks?
mollybaby
mollybabymollybabyCork City, Cork Ireland56 Threads 8 Polls 23,608 Posts
Sethan: Those periods of time where it seems almost impossible to come up with new ideas or material, or even be inspired. How do you work through, or get pass it?
Do something totally different like hike up a mountain.
Taking your mind off the problem, rather than dwelling on it, is the key.
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Jul 17, 2019 11:49 AM CST Musicians/Artists/Writers/Creative types: How do you deal with blocks?
TerryBull
TerryBullTerryBullLondon, Greater London, England UK2 Threads 881 Posts
mollybaby: Do something totally different like hike up a mountain.
Taking your mind off the problem, rather than dwelling on it, is the key.
Dont ever bury your head in a Bush. That won't help
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Jul 17, 2019 1:13 PM CST Musicians/Artists/Writers/Creative types: How do you deal with blocks?
Sethan: Wanna trade brains? Wish mine worked like that.

I seem to go through long stretches of over analyzing, or just straight up being so critical of anything I come up with, I just scrap it. Usually takes me a couple months to work through it, but I have had 4-6 month stretches where I'm too critical to be satisfied with anything. It sucks. Tried the distraction thing and it works only to a point. Still find that I won't be satisfied with anything, until I'm on the other side of the block.
I think 'over-analysing' is a phrase that's often bandied about, but I find it rather...umm... idea ...critical. laugh

'Critical' is an interesting word, too. It can refer to an assessment, like a critical discussion, but it can also pertain to a negative emotional attack.

Objective analysis of a piece of creative work is very different from a subjective emotional one, but the creative process is often intertwined with emotions. Perhaps being mindful of your emotional response might oil the cogs a little.

I suppose it's the reverse of the technique I described earlier: instead of removing the interference of anxiety, or frustration from the creative process, remove the creative process and focus on the emotions.

I probably use both, depending upon the creative medium.
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Jul 17, 2019 1:36 PM CST Musicians/Artists/Writers/Creative types: How do you deal with blocks?
ChesneyChrist
ChesneyChristChesneyChristManchester, Greater Manchester, England UK7,144 Posts
A lot of drugs
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Jul 17, 2019 3:53 PM CST Musicians/Artists/Writers/Creative types: How do you deal with blocks?
M4_Mischief
M4_MischiefM4_MischiefBelleville, Ontario Canada6,250 Posts
ChesneyChrist: A lot of drugs
yep...a good blunt always helps......smoking
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Jul 17, 2019 3:56 PM CST Musicians/Artists/Writers/Creative types: How do you deal with blocks?
mollybaby
mollybabymollybabyCork City, Cork Ireland56 Threads 8 Polls 23,608 Posts
M4_Mischief: yep...a good blunt always helps......
You not end up writing what you had previously been writing though laugh
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Jul 17, 2019 3:57 PM CST Musicians/Artists/Writers/Creative types: How do you deal with blocks?
M4_Mischief
M4_MischiefM4_MischiefBelleville, Ontario Canada6,250 Posts
mollybaby: You not end up writing what you had previously been writing though
nope...its usually much more creative when you drop all your inhibitions and just allow it to flow.....laugh
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Jul 17, 2019 4:00 PM CST Musicians/Artists/Writers/Creative types: How do you deal with blocks?
mollybaby
mollybabymollybabyCork City, Cork Ireland56 Threads 8 Polls 23,608 Posts
M4_Mischief: nope...its usually much more creative when you drop all your inhibitions and just allow it to flow.....
Creative, definitely.
But the first half of the book would look like it were written by a different author to the second half laugh
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Jul 17, 2019 4:05 PM CST Musicians/Artists/Writers/Creative types: How do you deal with blocks?
M4_Mischief
M4_MischiefM4_MischiefBelleville, Ontario Canada6,250 Posts
that's true...then its best to smoke all the way through......laugh
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Jul 17, 2019 4:12 PM CST Musicians/Artists/Writers/Creative types: How do you deal with blocks?
mollybaby
mollybabymollybabyCork City, Cork Ireland56 Threads 8 Polls 23,608 Posts
M4_Mischief: that's true...then its best to smoke all the way through......
You'll either have a fab book, or forget to write it laugh
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Jul 17, 2019 4:23 PM CST Musicians/Artists/Writers/Creative types: How do you deal with blocks?
M4_Mischief
M4_MischiefM4_MischiefBelleville, Ontario Canada6,250 Posts
and have lotsa crumbs on your pages.....laugh
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Jul 17, 2019 4:27 PM CST Musicians/Artists/Writers/Creative types: How do you deal with blocks?
mollybaby
mollybabymollybabyCork City, Cork Ireland56 Threads 8 Polls 23,608 Posts
M4_Mischief: and have lotsa crumbs on your pages.....
Writing and the munchies - great combination laugh
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Jul 17, 2019 8:41 PM CST Musicians/Artists/Writers/Creative types: How do you deal with blocks?
Sethan
SethanSethanPort Of Spain, Tunapuna/Piarco Trinidad and Tobago4 Threads 1,080 Posts
mollybaby: Do something totally different like hike up a mountain.
Taking your mind off the problem, rather than dwelling on it, is the key.
Yup. I've gotten accustomed to it t this point. I hike, mountain bike, swim and keep myself pretty active anyways, so i'll usually just throw myself behind an unrelated project and just wait it out. Just wondering if anyone with the same problem found a solution, or little tricks to help work around it.
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Jul 17, 2019 8:44 PM CST Musicians/Artists/Writers/Creative types: How do you deal with blocks?
Sethan
SethanSethanPort Of Spain, Tunapuna/Piarco Trinidad and Tobago4 Threads 1,080 Posts
jac_the_gripper: I think 'over-analysing' is a phrase that's often bandied about, but I find it rather...umm... ...critical.

'Critical' is an interesting word, too. It can refer to an assessment, like a critical discussion, but it can also pertain to a negative emotional attack.

Objective analysis of a piece of creative work is very different from a subjective emotional one, but the creative process is often intertwined with emotions. Perhaps being mindful of your emotional response might oil the cogs a little.

I suppose it's the reverse of the technique I described earlier: instead of removing the interference of anxiety, or frustration from the creative process, remove the creative process and focus on the emotions.

I probably use both, depending upon the creative medium.
Can one truly be objective about their own work though? Ego, personal investment/emotion all make it difficult to decide whether your critique of something you created is valid. Funny thing is, I can tell almost instantly if I like what someone else created/wrote. Funny how the brain works. Thing is, we all know those people who have more bravado, confidence, bluster, than actual talent. Being one of them scares me to no end. laugh

"I suppose it's the reverse of the technique I described earlier: instead of removing the interference of anxiety, or frustration from the creative process, remove the creative process and focus on the emotions.


Never thought of steering into the anxiety. Who knows, maybe I'll try it. thumbs up
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Jul 17, 2019 8:48 PM CST Musicians/Artists/Writers/Creative types: How do you deal with blocks?
Put it down and do something else for a bit, come back to it later with a fresh mind.

It is possible to be trying too hard, the part of your mind where ideas and inspiration comes from can get squashed by the effort of trying too much. I have had musical ideas come to me in the most unlikely times and usually when I'm not trying.
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Jul 17, 2019 8:50 PM CST Musicians/Artists/Writers/Creative types: How do you deal with blocks?
Sethan
SethanSethanPort Of Spain, Tunapuna/Piarco Trinidad and Tobago4 Threads 1,080 Posts
ChesneyChrist: A lot of drugs
M4_Mischief: yep...a good blunt always helps......
mollybaby: You not end up writing what you had previously been writing though
mollybaby: Creative, definitely.
But the first half of the book would look like it were written by a different author to the second half
M4_Mischief: that's true...then its best to smoke all the way through......
laugh laugh laugh
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