Summer Heat
How to feel creative when all you want to do is melt.
My first post coming just after an intense heat wave seems very fitting. Even though I was born in August (proud Leo), me and the heat have never gotten along.
Couple a ghostly pale complexion with a chronic illness and a lifelong allergy to the sun (polymorphic light eruption), the summer and its all accompanying accoutrements are enemy #1.
And so, as I do my best to stay covered and cool, it can be incredibly difficult to encourage my mind to venture. What then, do I do?
My first recommendation is to go analog — use a pen and paper. Not only does tech heat up in the summer sun, but when your brain does too, allowing your mind to wander aimlessly with a pen can sometimes be the most effective way to get your creative juices flowing. It’s important to not force explicit plot and stories, but allow whatever comes to mind to unfold. Eventually, your brain will be ready to tell the story you want.
Second — although maybe it should be first — don’t force it. People who try to push through writer’s block by forcing words on a page will either get nothing, or nothing worth keeping. If you genuinely can’t get any words down, go out, get some fresh air (preferably in the shade), play with your dog, paint, or do anything that lets your mind wander.
Third — read. This advice applies to any and all writer’s block, but especially in the heat when your brain feels muddled. Reading allows your mind to escape while simultaneously stimulating it. I highly recommend a physical book (see rec one about tech), even better if you can read it on a beach or somewhere inviting. I’m also a huge fan of annotations, even if it’s just highlighting passages that speak to you. I almost always feel inspired after reading a good book.
Summer is still in full swing and so is the heat. And if things get a little steamy, well there’s nothing wrong with a little spice…