Creativity often comes in bursts, and the more you cultivate it, the longer the burst lasts.

After not writing for half of 2023, I created a month-long challenge for myself to get back into writing. Each day I wrote roughly 250 words. I tried genres I don’t typically write in, styles atypical to my own, all in the hope that I’d wake up that part of me who loves words.

And it worked! Four days into the challenge, I got the idea for the book I’m currently writing, which, based on my outline, is about a third of the way complete. And I’ve had other ideas too.

I recently attended a dreamboarding workshop, where we talk about what we want for the next year, then paste words and images that represent those things onto a canvas. I didn’t have any expectations going into the evening, but I absolutely love what I created. Big themes: being outside with my husband with a glass of wine, and books. Sounds about right!

I’ve always been a visually creative person in addition to a writer, and playing around with scraps of paper opened something inside me that’s been hibernating for far too long.

Another way I’m trying to expand my creativity: after years of talking about it, I’m finally hosting my first writers’ happy hour at a local brewery. Since I started writing, I’ve loved moments with other writers when we talk about craft, our current projects, and help each other through places where we’re stuck. A lot of my friends are in critique groups, but that’s not what I’ve wanted (although I expect some of that may come from this group as well). I love meeting new people and have a knack for making others feel welcome, so I hope this becomes a monthly thing!

What ways do you incorporate creativity into your life?