We talk a lot about “nurturing your creativity” on this blog. But what’s the difference between nurturing your creativity and stoking it? Is there a difference?
Spoiler: There is.
As you’ve read, you have a Tiny Writer living in your heart while Adult You lives in your head. Tiny Writer is fragile, to say the least. Think of her as the ten-year-old version of yourself. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Unaware of the ugliness of the world. Filled with imagination, play, and curiosity.
Tiny Writer is also incredibly susceptible to creative burnout. She doesn’t know when to take a break. She doesn’t know when to make the healthy choice, or feed herself, or drink water, or nap.
That’s where nurturing creativity comes in.
What is “nurturing your creativity”?
You be the grown-up to ten-year-old you. Take care of her. Let her play cozy video games. Give her a coloring page and markers (recommendations here). Hand her the karaoke mic. Make sure she doesn’t take life too seriously. Make sure she doesn’t take the writing too seriously. We’re here for the love of writing, aren’t we? When we lose sight of this is when our writing starts to feel like work.
Nurturing creativity could even be a touch of tough love. Remember The 3 Habits That Will Change Your Life? Do what you say you’re going to do. That means if Tiny Writer doesn’t want to go on an artist walk, or clean her space, or wash her hair, you still do it—because you said you would—because you, as “the adult”, know what’s healthy and good and worth momentary discomfort for long-term benefits.
Now that we know what it means to nurture your creativity, let’s talk about stoking your creativity.
What is “stoking your creativity”?
What inspires you? What pushes you to persevere, even on the bad days? Keeps you productive? Motivates you to be that one-in-a-million writer who not only has an idea, but has the grit to show up consistently, put her butt in the writing chair, and get—the job—done.
This motivation could come from watching a great TV show and dying to see your story on the big screen. Listening to an inspirational writer’s podcast. Following fantabulous blogs (such as this one *winky, wink*). Watching AuthorTube for the community. Reading books to sharpen your craft. Attending writers’ clubs, workshops, and conferences. Talking to writers who’ve made it.
Or stoking your creativity could be as simple as walking the paperback-scented aisles of Barnes and Noble, and thinking, “if they can, I can. There’s room for me.”
It’s that push you need to get started.
In short:
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