5 Ways to Escape a Creative Rut š«„
The search for an October Spark. Also: cozy novels, fun murder shows, and seasonal pop-tarts.
Welcome toĀ So Relatable, a bi-weekly newsletter that helps creative folks improve their craft, achieve their goals, and eat better snacks. Iām glad youāre here! āØ
A few years ago, I wrote about my favorite autumn phenomenon, Big September Energy. āBig September Energy is New Year Energyās spunky younger sister. Less a reckoning, and more an opportunity.ā I explained then. ā[Itās] renewed inspiration, an infusion of hope, and a dash of audacity.ā
This year, I totally missed the window on Big September Energy, as I spent most of the month traveling to see loved ones, recovering from travel, or battling a head cold. Now itās October, andāperhaps unsurprisinglyāI find myself in a bit of a creative rut.
The fate of my novel remains up in the air. Iām still tinkering with some stories based on my July Idea Streak, but canāt maintain any momentum. I have a vague idea for a new book, but Iām just not ready to commit. The bad news: itās too late to ride the wave of Big September Energy. The good news: thereās still time for an October Spark.Ā
What is an October Spark? A new phenomenon I invented just now, as I was writing this newsletter. An October Spark is found in the moment when the season begins to shift. Itās a chill in the air, a change on the horizon. An October Spark is a little bit mysticalāinscrutable and mysterious, yet absolutely real. Itās a glimmer in your peripheral vision, goosebumps racing across your skin, the uncanny feeling that youāve been here before. An October Spark holds your attention. It whispers, āLetās find out.ā
October Sparks can be elusive. The best way to harness them is to open your mind, look beyond your usual haunts, and dive into new experiences. Hereās how I plan to spend October searching for sparks and conquering my creative rut:
Sign up for the Mini 1000Ā
Stories will always be my number one creative outlet, and I love a short-lived challenge. Lucky for me, writer
is hosting an abbreviated version of her yearly writing event, and it takes place October 7-12āperfect timing! During the Mini 1000, participants vow to write 1000 words every day for 6 days in a row. As Jami says, āThis is quick and dirty and itās for those of us who are trying to finish something specific or push through to somewhere new.ā Iām going to give it a whirl and see what happens. Sign up here!ĀTry a New Workout RoutineĀ
For me, exercise and creativity are closely linkedāwhen my body is strong, my mind follows. Most of the time I default to group classes at the YMCA, but Iām feeling the itch to try something new, especially as the weather begins to cool. More running with my friends, more trips to the climbing gym, yoga at a new studio. Maybe Iāll start training for a 10k, finally conquer the 5.9 route Iāve been working on, and/or complete Yoga with Adrieneās October calendar. The point is to keep moving in fun and interesting ways, and figure out what I want to carry into November based on what I learn.
(Finally) Read a Craft Book
I once had a professor who claimed that two hours of reading equals one hour of writing, something I cling to whenever my output is lacking. Based on this calculation (writer math?!), reading a craft book equals even more. If you, like me, are in need of some fresh inspiration, I highly recommend Elizabeth Gilbertās Big Magic, a perennial go-to. Personally, Iām planning to read Matt Bellās Refuse to Be Done, which has been on my bedside table for at least a year. If journaling is more your speed, newsletter fave
just completed her āDo Itā trilogy, which will motivate you, encourage you, and help you set boundaries. (Youāll hear more from Kara in my next newsletterā stay tuned!)ĀGet Creative in the KitchenĀ
According to this Psyche article, cooking can be a form of mindfulness that engages all five senses, serves as a form of playtime, and offers a powerful link to the past. Thereās also an element of immediate gratification I donāt often get from writingāyou can immediately show off, share, and enjoy what you made. This month, Iām going to watch the new season of The Great British Baking Show, dust off my cookbooks, and dedicate a part of each weekend to kitchen activities in an effort to feed my creative side.
Schedule a One-Day Creative Retreat
Earlier this year I used a day of PTO to stay home and work on my novel, which I dubbed a āmini writing retreat.ā Iām not working on a novel right now, but Iām still excited to devote a whole day to nurturing my creative side. Iāve already requested the day off and Iāll spend the next few weeks amassing some fun exercises, writing prompts, and artsy activities that will hopefully spark something new, or at least challenge my brain in a different way. You canāt schedule inspiration, but you can make room for it.
Your turn: Howās your creative life going? Are you feeling energized or stuck in a rut? Will you attempt any of these tactics? Can we make āØOctober SparkāØ a thing? Let me know in the comments and letās cheer each other on.
Snack Break
Last weekend my friend
and I met at Hidden Grounds, a new coffee bar with an incredible backyard oasis. As the last dredges of a tropical storm blew through, we sipped hot beverages, caught up on gossip, and split this incredible sweet potato and brown sugar pop-tart, complete with a dusting of tiny gold stars. If youāre local or just passing through, you must visit Hidden Grounds! Iāll definitely be back. š¦Relatable Recommendations
Reading: I just finished Tom Lake, Ann Patchettās latest novel, which was cozy and delightful, if not life-altering. A good yarn about young love, the magic of theater, and the lives we led before the ones we landed on.
Watching: Do yourself a favor and watch Deadloch. Described as a āfeminist noir comedy,ā itās about two detectives trying to solve a series of murders in a fictional town in Tasmania with a very high population of queer citizens. This is one of those shows that gets better with every episode, and I adored the quirky characters, the unexpected twists, and the subtle Twin Peaks vibes.
Clicking: Tech companies are hiring poets to help train their AI, which makes me queasy. Marriage will not solve all the worldās problems. In praise of running clubs (shoutout to Kat and Abby!) Exclusive issues of Maybe Baby by
āthe latest newsletter I decided to pay for, and hopefully the last. Substack is taking all my money!Eating: Iām once again obsessed with mason jar salads, specifically when topped with the Dill Pickle Mini Falafel from Trader Joeās. (A seasonal summer itemāstock up if you still can!) Also very into sourdough bread, tomato jam, and soup, even though itās still 80 degrees in North Carolina.
Feeling: Ready for a spark! Hereās to an inspiring October.
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š About Me: Iām Chrissy Hennessey, an enthusiastic snacker and native New Yorker living in coastal North Carolina, where I stayed after earning my MFA in 2014. My writing has appeared in a decent number of journals, Iāve received fellowships to some fancy residencies, and Iāve written three novels, all currently unpublished! This newsletter is a passion project I started in 2019 as a way to connect with readers and writers, share my creative journey, and build a community. Thank you for being here!
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I have an October spark, but she is frustrated! (I have all these ideas while Iām around running errands and no time to actually sit down and explore them practically!) But I know the time will come eventually.
I just signed up for this Creative Sprint:https://www.anotherlimitedrebellion.com/about-creative-sprint?goal=0_17fb8ba44e-861717bb26-215312568&mc_cid=861717bb26&mc_eid=64cbe64be5
You get a prompt by email everyday and the idea is to make something in response quickly and without overthinking. I did it last year- definitely a good October spark!