5 Ways to Escape a Creative Rut 🫥

The search for an October Spark. Also: cozy novels, fun murder shows, and seasonal pop-tarts.

Welcome to So Relatable, a bi-weekly newsletter that helps creative folks improve their craft, achieve their goals, and eat better snacks. I’m glad you’re here! ✨

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A few years ago, I wrote about my favorite autumn phenomenon, Big September Energy. “Big September Energy is New Year Energy’s spunky younger sister. Less a reckoning, and more an opportunity.” I explained then. “[It’s] renewed inspiration, an infusion of hope, and a dash of audacity.”

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 it’s October, and—perhaps unsurprisingly—I find myself in a bit of a creative rut.

The fate of my novel remains up in the air. I’m still tinkering with some stories based on my July Idea Streak, but can’t maintain any momentum. I have a vague idea for a new book, but I’m just not ready to commit. The bad news: it’s too late to ride the wave of Big September Energy. The good news: there’s still time for an October Spark. 

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. It’s a chill in the air, a change on the horizon. An October Spark is a little bit mystical—inscrutable and mysterious, yet absolutely real. It’s a glimmer in your peripheral vision, goosebumps racing across your skin, the uncanny feeling that you’ve been here before. An October Spark holds your attention. It whispers, “Let’s find out.”

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. Here’s how I plan to spend October searching for sparks and conquering my creative rut:

Sign up for the Mini 1000 

Stories will always be my number one creative outlet, and I love a short-lived challenge. Lucky for me, writer

Jami Attenberg

is hosting an abbreviated version of her yearly writing event, and it takes place October 7-12—perfect timing! During the Mini 1000, participants vow to write 1000 words every day for 6 days in a row. As Jami says, “This is quick and dirty and it’s for those of us who are trying to finish something specific or push through to somewhere new.” I’m going to give it a whirl and see what happens. Sign up here! 

Try a New Workout Routine 

For me, exercise and creativity are closely linked—when my body is strong, my mind follows. Most of the time I default to group classes at the YMCA, but I’m 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 I’ll start training for a 10k, finally conquer the 5.9 route I’ve been working on, and/or complete Yoga with Adriene’s 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 Gilbert’s Big Magic, a perennial go-to. Personally, I’m planning to read Matt Bell’s Refuse to Be Done, which has been on my bedside table for at least a year. If journaling is more your speed, newsletter fave

Kara Cutruzzula

just completed her “Do It” trilogy, which will motivate you, encourage you, and help you set boundaries. (You’ll hear more from Kara in my next newsletter— stay tuned!) 

Get Creative in the Kitchen 

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. There’s also an element of immediate gratification I don’t often get from writing—you can immediately show off, share, and enjoy what you made. This month, I’m 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 “mini writing retreat.” I’m not working on a novel right now, but I’m still excited to devote a whole day to nurturing my creative side. I’ve already requested the day off and I’ll 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 can’t schedule inspiration, but you can make room for it.

Your turn: How’s your creative life going? Are you feeling energized or stuck in a rut? Will you attempt any of these tactics? Can we make ✨October Spark✨ a thing? Let me know in the comments and let’s cheer each other on.

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Snack Break

Last weekend my friend

Katharine Barrack

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 you’re local or just passing through, you must visit Hidden Grounds! I’ll definitely be back. 🦕

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Relatable Recommendations

• Reading: I just finished Tom Lake, Ann Patchett’s 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 “feminist noir comedy,” it’s 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 world’s problems. In praise of running clubs (shoutout to Kat and Abby!) Exclusive issues of Maybe Baby by

  Haley Nahman
  —the latest newsletter I decided to pay for, and hopefully the last. Substack is taking all my money!

• Eating: I’m once again obsessed with mason jar salads, specifically when topped with the Dill Pickle Mini Falafel from Trader Joe’s. (A seasonal summer item—stock up if you still can!) Also very into sourdough bread, tomato jam, and soup, even though it’s still 80 degrees in North Carolina.

• Feeling: Ready for a spark! Here’s to an inspiring October.

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👋 About Me: I’m 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, I’ve received fellowships to some fancy residencies, and I’ve 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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