Can you force creativity?

[Frequency]

Or do you have any tips to become inspired?

Because I absolutely must write tonight but I haven't written a single word since I lost my partner. I don't want to. I don't want to do much of anything.

I look at the blank screen and want to cry rather than write.

I’m sorry, I don’t know the answer, but you’re not alone.

I do think though - if you were just procrastinating then yes, you could force yourself. But your reason isn’t that, so I would try to be kind to yourself. Are you on a deadline?

I’m so sorry about your partner

I'm not on a deadline as such but it is my income and we do need it to eat. I've run out of savings and we are totally and utterly financially fucked. I need to write to eat. My kids need me to write so they can eat. You'd think that would be enough of an incentive but it appears it's not.

In your circumstances no. Well, yes you can, but it won't be the quality that you want. Are you self employed?

I'm freelance. Usually, reading inspires me but I can't even bring myself to do that. Everything seems about people dying, even books where death and bereavement are not the main focus seem to have a dead parent/partner/friend thrown in there somewhere. It's the same with films. I've watched all the crappy horrors I can stomach.

Maybe try some warm ups/writing exercises? It might help get you in the mood or at least make the blank page less blank and daunting. Or set a timer for five minutes and write anything, then take a crying break?

Sorry for your loss. It sounds very sad.

It really depends what you're trying to write.

But I am studying up late typing up notebooks of poems, and realised that loads of the exercises I've tried actually produce some good stuff that I thought was shit at the time.

Google for some creative writing exercises and just force yourself to do at least one tonight.

I did one where you just write a list titled "everything that will lead to my eventual breakdown" and its just a detailed list of everything that you just hate. Including wh Smith pushing random items at you at the till. And how bullies used to pretend everything smelled bad to them at school

I’m sorry, that sounds impossibly hard. Would journalling help to begin with? Just stream of consciousness, not thinking, just writing whatever comes out and then throwing it away afterward.

Just write something, anything. Even if not related to what you're trying to write.

Mash out random words out if you must. Write a shopping list. Describe a dress. Type out a cute story about your DC.

Once you start, you will hopefully be able to change direction and write what you are supposed to write.

I'm so sorry OP.
Can you write about death or bereavement or your experiences? Whether or not this is the writing that pays the bills. Maybe you need to exorcise it ?

Can you do something else for income until you heal a bit?

Good luck xx

I'm so sorry for your loss OP.

Like a PP suggested, I wonder if it might be helpful to think less about aiming for creativity, as such, and consider writing your pain instead. It might feel awful and you might hurt the whole time and feel like it's much too much. And if it is too much, stop, and maybe reach out to someone to talk to or just connect with for a hug.

But if you feel you can try it, getting deep down and really digging in and sitting with what's going on inside you, and channelling it out through your fingers and words will hopefully help you process it all, help you to hold those feelings (as they are hugely important and need to be held), and also help you, afterwards, access some little areas of other parts of you that will be able to write about other things as well,in time. But for right now this might not be a writers block that needs to be worked around, but rather one that needs to be worked through.

Sorry if I'm wildly off the mark. I'm really, really sorry you are having to go through this