WHEN THE WELL RUNS DRY

Inspiration is a tumultuous sea at best. It ebbs and flows as it wills, rushing upon us when we are most unprepared. We often become used to this wellspring supplying us with rich ideas and characters that gloriously unfold before us on the page. Our days are filled with whispered genius, and our nights with dreams of untold adventure. However, at times, this sea can run dry, and we are left to run aground, bewildered at the swift turn of our luck and the emptiness that it brings.

Dry spells in writing are inevitable. They come with the chaos of life, loss, and our own well-being. They come with the changes of the seasons, the blur of holidays and vacations, and the shadow of stress. There are countless reasons for a pause in our writing, but it should never be seen as a useless space in time. Rather than a negative experience, if used well, it can often lead to new ideas and a refreshed mind.

When faced with a writing dry spell, it’s best to look at it as the mind’s way of saying, “I need a break.” To be fair, it is a well-deserved break. The mind of a writer is often overtaxed with the complexities and nuances of Story. So much of ourselves goes into the stories we write, that it can take its toll mentally and physically. When your mind says it's break time, by all means, listen.

There might be a tinge of guilt for allowing a creative pause, however long one might be required. These breaks are necessary to refresh and rejuvenate both the mind and spirit for the tasks that lie ahead. Even during a break from writing, a writer need not be idle. Reading is an essential exploration into the understanding of Story. Partaking in a variety of genres and authors helps us to discover our own place in the world of words. This might also be the time to review a work in progress more fully, a time to put the reader cap on and see how the story flows. Perhaps this will spark new ideas and a new flame of inspiration will ignite.

If reading seems as tedious as writing at this point, allow the waves of silence and solitude within one’s mind, and rest. Rest, knowing that all the unfinished stories and cliff-hanging characters will remain and return to tell their tales when it is time. Rest and dream, both are like a deluge upon the arid earth of our creations. Rest will keep them safe, and our dreams will keep them flowing.

A writer is not a machine. We cannot work tirelessly and without end. After all, it takes a lot to create entire worlds; even God rested once His work was done. Take these uninspired moments as a blessing in disguise, a much-needed respite, and know that when it is over, the story will come alive once again on the page, vibrant and clear.

Keshia C. Willi