Letters for Creatives #28: April writing prompts and dealing with burnout
Plus: Getting around the creative block
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Image: Blake Wheeler on Unsplash
There has been a nagging feeling for the few months as I have mentioned in the previous newsletter. It seems that I am not the only one who is feeling this way. It has been a year with much less distraction where we can hide behind things, whether it is our fear towards something or issues that we should have resolved but have not.
It is about time for us to talk about burnout. I am way too familiar with burnout. I tend to have burnout every few weeks or months since I tend to put too much on my plate. Freesia said in her video that she could not give a damn about anything. I felt it.
(Let me tell you a secret. I started writing an outline for a story that may never see the light of day. You know that I love getting burnout. I am pretty sure that dark humour or sarcasm will be included in the story.)
Freesia had some tips to cope with burnout.
Take a break without feeling guilty and recalibrate
Talk to new people (Reply to this email if you want to say hi)
Read new books
Some tips from the comment section
Try new habits
Go for a walk every day to get your dose of Vitamin D
Change your environment (It can be your living room if you work in your bedroom.)
Be a kid again and watch anime or other things you like
Listen to a podcast (You can find some suggestions from me here.)
Spend quality time with your family and friends
Interesting ideas
Around the block (3 mins video)
This video talks about the dragon for artists, writers and creative people. Do not wait for the best ideas, start creating and slay the dragon.
Every drawing fall short of what it was in your imagination when you started. In a thousand ways that disappointment is what makes you want to draw something else.
You will finish reading this in a minute. So there is no reading time there. Seth Godin pointed out that world problems do not get solved as society evolved to chase amusement, rather than solve actual problems.
Featured poem
Katy Claire wrote an ethereal piece, inspired by my March prompt healing trauma. If you like it, you can check out more of her work on her Instagram.
On Healing
I thought it would be more butterfly gardens,
but this feels like frenetic ocean —
decomposition — an upside-down chrysalis of cataclysm.
I do not feel awakening,
I cannot see
anything. I tell the healer
life was simpler when I was quiet —
storms could stay inside my belly, now
I can’t reseal the raining — wash the shaking from my hands.
I try extracting pretty poems out of greening gowns of leaves,
but what outpours is
everything.
I cannot organize this leeching from my bones.
To which she answered,
every breath starts underground, travels up and out to flower.
This is no mistake —
this is where you listen,
this is where you wait.– Katy Claire
April prompts
Please mention the prompt you use and mention #poetryandlightapril21 in the caption on Instagram, so I can read your poems. I will post my favourites on my Instagram story and they will stay on my 2021 prompts Instagram highlight.
My favourites from my subscribers will be featured in future newsletter issues along with your social media.
Subscribe if you want your poem or prose to be featured in April. It is going to be wild. Be a part of April national poetry madness. Subscribe to get your poem, prose or story featured.
If you would like to support the publication, become a paying subscriber to read exclusive deep-dive essays and get early access to new poems from my upcoming poetry book. Or you can help me to live off coffee or get something for yourself in my Redbubble store.
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P.S. I cannot wait for L. A. Rose and breathe to release new music. It is so different from the music trend now.
Until next time,
Celeste
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Featured poems in March
A poem inspired by my prompt rediscover joy by Steve
Related
Where to get inspired and keep creating
Go on airplane mode to help you relax