One method to be productive when you are creatively drained | #102
NaNoWriMo thoughts, creative challenge #16
Hello, this is Celeste and welcome to the Letters for Creatives newsletter. I have been writing poems since 2017 and fiction since 2022. This is the place where I share my thoughts on creativity and find resources for fellow writers and creatives.
Subscribe for the interview series with creators and published authors, tips and resources on writing and creativity, .
ICYMI
Interview with Jason Franks - On being a data scientist by the day and comics writer by night
Since I have been writing my novel again in late October, I have decided to use NaNoWriMo to keep writing the story and see where it goes when NaNoWriMo ends on 30November. Even though the universal target word count is 50k for NaNoWriMo, I have adjusted mine to be 15-25k because it is my first ever novel and NaNoWriMo.
For 2023, there would be a creative or writing challenge every other week. The first 5 challenges are here. The remaining challenges are accessible for paid subscribers. Share this newsletter with friends to get your 1-month paid subscription for free.
The Lazy Susan method
I was in the phase where I listen to The Tim Ferriss Show again. Most podcast episodes focus on specific topics around the guests. In one episode, David Eagleman suggested the Lazy Susan method, in which Walt Whitman used for his writing projects.
Basically, choose a project that you want to work on. As your creative energy or focus is deteriorating, you can take a break and choose a different project that you want to work on. It seems that I have been using this method to juggle writing my newsletter and novel recently.
If you ever feel like your brain is getting foggy, take a break and then work on another project—the one that you want to work on the most. If a deadline is hunting you, you can try what authors like Chris Vox do—work on multiple writing sprints when you have the energy to so.
The author who managed to write the most is Brandon Anderson. The author with the craziest routine is probably Haruki Murakami, which involves getting up at 4am, writing for a couple hours and then run or swim in the afternoon, every day. There are a great spectrum of writing routines that you could try and revise to your own liking.
You may choose your battle to fight with now.
If you want to support this newsletter and my work:
Subscribe to this newsletter
Share this newsletter with friends
Sponsor this newsletter - share your product or project with 440+ writers and creators