i'm sorry you're struggling creatively. it's been happening to me a lot too which i think is, at least for me, being caused by the sheer stress of the current timeline and how discoverability has died online. graphic novels help me and seeking out creatives who utterly love what they're doing so it shines through their work helps me. the hardest part is not beating yourself up, you can just go refill your well.
I hope you enjoy Blob! I thought it was so weird and dark, but also lovely.
That's such a good point about The Horrors. I had not even considered how that persistent dread would inevitably affect creativity. I love those suggestions, thank you!
I say read short things to get out of a slump or a fear of a slump. Children’s books, including picture books, poetry, comic books, or short stories or short novels. Consider this list:
Abby Jimenez may not be for me, either. I only read one book, but I couldn’t stand the writing. It just seemed so…childish? And you’re right, it’s big themes for a romance. Again, maybe, I’ll try another book (or two), but I don’t really get the hype.
I think there's a type of romance reader who likes realism in their stories, conflicts that are more than just "oh no, we miscommunicated." I just don't think that's me or what I read romance novels for and so her books just kind of feel unsatisfying to me.
You have me intrigued with Our Infinite Fates, especially given that fantasy isn't one of my preferred genres, but I'd be open to this one. And I agree with you on that ending for Say You'll Remember Me. I like Abby Jimenez, but there was something a little off with this one. (The whole back and forth of "we're never going to be able to be together!!!" got old quickly.) She's written about her daughter's health issues and I think Abby's had some of her own; maybe that contributed to the "off" feeling of this one, but I get why realistic romance isn't for everyone.
As for igniting the creative spark? I am not your girl for advice in that regard, given that I've just managed my first reading recap on Substack in four months -- and my first post since the end of March. The current chaos in the country is a 24/7 assault on one's abilities to do...well, almost anything requiring significant thought (at least, that's my experience) but I'm trying to overcome that because it's important to have a creative outlet. All things I know you know. It's tough.
I really liked Our Infinite Fates (not quite as much as I love The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, which I think it's strongly similar to), but it's shorter and so less of a commitment if you're not fully into fantasy.
And yes, so true on the back and forth with Say You'll Remember Me... it felt like such a leap to go from this impossible conflict to fully solved so quickly. Oh well, just not for me!
Thanks for the solidarity! I had not considered the State of Things as a culprit, but certainly maternity leave stacked on top of the baseline horrors is going to wreak havoc on any kind of creative energy. We persist.
my hold from the library for Blob just came in!
i'm sorry you're struggling creatively. it's been happening to me a lot too which i think is, at least for me, being caused by the sheer stress of the current timeline and how discoverability has died online. graphic novels help me and seeking out creatives who utterly love what they're doing so it shines through their work helps me. the hardest part is not beating yourself up, you can just go refill your well.
I hope you enjoy Blob! I thought it was so weird and dark, but also lovely.
That's such a good point about The Horrors. I had not even considered how that persistent dread would inevitably affect creativity. I love those suggestions, thank you!
I am always craving weird :)
I say read short things to get out of a slump or a fear of a slump. Children’s books, including picture books, poetry, comic books, or short stories or short novels. Consider this list:
https://lithub.com/the-50-best-contemporary-novels-under-200-pages/
That's a good suggestion! I picked up some comics to bring to the cabin with me this weekend.
Abby Jimenez may not be for me, either. I only read one book, but I couldn’t stand the writing. It just seemed so…childish? And you’re right, it’s big themes for a romance. Again, maybe, I’ll try another book (or two), but I don’t really get the hype.
I think there's a type of romance reader who likes realism in their stories, conflicts that are more than just "oh no, we miscommunicated." I just don't think that's me or what I read romance novels for and so her books just kind of feel unsatisfying to me.
You have me intrigued with Our Infinite Fates, especially given that fantasy isn't one of my preferred genres, but I'd be open to this one. And I agree with you on that ending for Say You'll Remember Me. I like Abby Jimenez, but there was something a little off with this one. (The whole back and forth of "we're never going to be able to be together!!!" got old quickly.) She's written about her daughter's health issues and I think Abby's had some of her own; maybe that contributed to the "off" feeling of this one, but I get why realistic romance isn't for everyone.
As for igniting the creative spark? I am not your girl for advice in that regard, given that I've just managed my first reading recap on Substack in four months -- and my first post since the end of March. The current chaos in the country is a 24/7 assault on one's abilities to do...well, almost anything requiring significant thought (at least, that's my experience) but I'm trying to overcome that because it's important to have a creative outlet. All things I know you know. It's tough.
I really liked Our Infinite Fates (not quite as much as I love The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, which I think it's strongly similar to), but it's shorter and so less of a commitment if you're not fully into fantasy.
And yes, so true on the back and forth with Say You'll Remember Me... it felt like such a leap to go from this impossible conflict to fully solved so quickly. Oh well, just not for me!
Thanks for the solidarity! I had not considered the State of Things as a culprit, but certainly maternity leave stacked on top of the baseline horrors is going to wreak havoc on any kind of creative energy. We persist.