Skip to content

The question

What do you do when you feel creatively stuck?

Originally asked

The Creative Independent, to working artists, its interview series

A recurring Creative Independent question whose wording distinguishes a lasting block from a temporary impasse.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

TH
Trenton Doyle Hancock

Painter and printmaker

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here
I think once an artist or musician reaches a certain level of mastery, you can just do it on autopilot. My hand can keep moving and I can be making things, and on the outside I can be like, “This looks really cool” but I’m really just bored with it. I can draw this face or an eyeball or whatever in my sleep, and it’s not interesting to me. A creative block to me just means getting bored with myself. Those are those moments where you have to shake it up or do some introspection, or simply take a break. Sometimes I read a book or go to the movies, have my favorite meal, or go on a trip.

Katy Henriksen, The Creative Independent, 31 August 2017 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 63 →
Bill Sellanga Musician, producer and DJ, performing as Blinky Bill
I have a DJ side that I’ve developed, and so when creative blocks hit me I tend to spin a lot more than usual. Also, just trying my hand in other fields. I’m looking at sewing classes the next time I have a creative block.
Recorded Brandon Stosuy, The Creative Independent, 3 August 2017 source ↗
Perfume Genius American musician
Just realizing that the block’s part of it. There’s always a week or two, or even a full month, where I’m convinced I’ll never write again, that everything was a fluke before. Or I’m writing, and I can’t tell if it’s inspired or shitty, but I don’t really freak out like I used to. I know that it’s just part of eventually figuring it out. It used to make me panic, but now I know it’s just what happens.
Recorded Brandon Stosuy, The Creative Independent interview source ↗
Miho Hatori Japanese singer and musician
I always want to feel fresh when I do something. If I don’t have that excited feeling, it’s impossible to move people, and that’s the most important thing for me.
Recorded Brandon Stosuy, The Creative Independent interview source ↗
Chad Hartigan Film director and screenwriter
I would say I feel stuck more often than I feel creatively flowing. It’s about not beating yourself up about that, not getting on your own case for long periods of not being productive, because it can happen in a big sudden burst. And usually, forcing it too much has never really resulted in good stuff. So, it’s a lot of being patient and forgiving of yourself. I watch a movie every night and listen to a lot of music. I’m constantly surrounding myself with stimuli, that anything could be the spark that gets the creative juices flowing again. I have experienced times, though, where I’ve found it’s not happening, and I get tired of movies and music and I need something else. So, then I’ll go to an art museum or go see an orchestra perform and see if that helps.
Recorded Nic Juarez, The Creative Independent, 1 July 2026 source ↗

More on craft & work

Also answered this

Vernon Chatman, Rebecca Ness, Marya Hornbacher, Zaldy Goco, Bill "Blinky" Sellanga, Miho Hatori

Search the directory for somebody in particular.

Explore further

Report this answer