OctPoWriMo 2022: Day 29 - Birthing Something New

 

We all know the feeling of writers' block and that apparent inability to 'birth something new'. Some of us only feel able to write while experiencing certain emotions. Others find it difficult to get into that 'flow state'. Others suffer from the time-suck (and indeed 'motivation-suck') of modern life. 

So how can you get past that so as to re-establish your creative self? The internet abounds with tips, as does the website of Purdue University, which recommends, among other things, remembering that it's a first draft and that it therefore doesn't have to be perfect - or even have a name. Writing is also hard work - waiting until you are in that mythical state of 'inspiration' just won't work. And, of course, you should use prompts like the ones provided by the OctPoWriMo team!

You can also try a new poetic form to try to liberate your creative soul a little: lots of places, such as the ever-reliable Writers' Digest, will walk you through many. If you're pushed for time, don't worry - not all of them are long or complex. Blackout poetry, in particular, is a great way of 'birthing something new' from an existing text.

Finally, you may wish to take inspiration from a life event. The immediate period after my son was born in 2018 was an especially fertile time (pun intended!) as I felt able to write a lot of poetry about his birth and early days. I am currently pregnant with my second son (and indeed final child) and feel I should write about this pregnancy, given that I will never go through this again.

Word prompts

Affirm

Grow

Regenerate

Slip

Appear

Remember, our prompts are only suggestions: you can find your inspiration wherever your muse leads you. Please visit the other participants, share the hashtag #OctPoWriMo on social media, and share your link in the comments below. Let us know how this journey into poetry is going for you and if this is your first year or if you have been with us from the beginning.

Happy writing!

Bianca