Shaking off creator's slump

The last few months have hit like a sledgehammer, leaving me with a profound sense of “slump”. That feeling of lethargy lazily tangled with a lack of motivation for anything creative. This got me thinking of ways I can shake off this heavy fog and step into the light of inspiration. Here are some things that I try when I am trying to see my way through the slump tunnel.

Reading books
I spend WAY too much time looking at a screen to the point my creativity gets drowned out by petty Internet drama and serial killer trivia. It’s nice to take a step away and get lost in the analogue world of books. I’ve devoured a few this year alone. It gives my mind a rest whilst I explore new ideas and writing styles. Speaking of going analogue…

Put down the phone and go for a walk
I’ve been on a small fitness kick, ie, I actually move 150 minutes a week rather than…well…none. This has done wonders for my stress level. I feel lighter when I come back and the endorphins have helped curb the afternoon nap/caffeine hit I would often reach for. This has improved my sleep which makes coping with stress easier, but also gives me more energy to do creative things when I have a minute.

Read other webcomics/comic books
Not only am I supporting other creators by reading their work, I take note of how they use writing conventions, or the way in which they laid out a page. I study their colours, lineart and typography, going on to experiment in my own work. Reading other comics expands my knowledge of the types of stories out there as well as absorbing up and coming trends.

Tutorials on how to draw better and faster
Comics are a time consuming hobby, no doubt about it, however there are plenty of people out there doing tutorials on how to push your work to the next level. When I’m struggling I take time out to learn macros and small tricks of whatever program I am using, or I try to find a way to cut down production time thus improving my overall work.

Rest
Sometimes I just step away. Life does get hard. Taking time out to recentre, regroup and grow benefits your projects in the long run. If you need a nap, take a nap. If you need a break, take a break. There’s no real rush.

How do you get past a slump? Let us know in the comment section below! And join us on Sunday evening for our Quackchat at 5:30PM(EST)!

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