Squarespace Circle Blog: How to Get Out of a Creative Rut

Recently, the team at Squarespace Circle sent over a handful of interview questions on creativity and asked if I would share my expertise with them for an upcoming article in the Circle Blog↗. Here, I will share my answers in their entirety because creativity is a tricky thing and maybe it’ll help others when they find themselves stuck in a rut.

The article by Darragh McNicholas turned out really good, and also features David Alex, Miko Coffey, and Rasmus Myhrberg.

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Q&A

How often do you encounter a creative block/rut?

Not very often these days. But earlier in my career it happened quite often – nearly on every project. For me, a block is different from a rut. Creative blocks keep you from something new and ruts keep you dolling out the same stuff you've done before. Either way, when it happens, it steals a persons joy and projects can suffer.

What does a creative rut look like for you?

A rut is a hard thing to describe. It's like this: when you are working on a project and everything is fine, but there's something about the output you don't like. You can't quite put your finger on what's wrong, but when you look at what you created that day, you hate it – this can be very frustrating. The silver lining here is that now you know what you don't want, which puts you one step closer to something good.

How do creative ruts impact your client work, if at all?

The work is always impacted by everything. Sometimes the work is good, and sometimes it's not. Clients may not even notice, but you will. Just like beauty, good work is in the eye of the beholder.

What processes do you have in place to ensure you continue working through a creative rut?

Don't panic, stay calm. If you're blocked or stuck in a rut, switch gears and work on something else. Every project has some creative work and some mindless busy work. While you work on the easy stuff, your mind is still working on the creative stuff.

Has overcoming a creative rut become more manageable the further you’ve gotten in your career? Please explain why or why not.

Absolutely. The more blocks and ruts you clear, the easier it gets. The trick is to not let a rut derail your entire process. Quickly recognize when it's happening and calmly work though it until it's passed. Allowing yourself to be frustrated will only prolong the problem.

How do you ultimately overcome creative blocks?

I step away and do something else – anything that connects me to my humanity. Activities like walking, stretching, seeing, breathing, or listening. The most effective way for me to get creative when it's not coming to me naturally is to go on a photo walk. I love photography and have for most of my life. During a photo walk, the walking is slow and deliberate – it's about taking your time to see things that others miss. It's not walking to go, it's walking to see. While all this is happening in the front of your mind, the back is still working on your creative problem, and before you know it – BAM – you've got an idea!

What sparks your creativity?

It can come from anywhere, and it's rarely the same place each time. Sometimes it's simple things like the turn of a phrase on a billboard, or the color of a cobblestone street. Other times it's complex - one thing you see paired with another thing you feel combined with some other thing you hear. Creative people are like radio receivers, sometimes you have to work on being in tune – at the ready to receive ideas. Do something that makes you feel human and the sparks will fly.

Do you have any general advice about creativity to share for others?

Creativity is not a skill that you can sharpen and keep within reach. Think of creativity as a process of elimination – rooting out the bad ideas leaving only the good ones. You can get better at it over time, but regardless of where you are in your career, we all need to work through creative blocks and ruts in a similar way, but it's different for each of us.