9 ways to jazz up your writing relationship

Last week I got stuck and wasn’t at all inspired to write on any of the projects that I was working on. It happens–no shame. When it does, I recognize that one of two things needs to happen. Either I need a break or I need to shake something up in my routine.

 

Writing a book is a relationship, and the same applies in our relationships. If your partner is irking your damn nerves, then you probably either need to separate for a sec (or forever), or try something new. Here are three things that worked so well for me that the same energy that showed up for me creatively also surfaced sexually:

Three types of writing to try:

1. Nature writing: Basically you write about something in nature, or nature itself, and use it to reflect back to your own experiences. You don’t have to know the ending before you begin, just start writing. For example, my recent piece was about flowers. I started off about how flowers don’t impress really because they’re supposed to be pretty, but then I ended up talking about the less pretty flowers like White Dutch Clovers that are just mowed over lol. And I gotta story from it.

2. Aphorisms: It’s a statement that contains a general truth that usually has a twist in it. It can tough trying to come up with one, however, so I recommend responding to common ones with one of your own. For example, with “the only thing you gotta do is stay black and die,” I added something to the end: “The only thing you gotta do is stay black and die–unless you’re Michael Jackson.” For “Came, saw, and conquered,” I made it, “Came, saw, and went back home.”

3. A letter to your abuser: My sistafriend, Sharisa is accepting submissions for her upcoming anthology which was created to uniquely allow the author to stand in her power and share her perspective of being abused by writing an actual letter to her abuser. Click here to learn more.

 

Three books to try: 

1. Zadie Smith’s Changing My Mind: “Changing My Mind is journalism at its most expansive, intelligent, and funny–a gift to readers and writers both.”

2. Austin Kleon’s Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative: The title pretty much sums it up. It’s the bomb and super inspirational.

3. Nayyirah Waheed’s Salt: It’s only like the best poetry book ever written. Hands down.

 

Three places to visit: 

1. Home: Where is home for you? Even if you live there now, there’s still things to explore. Take on a tourist’s eye and explore endlessly.

2. A summer camp for grown ass women in Jamaica: This summer, Akilah is launching a virtual nation that combines online learning with personalized island retreat experiences to help women explore and better express themselves. Yes, bonafide Queen shit. Sign up for details.

3. A spiritual writing retreat at a beach house on Hilton Head Island: It’s going down the weekend after Mother’s Day. We only have TWO more openings, so if you’re interested…bust a move, boo! You deserve it and we’d love to have you!