As a creative business owner, you know that your creativity is a huge key to your success. After all, it’s what you’ve built your business around. But, if you’re like me, then there are times when creator’s block rears its head. Your creativity just doesn’t flow, it’s like pulling nails to create new content, and you’re just not sure why.

That sad truth is there’s no one answer for everyone. Creativity is a complex and individual thing, and there could be several reasons why you might be feeling blocked.

Here are 5 common reasons for creator’s block, and how you might deal with them:

Reason #1 – Focusing too much on the end goal

It’s good to have a goal and something to work toward, but it can also be a block when you’re creating something new. If you’re too attached to what you think the end result should be, you’re not present in the creative process and it’s hard to come up with something new.

Instead of being overly focused on the end result, allow yourself to focus on the process and enjoy the flow of creative energy instead.

Reason #2 – Being stuck in a rut

If you never do anything differently, then it’s easy to fall into a creative rut.

The only way to get out of this is to try something new and see what happens.

It’s a good idea to challenge yourself to look at things from a new perspective, or to experiment with new approaches and techniques.

Reason #3 – Being afraid of failing

I could write a whole book on the fear of failure and how it can contribute to creator’s block.

The short version is that if you are too worried about making mistakes, then you’re not going to want to try new things.

Focus instead on letting your inner child out to play and see what happens. You might surprise yourself!

Reason #4 – Trying to force the flow

Creativity is often described as a flow state, meaning it happens naturally when we’re in the right headspace. So, if you struggle to come up with ideas for your content, it might be because you’re trying too hard.

Instead of forcing yourself to be creative, let go and let the ideas come to you. This is a great time to get out for a walk and spend some time in nature. That always helps me work through a block and I usually come home with at least an inkling of a new idea.

Reason #5 – The energy in your space needs refreshing

The environment you work in can have a huge impact on your creativity. For example, if you’re surrounded by distractions or clutter or you don’t have the right tools, it’s hard to stay focused and creative.

Give the energy in your space a refresh by creating a space that’s more conducive to creativity. Decluttering and organizing everything so you have what you need available when you want to work helps to reduce creator’s block by reducing your stress.

Final Thoughts

The truth is, no matter whether you’re creating content for your blog, or great works of art, everyone experiences creator’s block at some point.

Take the time to figure out what the reason is and how you can take action to release the block. Knowing the cause is the first step in making the changes necessary to get your creative energy flowing again.

This is Part 3 in a 10-part series on Using Content in Your Marketing Strategy. Other posts in this series include:

1. 7 Reasons to Make Content a Key Marketing Strategy for Your Creative Business
2. 6 Good Reasons for Using a Content Calendar
3. Got Creator’s Block? 5 Common Reasons Why It Happens (this article)
4. 7 Tips For Getting to Know Your Community
5. 7 Tips for Generating New Content Ideas
6. 8 More Tips for Generating New Content Ideas
7. Four Ideas for Creating a Content Idea List Using Data
8. 8 Tips for Using Social Media to Gather More New Content Ideas
9. Five Reasons to Outsource Content Creation
10. Coming Soon