How to Get Your Groove Back (Poetry Style)

Hi there, fellow poets! You may have noticed that we took a little break in January (can we blame frigid temps and a lack of sunlight?) but now we're back, and we're more excited than ever to bring you original poetry prompts, share our insights, and give you a laugh or two.

That's right; it's LAUNCH DAY!

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We've spent the last month planning all sorts of exciting adventures for this blog and scribbling our new inspirations down in our notebooks. We even announced our official launch on social media today! (See the buttons up top? Don't forget to swing by our Facebook and give us a like, and definitely don't forget to follow us on Pinterest and Twitter.) We declare today the day that we officially cast off the shackles of winter and get back in the swing of things, which means we're challenging you to do the same.

If you've ever written more than once in your life--and we imagine you have, since you're here--then you know the struggle we call the creative process. Equal parts inspiration and writer's block, the creative process is both a beautiful and a horribly annoying thing. For us, it usually goes a little like this:

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As someone who is not a regular, consistent writer (I tend to write in bursts and then take breaks, because I'm an inefficient human being), it can be particularly difficult to break out of a lull, especially if my last writing spree ended in a cycled of steps 3 and 4 of the aforementioned creative process.

So, how can you pull yourself out of your writing funk and kick writer's block in the face? We've got a few ideas:

1. Get off your ass and take a walk.

I've heard this tip a few times before, and I never took much stock in it until recently. I think it's as simple as a change of location--not being confined to stare at your computer screen or your pad of paper is a great way to recharge. And plus, when you've walked around for a bit, you can go back to sitting for a few hours without feeling lazy.

2. Buy a new notebook.

While a blank page can be intimidating, there's something inspiring about a new notebook. A single blank page stares you down and questions you, but a new notebook welcomes you into the world of new possibilities. Find a journal or a notebook with a cover that inspires you, or DIY one of your own. A fresh start is sometimes the best thing you can do for your brain (even if it means your wallet is a little less stuffed than it was before).

3. Try a new prompt.

Self promotion? Maybe. (It's our official launch today, we're excited, OK?) But we love our poetry prompts, and we think you will too. I remember snubbing prompts as a young college student, but as my college career was coming to a close I welcomed them. You can even combine different prompts if you like. Sample the parts of prompts you like best. You don't have to come up with a masterpiece; just get yourself writing. You'll thank us later.

4. Reread the work you're most proud of.

Reliving a particularly inspired time in your life is a great way to get your brain going again. Ignore any protests ("I can't write like that today," the brain whines. "Shut up brain," you reply) and fall in love with your work again. Find a favorite phrase and use it to freewrite for a few minutes. Pick out a few favorite words and rearrange them into something refreshed.

5. Dress the part.

Take off those sweatpants and let down your hair. Put on your weirdest flannel. Do whatever you need to do to feel more like a poet. This sounds like materialistic advice, but remember when your mom told you to fake it till you made it? This is the exact same deal. I feel most inspired when I let my hair go crazy-curly because it reminds me of my favorite college professor. Creepy? Maybe. But it works.

These are just a few tricks to get you started; now it's up to you to figure out what works best! You don't have to set a schedule, and you don't have to write for any certain amount of time or fill a certain amount of pages. Just relax; the words will come. And don't forget, sometimes it's OK to just throw it on the ground and start over.

What are your tricks for dissolving writer's block? Share them in the comments below!