There may be times in the dissertation process where you feel like you’ve written everything you know… and you still have three more chapters to go. When this happens, I think of it as the "writing well running dry." The bad news is that it can be uncomfortable and anxiety provoking. The good news is that it’s usually only temporary. One of the best strategies for refilling the writing well is to engage in a relaxing, creative activity. Doing so allows your right brain to play around with ideas and connections, which can result in new insights and enthusiasm. If you feel like your writing well is dry, or even a bit low, take yourself out for what Julia Cameron (Author, The Artist’s Way) calls an artist’s date. This is a relatively brief (2-4 hour) excursion with the sole purpose of refreshing your creative spirit. I take artist’s dates periodically (though not as much as I should) and I’ve enjoyed activities such as: visiting botanical gardens, going to an art museum, or having a picnic. These have been wonderful for resparking my creativity, and I think they can do the same for you. When you take the time to replenish your creative flow, you’ll find it easier to get back to writing.
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