Every novel starts with a blank piece of paper, and every painting starts off with a blank canvas. Writers look at a piece of paper and see the potential for literary greatness. Painters look at a canvas, and see an artistic masterpiece deep within. For many people, though, it takes a stretch of the imagination to see the shape of things to come; sometimes, the inspiration does not come by at all.

Everyone goes through creative block. Creative block is not a serious or debilitating psychological disorder, but it does get annoying to have an idea and not have the inspiration to make it happen. For writers, artists, actors, and other people who rely on their creativity to make a living, creative block can be quite dangerous and serious.

You don't have to end up like a blank slate, with your mind becoming nothing more than a warped and twisted void of the droll and the uninspired. Here are some ways to get rid of a persistent creative block, and get your creative juices flowing again.

Don't Force Yourself

Everyone has their slow days. We all can't have life-changing and inspiring experiences all the time. There are just some days that you can't write, paint, act, or perform other tasks that require a lot of creativity. Whenever you suffer from creative downtime, it's best to relax, take it easy, and not force yourself to work through the phase.

If you can't work through the creative block, set it aside. There's no use trying to work through the creative block. You'll only end up with a piece that's less creative and inspirational than what people expect. Set the piece aside for when you can really work on it.

Creative block is your mind's way of telling you that it needs a break. Most phases and episodes of creative block happen when you work too hard, or you just worked on a very inspiring piece or work of art. When suffering from creative block, it's best to give yourself a well-deserved break. That lull where you're just relaxing and taking time off is especially useful, because it gives your mind time to recover and restore creativity. Have a break: give yourself plenty of time to relax and wait for the inspiration to come through and work its magic.

Look for Inspiration

Think of your creative powers as fuel stored in a tank. From time to time, your creative “fuel tank” runs on empty, and you need to “refill” your creative juices. There are many ways that you can get the inspiration you need to make really creative and awe-inspiring works:

• Go to museums and libraries. If you're a writer or an artist, you can read books and look at inspiring art pieces to draw inspiration. Remember: the key is not to copy the work itself, but to read a novel or look at a sculpture or painting to look for some inspiring things and cues that can stimulate your creativity.
• Take a walk. Sometimes a walk in the park or in a calm forest can help you recover from creative block. There's a lot of inspiration you can get from nature, so make the most of it.
• Participate in sporting activities. You may feel that your brain cells are wasted, but your body can do a lot more. Many competitive and physical sports like basketball, swimming, and football can help you energize your mind and replenish your creative powers. Even a stimulating game of Scrabble, a crossword puzzle, or a quick round of checkers can do wonders for your creativity.
• See a movie. Movies are a great way to boost your creativity. You don't have to watch high-brow art films to get your creative juices flowing again. As long as the movie is good, then you're all set to go. Treat yourself out; instead of watching movies you already watched, be more adventurous and watch the latest movie screenings at the cinema.
• Have a vacation. Sometimes you need a break from the daily grind to get your creativity back. Take a vacation, and go to a place that oozes with creativity. If you can afford it, go to a vacation spot that you've never been to before. You're already on vacation, so make the most of the experience. Soak up all the sun, surf, and inspiration you can. (For ideas, see Top Ten most relaxing vacation ideas for the stressed-out)

Stay Away from Creativity Killers

Lots of things can boost creativity, but at the same time, a lot of things can make it slump to low levels. Here are some of the things that can cause creative block:

• Television and video games. People think that there's a lot of inspiration to be drawn from TV and from video games. While you can get some creative and fresh new ideas from electronic entertainment, they usually sap your creative juices. While there are shows and games that stimulate creativity, they usually end up to be nothing more than mindless entertainment. If you're not feeling particularly creative, it's best to stay away from the idiot box.
• Junk food. Sure, potato chips and soda taste good, but they don't have the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals your brain needs to work at peak performance. Sometimes, a creative block is your body's way of telling you that it needs a supply of nutrients to keep your brain functions working at optimum levels. Instead of eating so much junk food, try eating healthy snack items like vegetable sticks and fresh fruits. If you feel particularly bummed out by a lack of creative power, you should eat a full meal.
• Nicotine and alcohol. Cigarettes and a cold beer can provide inspiration for some people, but studies show that excessive amounts of nicotine and alcohol kill some of your brain cells. At best, nicotine and alcohol are temporary solutions. They do not cure a creative block; instead, the chemicals in cigarettes and alcoholic beverages confuse you into thinking that you're creativity is at a peak.
• Personal problems. Most unresolved personal issues can get in the way of creative expression. While many artists, actors, writers, and performers have had legendary and epic struggles with depression and mental illness, you don't have to walk the same line. Personal problems can get in the way of how you express yourself. Whatever you write, paint, or perform will reflect your state of mind and the state of your emotions. Resolve your personal problems, and get yourself back on the creative track.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Sometimes all you need to do to get your creative juices flowing again is to take a nap. People who don't get eight hours of sound sleep a day usually do not have as much creativity as they're expected to. Whenever you can, get the extra hours of sleep. A power nap also helps, just in case you need to catch up on sleep you missed out on the previous night.

It's Just a Phase

Remember that creative block is just temporary. You can't be creative all the time, and chances are you'll run out of fresh ideas every now and then. Creative block is just a phase where you may need some time to relax, slow down, and refill the stock of creative ideas you have in your mind. After you recovered from creative block, you'll definitely back in fighting form. Maybe you'll even be more creative than how you started out when you had the creative block phase.

All ideas begin with a blank, empty state of mind. Even the most creative people go through more than a few phases of creative block. It's nothing to worry about. The good thing is that as soon as you recovered from an episode of creative block, you'll be more creative than ever. You may even be on your way to making a work of art that nobody but you will ever imagine. For more information regarding this article, read Four ways to break through a creative block.