Topping Up The Creative Well

How every writer can practice the art of topping up our creativity, because without creativity, we have no writing business.

The feature first appeared in print in the UK’s Writing Magazine, in the April 2025 issue.

“We’re going on a cruise on Windermere,” said Bethany. “Anybody else want to come?”

I watched several of my writing group friends frown and look at each other. This was the first full day of our group’s annual retreat and, for some of them, it was their first writing retreat.

“I thought we were supposed to spend the entire weekend writing,” said Tracy, one of the new retreaters. She shut her laptop and grabbed her coat.

I couldn’t help but smile. “Topping up the creative well is just as important, if not more,” I explained. “After all, with no inspiration, where do we get our ideas?”

“Sounds like a procrastinator’s dream to me!” Tracy winked as she left with the others for the morning two-hour boat trip.

When it comes to the business of writing, it’s important to remember that we are not machines. We cannot churn out sparkling prose, or poetry, incessantly. We need a break. It may seem a strange concept to contemplate, but an important part of the…