There will always be a downtime. You can't have a high without a low, it acts as a reminder to balance. The downtime as I call it happens to everyone, creative or not. It's a sort of sit back, throw your hands up in the air moment. Could last a month, could last a year. Each time you deal with it differently, either way it happens.
I went into hibernation after my first album in order to create a second album (which is done). It was my longest down time to date. It's like you have waves of inspiration and then none at all, it can be maddening. Learning to ride the wave of inconsistent creative madness until beauty appears once again. I think the older you get the more space appears between creative bursts. You do get better at the downtime but you still feel it linger on. Sometimes you unplug and find inspiration in other mediums or for some this is when they give up. I understand why now. There is no map on this lonely road and the support as most move on and get married and have babies starts to consume most people's worlds. I promise though if you hold on long enough, something will give way.
As a slow processor of downtime I have found the months that pass and suddenly turn into a year (for me) was in some way supposed to happen. Other mediums started to grow and develop and my friendship with time doesn't match those around me. This human developed concept of time and getting older seems pressurizing especially in a smaller town. Time slows down then I look at it and it almost feels sped up, this downtime thing blurs reality. I won't lie, it does suck most times. I promise it gets better though.
To be creative is to fight against most common peoples reality. Making a path all your own and walking it not just talking about it. If I have learned on thing it's that most artistic mediums aren't lite up at the same time. My downtime with music was my time for growth in poetry. You see they all do a beautiful dance with one another, just perhaps not at the same time. The biggest difference is to stay inspired and marvel when beauty finds you during what feels like a drought. Realize most people are too busy to stop and see the beautiful things, be grateful if you seek it or if it finds you. I promise it always will.
Keep on.
