5 Creative Breakthroughs for Sensitive Writers Using The Artist’s Way

I have experienced the feeling of the creative well drying up. It’s frightening, to say the least. As a highly sensitive writer, I find that the stress of day-to-day parenting, household management, and work projects can dampen or even snuff out my creative juices.

About a decade ago, I pulled a book off my mom’s bookshelf that changed everything: The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. In this book, Cameron shares the connections between spirituality and creativity. She details a process she tested with many a creative to unlock the closed off creative’s heart. It worked on me, and I know it can work on you too. Because this book impacted me so much, I’ve decided to incorporate it into my coaching work. I’ll be leading a group through The Artist’s Way over 12 weeks, to line up with the book.

After having several back-to-back difficult years, my creativity took a serious hit. I found myself struggling with chronic pain from a car accident neck injury and recovery from not one but four surgeries related to breast cancer the following year. I certainly didn’t have any creative breakthroughs during this season, but did learn other lessons such as the gift of slowing down and giving myself room to recover and heal.

When you’re in pain, struggling with financial or relationships challenges, it can be substantially difficult to get back to your creative self. Adulting is real hard, amiright?

What Does it Look Like to “Get back to Your Creative Self?”

When I’m in my creative zone, my creative endeavors such as writing, journaling, and creating music come easily. To quote the Eagles, I feel that “peaceful easy feeling” akin to do something fun adeptly. As a teen, I loved ice skating and would skate fast around the rink. I got fairly good and rarely fell; I had a confidence that I could skate fast, skate backwards, and even do a few tricks. I felt a rush of freedom and power from this activity. For me, getting back to my creative self means not allowing the “troubles of this world” to consume me, but instead, to rest in the peaceful feeling of grace and beauty that can be one’s creative life.

How Does Being a Highly Sensitive Person Play Into One’s Creativity?

As a highly sensitive person (HSP), a personality trait clinically known as sensory processing sensitivity, I’m attuned to myself, to others, and to the world around me in many unique ways. This affects my creativity in a number of ways including feeling “off” when my body isn’t feeling good or relationships in my life are going through rough patches. I seem to have a low threshold for negative people, emotions, and circumstances. When things are just right, I tend to clam up–and my creativity clams up, too.

Learning how to check things going on and put the safely on the shelf so that I can allow my creativity to flow even when things aren’t perfect is a hard task for me. While men seem naturally good at compartmentalizing, I have never been especially good at drawing lines between things. Instead, my emotions from one situation tend to bleed into the next.

7 Tips to Compartmentalize and Free Up Mental Space for Creativity

As I mentioned above, it can be difficult to play “whack-a-mole” with all the things going on in your life and brain in order to tune into your creative juices. Here are a few suggestions to get heading in the right direction:

1. Time Blocking for Creativity

• Set dedicated time slots for creativity, treating them like non-negotiable appointments.
• Use alarms or calendar reminders to mark the transition between tasks.
• Example: Mornings for deep creative work, afternoons for admin tasks.

2. Create Physical & Mental Boundaries

• Have a designated creative space (even a small corner) that signals “this is my time to create.”
• Use rituals to switch gears—light a candle, play specific music, or use a special notebook.
• Mentally, imagine placing your worries in a “box” before diving into creative work.

3. The Parking Lot Method

• Keep a “mental parking lot” (journal, whiteboard, or notes app) where you temporarily “park” distracting thoughts or to-dos.
• Reassure yourself that you’ll come back to them later, reducing the urge to multitask.

4. Use an Alter Ego or Creative Persona

• Step into a “creative identity” when it’s time to create, separating it from other roles (caregiver, business owner, etc.).
• Give this persona a name or visual cue—wear a specific piece of jewelry or adopt a mantra like, Now, I am the artist.

5. Sensory Anchors & Transition Rituals

• Use sensory cues like scent (essential oils, incense), sound (instrumental music, nature sounds), or movement (stretching, deep breathing) to shift into creative mode.
• Example: Before writing, take three deep breaths and sip tea to signal your brain that it’s time to focus.

6. The “First 15-Minute” Rule

• If you’re feeling stuck, commit to just 15 minutes of creativity. This small start often leads to deeper focus and flow.

7. Compartmentalize Emotionally

• If heavy emotions feel overwhelming, set aside “worry time” where you allow yourself 10-15 minutes to process feelings, journal, or vent.
• Then, consciously shift into a different mindset by visualizing a door closing on those thoughts.

5 Creative Breakthroughs for Sensitive Writers Using The Artist’s Way

Now that we’ve taken some time to work on compartmentalization, I’d like to invite you to consider pouring more time, energy, and attention into your creative superpowers.

As a highly sensitive person (HSP), I found that the world didn’t communicate in the same ways I did. I was a creative. This made so much sense! I’m a writer, musician, and poet – and now HSP-trained coach who assist people just like you in stepping into their creative passions. In my coaching work, I find that working with sensitive and creative people usually involves looking deeper at everything to find emotional and creative blocks.

By leading a group of HSPs through The Artist’s Way by Julie Cameron, I hope to help us all unlock our creative genius through Cameron’s timeless advice and creative leadership.

Creative Breakthrough #1 – The Artist’s Way Group Coaching Can Provide a Safe and Supportive Space

Highly sensitive people (HSPs) often feel overwhelmed by criticism. This group provides a nurturing environment where writers can share their work without fear of judgment. When all the participants know that the space is safe to feel, to share, and to process creative endeavors alongside one another, safety is established and respected.

Creative Breakthrough #2 – The Artist’s Way Group Coaching Encourages Consistent Creative Practices

Through weekly check-ins, morning pages, and exercises, HSPs develop a sustainable writing habit that honors their sensitivity without burnout. While no one can tell the future to know if you’ll get sick or have family obligations to attend to, together, we can foster space for growth as artists of all kinds.

Creative Breakthrough #3 – The Artist’s Way Group Coaching Reduces Creative Blocks and Self-Doubt

This style of supportive group coaching helps writers work through perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and fear, allowing their authentic voice to emerge. We will take slow, deliberate steps towards unveiling creativity that will marinate into our lives in many different ways. It’s a creative journey, and we’ll take it together.

Creative Breakthrough #4 – The Artist’s Way Group Coaching Inspires Through Gentle Accountability

Writing can be isolating, but structured support keeps participants engaged and motivated without pressure or competition. My “we’re all in this together” attitude toward group coaching means that we are all participants working to achieve balance, insight, depth, and joy through the process of unfolding creativity.

Creative Breakthrough #5 – The Artist’s Way Group Coaching Strengthens Intuition and Inner Wisdom

HSPs naturally have strong intuition, and The Artist’s Way process enhances trust in their creative instincts and storytelling. By building our creative skills, we strengthen our intuition and inner wisdom in ways we can’t foresee. Only through trial and error, staying open to ourselves, and finding depth to move forward in faith can the creative process truly unfold.