Creativity in November: Finding Light in the Darker Months

November can feel a bit dare I say it moody, can’t it?
The clocks change, the evenings swoop in earlier than we’re emotionally prepared for, and suddenly you’re questioning whether 5pm is too early to put on pyjamas. (Spoiler: it’s not. November fully supports it.)

It’s a month of contrasts, bright fireworks and grey skies, cosy evenings and chilly mornings, moments of connection and moments where you think, “Nope, I’m staying under this blanket forever.”

And while this time of year can be difficult for many because of the darkness, the cold, the lack of sunlight. It also holds something really special: the chance to reframe, slow down, and let creativity be a small source of relief.

The Darkness Doesn’t Have to Feel Heavy

Let’s be honest: losing the light is tough. Even the dog looks at me like, “We’re walking in that?” when the rain hits sideways. In fact she firmly stays at the door in silent protest.

But November invites us to rethink things a little.

Instead of seeing the darkness as something to get through, what if we saw it as:

• a signal to rest
• permission to slow down
• a reminder to gather in
• a space for quieter forms of creativity

The world outside dims, but the world inside us doesn’t have to.

Walking in the Rain (Hear Me Out…)

There’s something oddly magical about November walks even in the rain.
Especially in the rain, actually. I love walking in the rain (as long as i'm not too cold!)

Raindrops on leaves, the hush of wet earth, the way everything smells cleaner and deeper. And yes, sometimes you get soaked and vow never to leave the house again, but often, it’s the quickest way to clear your head. 

And one of my favourite things?
There’s space.

People don’t tend to venture out, so you end up with these rare, beautiful pockets of solitude. There’s literal distance between you and the next person you might spot (if you spot anyone at all). Your hood becomes this little cosy barrier around your face, almost like a soft shelter, while the fresh, cool air hits your cheeks. It’s strangely magical: warm and tucked-in, yet out in the wild at the same time.

Fireworks, Friends & Little Sparks of Joy

November has these bright, sudden moments, literal sparks in the sky and they’re such a good metaphor for creativity.

A tiny spark can light everything up:

• a catch-up with a friend you haven’t seen in ages
• a night wrapped in a blanket watching fireworks
• a good meal
• a warm drink by a window
• a candle lit just because
• Singing your favourite song whilst making tea

These aren’t big creative acts, they’re pockets of joy that remind you of the colours still glowing under the surface.

Creativity as a Way Through the Darker Days

This time of year can be emotionally heavier, and that’s okay. You’re not doing November wrong it’s just a season that brings all kinds of feelings.

But creativity can help you move with those feelings rather than against them.

Try:

• writing a few lines in a notebook about how the evening light feels
• making a comforting recipe and calling it art
• creating something cosy for your home
• reading or knitting or stitching or playing music
• trying a new craft just for fun
• doodling (terrible doodles encouraged)

Creativity shifts your focus. It grounds you. It reconnects you to yourself when everything feels a bit too dark or too fast.

Cosy Season Is a Creative Season

November gives us permission to embrace cosiness without apology. Blankets, Soft lighting, Cuppas that warm your hands, Slow evenings, Movies, Crafts you forgot you started last winter.

It’s not laziness it’s seasonal wisdom.

This is the time to nurture your creativity gently, not forcefully. To let it be comforting. To let it meet you where you are.

A Gentle Creative Prompt for November

Next time you’re curled up on a cold evening, or heading out into the dusk, ask yourself:

“What tiny spark of light can I create for myself tonight?”

It could be:

• a warm drink
• a short poem
• a small sketch
• a candlelit moment
• a phone call
• a comforting recipe
• a new idea that doesn’t need acting on yet

One spark at a time is all you need.

A Few Creative Ideas for November (If You Need a Nudge)

If you're feeling that pull toward creativity but don’t quite know where to begin (hello, November brain), here are a few gentle ideas to spark something:

• Draw the shadows cast by a candle the flicker makes them wobble and stretch in the most beautiful, unpredictable ways.
• Sketch your mug or coffee cup from different angles. It doesn’t matter if it looks nothing like the mug, it’s the observing that counts.
• Take a “rain walk” photo series capture reflections in puddles, wet leaves, raindrops on windows, or the way colours deepen in the rain.
• Try a tiny colour study using only the shades you see outside your window today, greys, deep greens, muted browns, washed-out blues.
• Write a short list-poem about November: sounds, colours, smells, things you notice when you step outside.
• Make a texture rubbing from something weathered, a leaf, a stone wall, bark from a tree.
• Create a cosy still life with things already in your home: a book, a scarf, a candle, a pair of gloves, then sketch or photograph it.
• Journal your walk instead of documenting your day. What did you notice? What surprised you? What felt calming?

November creativity doesn’t need structure or pressure. Just pick one tiny thing, explore it, and see where it takes you.

P.S.

If you’re also trying to convince yourself that 4:30pm is definitely night-time, and therefore absolutely qualifies as “cosy creative hours,” just know I'm the same. November encourages this behaviour and perhaps it's good not to fight it, it gives you some more time to be creative.