Relationship Tips for Creative People and Those Who Love Them

Love and creativity have gone hand-in-hand throughout history.

Long-lasting loves and unrequited passions are one of the major inspirations of writers, musicians and artists. The audiences these creative types seek respond to love-related themes. Who can't recall cheering when the geeky hero of the story overcomes all odds and gets the girl? What couple hasn't turned to one another and said "hey, that's our song" at some point?

Yes, love and creativity are often partners.

The irony is that the creative individuals who peck at the keyboards or scribble the songs that inspire us can often be a royal pain in the butt to love.

I know this because I am one, or at least I hope I am. Writing is my passion, and I can't imagine my life without it. I cram it into my busy life in spite of a full-time job and social obligations. I neglect mundane chores to make time for it. When I'm "in a zone" an entire day can slip by where I don't eat, sleep or take a phone call, let alone think to throw in a load of laundry. When writer's block hits, or my job becomes so demanding that I have nothing left over for my stories, I become like a rat in a cage - bitter, frustrated and irritable.

My writing is part of who I am. But I realize it can make me, at times, a difficult person to have as a romantic partner. My experience with other creative types and their partners, especially when both have an artistic passion, leads me to believe this is somewhat universal.

So, when you're an artist in love, or a person in love with an artist, or both, how do you make your "other" passion an inspiring part of your relationship rather than a drain on it?

Have a Workspace


Every artist needs a place to create, a safe and inspiring nook where their imagination can run wild. But the reality is that not all of us can afford a studio, or a home that lends itself to escaping from everyone, even those we love, when we need to disappear inside our own heads.