Lunar Literature: Creating with the Moon Phases

From literature to religion to our understanding of nature, the moon has captured human imagination for tens of thousands of years. In fact, you could probably pull almost any book off your shelf right now and find at least one reference to the moon within its pages.

What is it about the moon that captivates us? Is it the fact that the moon, much like most people, is always changing, always in a different phase? Is it the fascinating influence the moon holds over natural processes like the ebb and flow of the tides? Or is it perhaps the moon’s sense of mystery—the idea that it holds supernatural secrets lost to time?

Whatever it may be, there’s no denying that the moon is an important tool for making sense of the world. And since I just wrapped up the first-ever cohort of Manifesting the Muse, a Gateless Writing program built around the lunar cycle, I wanted to share some insight into how the moon can specifically become a source of inspiration and accountability for writers. Keep reading to learn more about incorporating the moon phases into your creative practice.

New Moon

The New Moon, which marks the beginning of a new lunar cycle, is all about clean slates, fresh starts, and new ideas or perspectives. There is typically a sense of possibility or opportunity during a New Moon, and you can use this phase to set intentions, find clarity on what it is you really want, or turn over a new leaf in parts of your life where you feel unsatisfied.

In your creative life, the New Moon is an ideal time for brainstorming and defining your vision. You might tap into this energy by creating mood boards for your projects, starting new character sketches, starting a new outline, or simply writing/creating without a specific goal in mind to see where your creativity takes you. This phase is also ripe for reflecting on your creative goals, both in the short-term (over the course of the new lunar cycle) and in the long-term. Think about what impact you want your writing to make on yourself and others. What do you want your writing practice to look like moving forward? How can you get more comfortable with sharing your work and being seen? What structures or systems would help you with accountability and consistency?

This phase is often about growth mindset, encouraging us to let our dreams run wild and believe in possibilities, even if we’re not totally sure how we’ll make them happen. During the New Moon, we’re not as concerned with the nitty gritty details of getting from point A to point B (that will come during the waxing phases, which are about taking action). Instead, we are focused on setting the tone for the rest of the lunar cycle. It’s not uncommon for your inner critic to emerge during this process because the unknown aspect of the future can feel scary or unsafe. If you feel yourself being drawn into what-ifs about things that could go wrong, practice visualizing or writing out some what-ifs about what could go right. How would it feel to see those dreams come true?

Waxing Moon

As the moon begins to wax, or grow, through the waxing crescent, first quarter, and waxing gibbous, we can begin to take action and build new routines and practices. This is often the most creative period of the lunar cycle, and you want to direct your growing energy toward watering the seeds planted during the New Moon. As we keep our New Moon intentions in our sights, this is a time to say yes to things, to notice where things seem to be falling into place for us and be open to new opportunities or doors that are opening.

During the waxing phases, you might find it easier to get into a flow state with your writing. This is a phase where we especially want to resist the urge to edit as we go and just let the words come to us. Because the waxing phases are imbued with natural momentum, this can be a particularly good time to try out a new schedule or ritual in your writing practice to start building the habit of writing regularly. (And remember: That does not have to mean writing every single day!) After the heightened brainstorming energy of the New Moon, this can also be an ideal time to dive into a more detailed outline or planning phase of a project, taking those first steps to put new ideas into motion. And don’t be afraid to experiment and access your creativity in ways beyond just writing during the waxing phases—painting or drawing, fiber arts, singing or dancing, taking pictures, creating playlists, making crafts with your kids. All of it can help spark new inspiration, help you make connections in your main creative project, or just allow you to access some joy!

You might start to feel more social as the moon waxes, so you can use these phases to start a new collaboration with someone, be a bit more active on social media, participate in a book-focused event or writing group, or reach out to someone you’ve been wanting to connect with. Think about how you can support other writers and what type of support you would like from your creative community. Alongside the theme of growing or building as the moon waxes, you may want to spend time practicing new skills or increasing your knowledge around writing craft, business practices, etc. or reading work by authors who inspire you. Consider what tools you will need to make your long-term goals a reality, and try to identify the first tiny baby step you can take down that path.

Full Moon

Typically associated with the energy of culmination, completeness, gratitude, release, and celebration, the Full Moon is often when we start to see the results of the efforts we’ve put in during the New Moon and waxing phases. This stage can also shine a light on anything that might be getting in our way or anything our intuition is trying to tell us.

The Full Moon can be a good time to stop and take stock of how far you’ve come in your writing journey, making sure to celebrate the little milestones and acknowledge your progress toward your goals. The energy of the Full Moon can also be ideal for executing creative plans you’ve been thinking about for a while, or for pushing through the final stages of a particular project or creative task. If you’re someone who thrives under a deadline, you might consider scheduling deadlines around the Full Moon to take advantage of this phase’s propulsive energy.

If you’ve been feeling stuck or lackluster about your writing, you can use this time to get clarity on why. All those emotions rising to the surface are giving you important information about how to move forward past any blocks, whether it's impostor syndrome, procrastination, self-sabotage, or unrealistic expectations you’re placing on yourself because of external pressure. You may even realize that a creative goal or dream you’ve been working toward is no longer what you truly want and that it’s time to change course. Once you’re clear on what you need to let go of, remember to treat yourself with self-compassion. Forgive yourself for any ways you may have been playing small or feeding into negative patterns.

With its themes around illumination, the Full Moon also sets the stage for us to be seen. If you’re marketing something (like a new release), trying to catch the attention of agents, submitting work to be considered for publication in literary magazines, or building up the courage to share about a work-in-progress for the first time, the Full Moon can help amplify your efforts. So share your gifts with the world! It might feel empowering to connect with your creative community during this time by attending readings or networking events, or even collaborating with someone on a project.

Waning Moon

During the Full Moon, you may have begun to recognize things standing in your way or things you want to let go of, whether it be self-doubt, external expectations, relationships, or goals that no longer feel exciting. The waning phases—including waning crescent, third quarter, and waning gibbous—are where we really turn inward and start to put in the work to begin shedding these things so that we’re ready for a new beginning when the New Moon comes around again.

In your creative practice, the waning phases are a time to look at the big picture in your writing projects. If you completed something during the Full Moon, such as a draft or outline, this phase is for assessing, refining, and problem-solving, making it an ideal time for editing or restructuring your writing. Taking the time to understand what changes you want to make may also reveal some gaps in your project that need to be filled, and the waning phases can provide helpful energy for digging into research or honing skills that will help you bring your vision to fruition. You may feel drawn to attend a class or workshop during this period or find yourself wanting to read more than write. Don’t push yourself to produce if that’s not where your energy is—it’s okay just to absorb.

Where mindset is concerned, the waning phases are important for reflection and engaging with your inner critic. If you feel able, take some time to listen closely to your critic, not in acceptance of what it’s saying, but in order to begin poking holes in its arguments. Don’t be afraid to seek out support from other writers if your impostor syndrome or toxic perfectionism is really rearing its head. When you start to recognize that your inner critic has kept you from making progress in some way, accept responsibility for any choices you regret, forgive yourself, and create a plan for how to change it going forward.

Feel free to reach out and share your thoughts on ways the moon has guided your creative practice! And if you’re interested in participating in the next cohort of Manifesting the Muse, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter to be the first to know about upcoming sessions.