Maintaining the flow

Excellent advice on writing from Hilary Mantel:

“If you get stuck, get away from your desk. Take a walk, take a bath, go to sleep, make a pie, draw, listen to ­music, meditate, exercise; whatever you do, don't just stick there scowling at the problem. But don't make telephone calls or go to a party; if you do, other people's words will pour in where your lost words should be. Open a gap for them, create a space. Be patient.”

For me, when I'm stuck and scowling at the page, the best thing to do is to whistle for Tilly and head immediately for the hills -- for in the simple act of motion, whatever has been causing the blockage of words generally shakes loose.

 In the quiet of the hills or woods or fields, I am able to hear my internal language once again.

But all writers are different. I know some who write to music, using particular albums or compositions to push their work forward, and others for whom the background hum of a busy cafe is the necessary soundtrack.

What about you? What's your best remedy when the words are just not flowing...?