Shaking Off Writer’s Block

Oh my goodness, I have been having a tough time at the keyboard. I’m working on Monument 14: Savage Drift, the third book in the series and it has come very slowly.

Once I have an outline, my process is to work steadily and methodically, writing my way though the outline. I have a good outline for Savage Drift, and that’s usually the most difficult part for me, so it’s been troubling that I’ve been feeling stalled out.

Now, I have taught workshops on Overcoming Writer’s Block! I’ve stood there and given lots of advice about how to make peace with the inner critic, and to jump-start creativity, and break up a block with writing excercises.

Nevertheless, none of my tricks and tips have been working for me.

Then I ran into a friend at our local cafe this morning and she marlveled that I’m writing my third book in three years.

“Don’t you ever run out of juice?” she asked.

“Yes!” I said. “That’s exactly my problem. I’m out of juice!”

Sitting at my computer, I feel sucked dry. I’m tense and anxious. I know I have a deadline to meet, and I have maybe 1/10 of the book written.

That is not an optimal condition for creative flow, and yet I’ve been sitting here for weeks, now, expecting me to be able to turn on a magical tap.

So after I got back to my office, I closed the shades.

I took off my boots.

And I put on this song, by Ratatat. And then this song by Daft Punk.

I danced. I danced the hell out of Ratatat and Daft Punk.

I shook my can and threw my weight around. I jiggled off stress and acted like a goofball. I did not do the pony. I am not like that. But I did get down with my bad self and it’s possible I threw a little bit of robot in the mix.

This is exactly what I looked like.

I thought of strange it was to be dancing in my little office building (I rent an office from a local College). That made me laugh. I danced and I imagined how pleasing it is to the higher powers when humans stop and enjoy their bodies for a while.

I got the juice flowing. Then I sat down and wrote the first easy pages of Savage Drift. 6 of them.

I’ve decided to start every writing day on this project with a one-woman dance party.

The next time you’re blocked, give Ratatat a try and let me know how it works for you!