What can you do if you run into an obstacle when you are in the middle of writing that next best-seller? I can guarantee that beating on the keyboard, or wearing sack cloth and ashes will not help out very much. But I can tell you what I do. It is not easy. Being a compulsive person I am always tempted to plunge ahead and that really is a waste of time if the “muse” is tired or out to lunch.
So what do you do? Here’s the answer and it applies not only to writing but actually to any task which has ground to a halt. TAKE A BREAK.
When you are frustrated with battling a problem, applying any kind of rational process for finding a solution is difficult at best. So take a break. Go for a walk, tidy up your desk, or pick up a favorite book and re-read it. Sit in the sun, enjoy a soft drink, have a cup of coffee, call a friend, walk the dog (doesn’t work with a cat).
Answer you email, write a letter, peruse the Internet for interesting sites. Do ANYTHING to take your mind off the problem for a while. If you can convince yourself to do this, you will find that your brain enjoys a break and when it is ready – you will know when to go back to your writing, or whatever task was driving you nuts.
If you have a different method for getting back on track, I would love to hear of it.
johnbeckmanbooks 