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"Free Your Mind and The Rest Will Follow"


I'm ashamed to admit that "Spring Fever" has gotten the best of me.  Not only have I neglected my blog, but my work-in-progress also waned.  Don't get me wrong, I tried to write, but every time I looked out my office window, the sunshine, blooming trees and flowers seemed to call my name. 

      "Andrea," they said.  "Don't stay in that stuffy office a day longer, come and enjoy the day."

 Needless to say, it didn't take much prodding to draw me away.   Since I love writing, this should have been a tell-tell sign that I needed a break.  However, sometimes we refuse to see what's right in front of our noses.  If I had been thinking clearly, I would have seen that my mind was blocked.  There were days I'd walk into my office and the computer would sit there accusingly, as if to say, "Do something!" Unfortunately, the body was willing but the mind wasn't.  The words did not come.  Then, my block led to discouragement, which led to self-depricating remarks like, "I suck, I can't do this, why am I even trying," etc.   Finally, I gave in to my need to get away and took a break.

Now that I'm back, I realize a hiatus was the key to freeing my muse from the prison she'd been locked in.  This morning I blew the dust off my keyboard and began writing.  It feels good to be back.  My mind is clear and I know exactly where my story is headed.   Sooo, I guess the moral to the story is listen to your mind and body.  If the words aren't there, take a break and do something else for a while.  Too much of anything can be bad for us.  When you return I think you'll discover that it was just what the doctor ordered.  Just like the song says, (not sure of the writer) "Free Your Mind and The Rest Will Follow.  Until next week my friends...Happy writing.      

Comments

  1. Jeff KingApril 14, 2011 at 5:47 PM

    We all get that way… a good break does wonders for the creative spirit. I am struggling myself to get back on the horse. I’ll get pushing on, one day I hope it starts to click again.
    Best of luck with your writing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownApril 17, 2011 at 7:36 PM

    No doubt it will, Jeff. Keep trudging along and your book will be done before you know it. Best of luck.

    ReplyDelete
  3. aj socksApril 18, 2011 at 3:46 AM

    I agree and disagree lol Sometimes I think you need a break and it does the mind good, but other times, when you know you are blocked, simply writing can help ease it as well. Hmm, I'm not really sure about it through. To each their own, yeah? lol

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownApril 19, 2011 at 9:39 AM

    A.J. I've read that writing through block can ease the symptoms. In fact, I did that very thing about a year and a half ago. I had spent about six months concentrating on the sixteenth century (the historical part of my novel) and was burnt out. Then, I decided to try my hand in this century and voila, the words flowed again. I'm not sure what the answer is either. All I know is this time a break helped me. Thanks for stopping by. Take care.

    ReplyDelete

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