I’m calling upon my bag of tricks to try to break free of this current writing slump.
Step one: read something inspirational…or just plain fun. I picked up the latest Alexander McCall Smith Number One Ladies Detective Agency. Which takes me to Africa, reminds me of what I love about that place – a continent where making time for people is an important priority in life. And McCall Smith shares with us the wisdom of the imagined father of Mma Ramotswe, the “late” Obed Ramotswe. It’s wisdom appropriate this week for me:
“How to lead a good life:
Do not complain about your life. Do not blame others for things that you have brought upon yourself. Be content with who you are and where you are, and do whatever you can do to bring to others such contentment, joy, and understanding that you have managed to find yourself.”
I like that trick! Inspirational or just plain fun reading! Going to see good plays and movies helps me. And the patience to sit with my depression / frustration for awhile — because if I FORCE myself to write something I’m not crazy about it, the whole thing feels like a paint-by-numbers exercise. If I’m in a good mind frame and want to just see what happens (not forcing it), I’ll do some 10 min. timed writing exercises out of Natalie Goldberg’s book Wild Mind :).