Spinning Our Wheels

We all spin our wheels in different ways:

• Watching TV, especially compulsively watching hours at a time when you could normally take it or leave it
• Playing video games
• Checking email, checking email, checking email

Finding yourself doing some of these things when you think you'd rather be writing is a signal that something is up with you!

Only you know your own habits. It may be normal for you to decompress with a few hands of solitaire, but if you find yourself playing Minesweeper for three hours when you have a deadline looming, chances are you could be deliberately avoiding your task.

Is something going on in your life that's upsetting you? Some of us (me included) have a difficult time writing when we're feeling low.

Or does your story need to cook a little bit longer before you serve it up?

Your Assignment

Identify the way you spin your wheels, so you can be proactive next time, rather than going into autopilot.

Think of a plan B and a plan C so that you don't fall into your wheel-spinning pattern so long that find yourself wandering a week later, dazed and confused, with 10,000 games of Minesweeper and a full season of The Biggest Loser under your belt.

• You might try a short walk to jog your creative juices, or a simple, "what happens next?" exercise
• If the writing's really not coming, you could have a to-do wishlist of tasks you've been meaning to handle around your house that will give you a good sense of accomplishment when you complete them

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