Writer's block? What writer's block?

Communication World, April-May, 1998 by Ann Reeves

One impatient author found her image in a haiku: "Snail, snail / climb Mount Fuji / but slowly, slowly." Now a colorful ceramic snail near her word processor reminds her to be content with her pace.

Go with any image you intuitively feel speaks to you about your writing. Then call this image up when you feel blocked.

7. Work in new environments.

When you've been staring at your computer for 15 minutes or more with a glare that would daunt Medusa, try changing your context.

Go to the file room and write longhand on top of a cabinet. Work in the company library or an empty office or conference room. Pretend you're going out for early (or late) lunch and take your piece to a noisy cafe.

At home, try editing or rewriting at the kitchen table with family chaos around you. Or, sit on your couch or bed with the TV on; Stephen King says he writes with old movies playing, and who doesn't envy his productivity?

Working in environments not set aside for writing can defuse creative anxiety by fooling our subconscious into thinking that what we're working on isn't that important. Once we get past the part where we stalled, momentum usually takes over, and we can work happily at our computers again.

8. Get help.

Ever notice how people working in communication departments often prefer to send each other e-mails rather than walk down the hall and talk in person? That's one reason we made the written word our profession. Solitary work appeals to us in a way no gregarious "people person" could ever understand. We need solitude to soothe our overstimulated senses, provide space for our creativity and help us focus.

Watch out, though. Solitude tends to segue imperceptibly into a feeling of isolation. Feeling isolated drains our energy, depletes our will and transforms the most fascinating assignment into an onerous burden.

In his recent book, "Finding Flow," Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi writes, "Over and over, our findings suggest that people get depressed when they are alone, and they revive when they rejoin the company of others." He also reports that "Most people overestimate their ability to tolerate solitude."

So when your muse turns her back, you might want to pick any piece of your writing puzzle and use it to connect with another person. For instance, walk into a nearby office and tell a colleague, "I need your help. I'm stuck for a title for this article. Can we brainstorm for a few minutes?" Or, call a friend, read a paragraph or two and get feedback. Or, see if one of the administrative assistants has a real-life anecdote you can work into your piece.

And remember, the emotional energy that comes from human contact is more important than whether or not you get what you ask for.

There you have them: Eight great ways to prime your pump and get your creative juices flowing. Next time the wellspring of your own imagination feels drier than a mid-summer day, why not give one a try?

Ann Reeves is a speaker, trainer and consultant in the field of time management and personal motivation. She can be reached in Ojai, Calif., at (805) 646-1736 or Timeworld@aol.com. This article may not be reproduced electronically.