Vacuum

Housecleaning to beat writers block? Photo by Melissa O'Donohue

The assignment was clear. I knew exactly what I wanted to accomplish. The research was done. Ideas and content were plentiful. I had everything I needed to complete the writing project except the words.

So I did the most logical thing I knew to do:
I vacuumed my living room.

Lo and behold, somewhere between the cat fur and dead skin cells was the opening line I had been looking for. I ran back to my computer and typed it out. Then I moved on to the dishes where I was approached by the second sentence. In the chandelier cobwebs I found three or four more lines.

I was on a roll!

Before I knew it, the piece was done and my house was clean.

Writer's Block

We all have days when the words refuse to come out to play. They can be quite anti-social sometimes. Staring at a white screen and a blinking cursor will make you peevish. Doing something else while still pondering what you're writing leads to distinguished sentences. As soon as you start a different project, the words will decide to behave.

Have you ever procrastinated yourself into working? Have you found unproductivity fuels productivity? Share your story in the comments.

PRACTICE

Clean your house for ten minutes. I'll even keep time for you. While doing so, write about a housekeeper with a dream. Use the last five minutes to let the words flow freely. When you're finished, post your practice in the comments.

Very important instructions: When the words start coming, stop cleaning. Leave the grass half-cut, the soapy dishes floating, and the mirror dripping Windex. Write down what you've got before you go back to your cleaning.

Katie Axelson is a writer, editor, and blogger who's seeking to live a story worth telling. You can find her blogging, tweeting, and facebook-ing.

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