tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post1111212349899129130..comments2023-10-30T08:00:54.059-04:00Comments on Laurel's Leaves: Have a perplexing story problem? Four tips for accessing solutionsLaurel Garverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-67165785722532864222015-03-03T14:40:20.309-05:002015-03-03T14:40:20.309-05:00Letting our brains relax is the key. Once it has &...Letting our brains relax is the key. Once it has "breathing space," the brain can do its best creative work.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-46952843108160934042015-03-03T11:55:59.728-05:002015-03-03T11:55:59.728-05:00A lot of these ideas have worked for me. Taking wa...A lot of these ideas have worked for me. Taking walks (or doing something that involves walking -- even going grocery shopping), folding laundry, and sitting in a long and boring car ride have all helped.Shelley Slyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07981620646634240160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-37957554734439913442015-03-02T17:14:14.995-05:002015-03-02T17:14:14.995-05:00I know what you mean about not wanting to take the...I know what you mean about not wanting to take the long strolls when it is so frigid outside. Yeah, coloring is one of the activities the author of Around the Writer's Block really enjoys. I should perhaps research the "adult coloring" phenom and blog about it! Thanks for the idea. :-) Glad that freewriting is working for you!Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-74636549515443425752015-03-02T12:40:56.513-05:002015-03-02T12:40:56.513-05:00Walking usually does the trick for me; but I'v...Walking usually does the trick for me; but I've been doing short walks in the winter instead of the long walks it usually takes. So I've switched to early morning free-writes. They may not solve the immediate problem I'm hoping to solve, but they always give me something useful, so still feel productive, too. I read a post recently about how adult coloring books help - I was absurdly thrilled to hear there was such a thing as an adult coloring book!Margo Berendsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476308235642890474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-87116287333246805172015-02-26T14:38:58.768-05:002015-02-26T14:38:58.768-05:00Glad they're useful to you, Saumya. You might ...Glad they're useful to you, Saumya. You might want to check out my other posts on "productivity" and "writer's block." I wrote one a while ago that might be especially helpful "Now what? Four Key Strategies to Get Unstuck" http://laurelgarver.blogspot.com/2013/12/now-what-four-key-strategies-for.html. Hang in there, my friend!Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-3676062038141150942015-02-26T14:33:50.521-05:002015-02-26T14:33:50.521-05:00I was a little nervous to put out into cyberspace ...I was a little nervous to put out into cyberspace the idea of driving as boring, mindless work, in case some troll accused me of advocating distracted driving. :-) But yes, it's true that driving doesn't engage your language center and thus should let you chillax about all things story. Remember to sing along to your music for maximum creative benefit!Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-89338806966435477542015-02-26T14:31:24.217-05:002015-02-26T14:31:24.217-05:00"Get out of your own way" is a great way..."Get out of your own way" is a great way to express it, Hart. :-) I think puzzles are great for relaxing the mind--even jigsaw, or electronic puzzle games like tetris or bejeweled/candy crush. Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-67110172901581759052015-02-25T21:52:14.838-05:002015-02-25T21:52:14.838-05:00Thanks for sharing these wonderful tips. I've ...Thanks for sharing these wonderful tips. I've been stuck with my WIP for a while and these will be helpful.Saumyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08517289532769906489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-68680657150098628252015-02-25T19:27:48.921-05:002015-02-25T19:27:48.921-05:00I'll have to try out the square brackets. I fi...I'll have to try out the square brackets. I find driving is great for me when my brain is thinking on story stuff. I'm one of those ppl that can just cruise all over and be happy- long as the music's good! =)Leandra Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00381034024025750992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-38839494334663859302015-02-25T12:41:23.934-05:002015-02-25T12:41:23.934-05:00I use that square bracket bit, too. And I am a hug...I use that square bracket bit, too. And I am a huge fan of going for a walk... erm... or having a glass of wine. Because you are right--the real need is to get out of your own way. I ALSO frequently do a Sudoku before the emotional scenes that I write longhand. It keeps my brain engaged but not ON anything that might get in my way.Hart Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.com