Wednesday, February 02, 2011

cleaning and the art of writing

One of my friends from my writing group was talking about her WIP and saying that she is stuck on her story but that she had been spending her time cleaning her closets.
When asked if I had any advice I said "Keep cleaning your closets." Every time you put a skirt in the give away pile you are making a decision. Making decisions empowers you to make more decisions. One day it is a skirt that your mom gave you and you feel guilty getting rid of, the next day it is a decision about a character or the direction of a story.
After I told her to keep cleaning and making those small decisions until she was ready to make bigger decisions she thanked me.

So that is my advice for the week. Stuck on your writing? Go clean out some closets.

What is your best writing advice for the week?


5 comments:

Krista said...

Thanks! I needed this advice.

Jennie Bailey said...

Cleaning closets is the BEST advice! I'm currently cleaning. Dusting, moving things around. Sometimes clothes can stay in the closet, they just need a different spot in there.

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Angela said...

I like the idea of cleaning out closets. Also dishes, laundry, going on a walk, anything non-stressful but keeps the muscles moving tends to stimulate my creativity.

Christina Rodriguez said...

It can be so frustrating trying to write (or draw or paint) and nothing comes out. Sometimes getting chores done feels empowering on those bad writing days because at least something got done. Cleaning is theraputic in that way.

My writing advice? Get a voice recorder that you can talk into while you do other stuff, in case those ideas billow forth when you're folding laundry.