You’re a writer.

The stories are locked into your head.

What is standing between you and your words?

For the last couple of weeks I’ve been focused on indoor projects. It’s hot outside, I’ve lost track of how many days it’s been 100+ and we haven’t had rain for a month now. I’m trying to keep the garden alive, not the plants, but the trees. We’re well below average rainfall for the year and this isn’t a wet place to start with. I’m looking at weeks more of this dry, hot weather. So, as I once planned for winter in northern climes where I lived, I’ve been looking inside the house for projects that should be done. I’ve organized my pantry, clearing out old foods and optimizing my baking nook. I’ve organized my library further (this has been an iterative process). I started in on my studio, where I work. The question I keep asking myself is: what makes this hard for me to use?

My sister, a one-time professional organizer (we really are polar opposites!) has been a helpful sounding board for these projects when she’s had time. Her first question is: what are you using this space for? The idea is that should be the focus. Things you aren’t going to use should go away, or at least, elsewhere.

Working through the organization of various spaces has been good for me. Not only do these projects get me up and moving – like my garden work, this is my equivalent of the gym – but it’s been calming the chaos of a house that was tidy… and also taking more of my time to find things than I liked. In the case of the pantry, letting go of old food was emotionally fraught but I’m so happy after a few bags in the trash and a few boxes donated. We can use the pantry, we know what we have, and planning meals is simpler.

What does this have to do with writing? Well, that’s a good question. The organization of physical spaces is similar to getting your mind clear and ready to write. Sometimes, what’s standing between you and your words may be obvious, like my over-full pantry with all the clutter. Other times, you might not be clear on what you are doing with this story/idea/concept. Which comes to my sister’s question of what you are going to use this for. Are you writing it for your own amusement? Are you planning to sell it to a market? Are you planning to self-publish?

Sometimes, what’s in between you and the work is… you. I hit this when I started work on my studio. I’ve been a crafty creative type for a very long time. I have held onto some things through many moves. Until my son moved out and I co-opted his old bedroom as my space, I had never had a studio dedicated to my art (and writing!). The writing happens in the studio because it gives me a space where I can sit and think and not have any distractions if I close the door and thereby let my husband know I’m not to be disturbed. The art, crafts, well… that’s what I hit the other day. I have emotional attachments to some of these containers of supplies. Am I going to do chainmaille again? Maybe. Am I going to do craft fairs again? Oh, hell no.

If you are stuck, take some time away from it all. Switch gears. Dorothy Grant pulled me away from my house and the procrastination I was indulging in yesterday, to do something fun for a couple of hours. She pointed out that refilling the well is necessary. It is. And painting pottery is as far from writing as you can get. Chatting about story and writing and many things with a friend will help, too. The other day I drove to meet up with another writer friend (and talk covers with her) and spending almost four hours alone in the car really got the brain working on the story. That worked because I refused to allow my brain to squirrel! off onto all the other trails it wanted to chase. I kept bringing it back to the novel in progress, to figuring out what the character would do with the situation I’d put him in. It worked well. I’ve had similar successes in shorter time frames by stepping away from the writing desk to shower, wash dishes, fold laundry, or take a walk. But that last only works when it’s not surface-of-the-sun outside.

What’s keeping you from your words? Take a step or three back, and then look at it from a new perspective. You’ll likely get a better feel for why you aren’t writing, and then you can work on removing the barrier.