After
thirteen books, I know all about falling out of love with my own
writing. I recognize my own stall-outs and tricks. I've created a
thousand exercises and ways to combat this, accept it, keep writing
anyway.This week I discovered an unusual procrastination--one that worked so well, I wanted to share it with you.
Writing a book is more of a marriage than a date. You're in it for the long(er) haul. You need to stay hooked. Or else one of you--probably the book--will pull a Thelma and Louise.
Acedia--A New Take on Procrastination
On Monday I begin teaching at the beautiful and creative art school on Madeline Island in Lake Superior, where I spend three glorious weeks each summer and fall. In these retreats, we do many different exploratory exercises, all designed to give the writer a new perspective on the book. I've been exploring a new exercise called a River Chart. I introduced my stubborn novel-in-progress to it this past weekend, and they hit it off really well.