When you feel stuck, your mind may need some exercise.
When my wife got home from work, she asked how my writing day had gone.
I’d finished five of seven daily devotions. But I had no idea what I’d write for the final two.
With a few days to meet my deadline, I knew what to do. I suggested we take a walk.
As we headed on a loop that takes forty-five minutes, we discussed her day, what I’d written, and our weekend plans. Much of the time we simply walked.
All the while, my subconscious considered my writing project.
Halfway through the walk, the first concept came. I silently worked through how I’d develop the illustration and tried several lead sentences. One down, one to go.
Halfway through the walk, the first concept came.
Ten minutes later, the second idea came. I repeated the process, reviewed the earlier idea, then described them both to Carol. If the ideas were too far astray, she’d tell me. And describing them relieved my fear of forgetting before I could commit them to writing.
A few minutes later we returned home and I headed for my computer. I’d gotten some exercise, reconnected with my spouse, and planned my next day’s writing. Pretty good for a short walk.
