Writers Block and Mr. Bubble

I just talked to a friend who writes about 20 hours a week. He’s got a full-time job and an active family, but still has no problem finding 20 hours during the week to write.

I talked to another friend who doesn't have a full-time job, has no kids, and carving out even an hour a day to write seems like chore.

So how do you move from unmotivated to highly productive?

Getting In the Zone

When you’re in the zone — in the middle of a story and the words are coming fast a furious — suddenly finding the time isn’t hard. It’s like running down hill and you’re trying to keep up with your feet.

When the story isn’t flowing and the plot needs work or the characters seem flat, writing feels more like climbing up a steep hill, in 90-degree weather, with a 50-pound backpack, and a Barry Manilow song stuck in your head . . . you know the one.

Getting Over the Hump

How do you climb over the top of the hill and start running down the other side?

My trick is a mild form of self-hypnosis. Or some might say I’ve turned myself into one of Pavlov's dogs. Whenever I run a bubble bath, I take a pad of paper with me. I ALWAYS write in the tub, and I've never had writer's block with Mr. Bubble. (Yes,I should probably buy stock in Mr. Bubble.)

In fact, it's gotten to the point that whenever I see a bottle of Mr. Bubble I'm suddenly frantic for a pen and will write on anything that's flat.

Unfortunately, Mr. Bubble isn't always available. I should have been smarter up front and used something a little more conventional like a special rock or a candle. But I’m stuck now.

So, that's my story. It weird, but it works. I’m curious, how you switch on the writer when the words are hard to find? Fess up!!!