When the Words Just…Won’t…Come

Bear with me for a second.  I’m going to ask you to do something.  You’re sitting at a computer, and if you’re reading my post, you’re either relaxed and sagged in your chair, or trying to avoid doing something, so you’ve either got tension in your gut or your back.  (Am I close?)

So, let go of the mouse for a second (or finish reading this paragraph and then put the iPhone/cellphone/Blackberry down) and reach your hand high up into the air as far as you can, while keeping the other on the desk.  Hold it there for a few seconds, while everything stretches out.  Lower your hands slowly (don’t drop it).  Now repeat with the other hand, and feel the stretch through your back and shoulders and neck.

Now, keeping your arm straight and parallel to the desktop, cross it over your body and press it against your chest with your other hand against your elbow, so that you get a gentle stretch in your upper arm and shoulder, and hold it for a few seconds.  Repeat with the other arm.

Still looking at the monitor, and keeping your shoulders still, tilt your head to one side, so that your neck stretches out.  Hold it for a few seconds.  Then repeat on the other side.

Now take a deep, long breath, and when you’ve filled your lungs, hold the breath for a second or two before exhaling slowly.  Repeat for two more breaths.

Now how do you feel?

This 60 seconds tension release is a great way to pop-start a writing session, if you’re wound up like a watch — or at any time you realize you’re all hunched up and uptight.  Next time you’re writing and the words just…won’t…come, check what your body is doing, and see if it’s mirroring your frustration, and if it is, try defusing the tension.  You’ll be surprised by how effectively this works at getting your mind to relax and the words to flow again.

First appeared on Anchored Authors in April/May, 2009

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Tracy Cooper-Posey © 2009. Cannot be copied or distributed without permission.