Thursday, August 09, 2012

Brain Fog

We all have times when we can't think of the right word. Usually, it comes to us after a bit of thought. Sometimes, like what has been happening with me lately, it just stays covered under a thick blanket of fog.

Maybe it's my hormones, maybe it's this terrible heat (my city is now under water restriction), or maybe I'm just going senile, but my brain fog has made it impossible to write.

I tried for two days to get the darn brain unstuck, and while I did write, what came out was pretty much crap. Still, I can fix crap.

To address this problem, I have taken a step back from the novel and done a few other things. The other night, I made a chocolate cake from scratch - something I normally never do as a box cake is a lot easier - but my daughter wanted cake, and I was in the mood to bake, so bake I did. I also whipped up a batch of baked burritos that my husband loves. I normally do not like to cook. But as it is a form of creativity, it was fun to do.

Last night, I finished reading an absolutely adorable, charming novel called The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart. It centers around a modern-day Beefeater who lives and works at the Tower of London. It's rare for me to actually laugh out loud when I'm reading, but this book made me do that more than once. It's very British, and as I am a certified Anglophile (I do have a certificate somewhere...), I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I feel better today, and I hope to get back to the novel tonight.

The old adage is true - sometimes, you just gotta refill that creative well.

How do you refill your creative well when it runs dry?

22 comments:

  1. Whenever I feel like that I patchwork or make cards and sometimes I bake too - chocolate cake is my favourite. You're right, a break is what us writers need from time to time and creating something different using different skills is refreshing.

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    1. Yay! Another chocolate cake lover! I have a bunch of crafting supplies (I dabble in mixed media art) and I should have done some of it, but it was upstairs in my very hot office and I didn't want to turn on the a/c up there because my electric bill was sky high for the month of July. So yeah, I was being LAZY. LOL.

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  2. Homemade chocolate cake fixes EVERYTHING. :)

    Seriously, when I am feeling creative lapses, it's time to pull out all the old books from childhood and re-read. Louisa May Alcott, LM Montgomery, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters...

    Or, the sewing machine comes out and I sew bunting flags or baby blankets. Serious sense of accomplishment afterwards!

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    1. I can't believe how darn good that chocolate cake tasted. And it's a VERY easy recipe, too!

      Y'know, I need to buy some Nancy Drew books. Those were my absolute favorite when I was growing up, but I got them all from the library and never bought any.

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  3. I'm not much of a cook, so that's out. I often go for a walk or pull out a book (that always inspires me) or best of all, forget that I'm a writer and go do something completely un-writing related.

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    1. I think that's a good thing, too - to just put the writing hat aside and be someone else for awhile.

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  4. Yes, reading good books and finding other ways to be creative are the best antidotes. Good luck!

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    1. I've finished two books in the last two days, so I'm hoping that will help!

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  5. Music! Music totally helps. Baking would either kill me, or someone else in the house, so I stay away from that.

    So, the ultimate question, was the homemade chocolate cake better than the box cake??? Was it worth the time and effort? (I'm sure it was :))

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    1. I would have to say the homemade cake was just as good as the box cake - and it was definitely worth the time and effort as I knew exactly what ingredients were going into it as opposed to all those unreadable ingredients on the box cake label!

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  6. Elizabeth Parker12:34 AM

    Oh, Melissa, how I can relate! I, too, have my Official Certificate of Angophilia (somewhere), and yes, I, too, suffer from brain fog (occasionally). Glad to know there are others out there who understand. :)

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    1. Great minds think (and act) alike, Betty! :D

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  7. Melissa, I told Stuart to buy me the mega sized bag of M&M's. I'll let you know if it helps refill the well...;) Hugs:)

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    1. Good girl! Yes, it will help. It has to! Chocolate has magical powers! :D

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  8. I go to the beach, or cook. With the WIP, I've known that brain fog here and there, and it's so frustrating! I wonder if it's age...

    I have my Anglophile certificate around here somewhere too. Team GB has done so well this year, I'm so pleased for them!!

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    1. I can see where the beach would be relaxing - for me, a nice, relaxing time by a lake during the autumn season, with all the gorgeous trees in their fall colors, would be perfect. Can't wait until I can actually do that!

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  9. When I need a mental break I like to bake, read or have a TV show marathon, right now it's either Golden Girls or Psych.

    The weather here in MN has completely flipped. We are now in the upper 70s with a great breeze. Who knew that simply opening windows could improve one's mood so much?! I hope it starts to break soon for you guys down there!

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    1. I actually opened the windows last night - it was nice and cool outside. Lovely! Still not cool enough for me...I could live with mid-60s or even high 50's all the time and be happy!

      My tv marathon show would have to be Hogan's Heroes. I have no idea why...LOL!

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  10. I think you're very wise to take a break. It always helps and nothing is nicer than baking. I find that when I'm cooking, my thoughts sort themselves out a bit and answers to the latest writing dilemmas will start to emerge.
    I suppose we're still writing in our minds, even when we're not actually at the laptop.
    I find my best inspiration comes when I'm driving by myself or, funnily enough, when I'm cleaning out the chicken coop. x

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    1. Hi Joanna! Thanks for stopping by. :) I've found that taking a shower induces all sorts of ideas for me, as well as when I'm falling asleep at night. Not sure why that is, but I'll take it!

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  11. Go for a walk with my dog, drink with friends, sleep, see a film, read a book - all kinds of things!

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    1. I wish our landlady would let us have dogs - we can only have kitties and they aren't very good on walks! :)

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