Taking a shower, trying to go to sleep, or walking the dog–that’s when the characters start talking and the story starts running like a newsflash in my mind. As soon as I can grab pen and paper, I scribble indecipherable notes. Sometimes this works. And next session I type furiously. Other times I squint at the scratch marks, turning the scrap of paper this way and that and still draw a complete blank.

I’ve got the cure–step into the shower, walk down the hill, or start scrubbing something. Once I’m thoroughly engaged away from the office the words flow like a Spring flood.

Actually, I shouldn’t complain–this way the dog gets walked, I get clean, and chores get done. If the stories ran steadily I’d get carpel tunnel syndrome or computer eye or some other affliction that strikes down obsessed writers.

Feel free to sympathize.