Last week, I mentioned that I played a song on repeat for one entire writing session. Well, that's what I've been doing ever since, with a handful of songs from The Story, Bats for Lashes, Imogen Heap, and the soundtrack from Let the Right One In. I wear headphones so I don't drive the Boy Scout nuts, but it has surprised me. I've played whole albums on repeat before (most notably while making covers for our wedding program a couple years ago), but I've not focused on a single song. Since an average daily writing session is about 1.5 hours for me, that means I'm repeating one track 20-25 times.
I think it may be the writing equivalent of a physical meditation exercise. Sometimes when I'm working on a project that leaves my mind free to wander -- like baking or sewing or gardening -- time stops for me. After some initial stream-of-consciousness drivel, I don't think about anything in particular and suddenly, 3 or 5 hours have passed in a blink and I'm calm and happy.
Some folks get the same benefit from a mantra or a drone (maybe that's why I like Great Northern bagpipes so much). The song on repeat is freeing up my mind to do what it needs to do. It's been a struggle to sit down and make myself start writing these past several days, but I've been contented within 15 minutes of a session and I've a great sense of satisfaction at the end.
What gets you through something you don't want to start?
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I didn't find writing to be too dreadful, so I think there were only one or two spots where I dreaded sitting down and going back to that woman running through the woods and coming across those freaky tattooed folks with the flat tire. But when I know I have to exercise and I don't want to, I just try to think about how happy I am when I'm done, and that usually does the trick. I'm proud of you, my sistah! We rock!
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