When picking an ideal spot to hone their craft, writers sample every chair in the house, test multiple desks, adjust the lighting by tilting the blinds, or leave the premises altogether and pick a nice coffee shop or neighborhood café around the corner to hunker down. Some have rituals like drinking three cups of coffee while four sharpened pencils sit uselessly atop plain white paper on the counter. Purists must begin with an absolutely clean workspace. Early risers prefer the morning hours to peck away on a column, while night owls favor darkness to edit existing pieces. Experienced writers treat the task as a full-time job, beginning and ending at predefined hours at an office or in a dedicated space.

I’m reminded of the movie Something’s Gotta Give when the main character Erica Barry writes her play, A Woman To Love. “It’s about a divorced woman, a writer. She’s this high-strung, overamped, controlling, know-it-all neurotic…who’s incredibly cute, and loveable.” Erica sits at a fabulous desk with an ocean view and French music is playing in the background while she authors her masterpiece. (She actually cries hysterically while she writes, crumpling up pieces of paper and using countless tissues, but the scene is completely hilarious. Bravo, Erica!)

I lost my job about five minutes into the COVID lockdown, so I still don’t have a regular routine; I don’t really have a regular anything anymore. (Does anyone?) I prefer to write early in the morning in addition to scribbling various ideas the moment a concept or thought strikes me. I too have a fabulous desk near a window with a great view. I’m not a coffee drinker so I don’t have a ritual beverage and I prefer complete quiet because I talk aloud while I’m writing as I tend to read the copy back to myself. (I sort of sound like a crazy person. I ask myself questions and I repeat myself. I even have a-ha moments, yell at myself, and occasionally crack myself up. I’ve become a party of one. Please don’t judge.)

Shopping list

• Dishwashing liquid
• Aveeno moisturizer
• Four slightly green bananas
• Extra sharp cheddar cheese
• Milk
• Hot chocolate mix
• Eggs
• Pencils
• Stamps

I try to let the process of creativity play out organically until I finish a piece or until I’m interrupted by my phone ringing or hunger pangs become unbearable, or I realize that I’m suddenly almost out of something important like dishwashing liquid or moisturizer and then I scramble to make a frantic list. Although technically I’m not a “professional” writer, I still experience writer’s block. Staring at a blank page with the curser blinking endlessly is a daunting sight…like it’s calling out to me, “What are you doing? What are you thinking? Why are you here again? Write something already. Hurry!”

When words escape me, even after serious dedication of thought, I turn inward, usually toward the kitchen, for inspiration in the oh-so-helpful form of caloric intake. So writer’s block becomes block of cheese, or block of chocolate. (Creatives use transference to solve so many complicated problems. Just look at Taylor Swift and the therapy of her lyrics.) And when the euphoria of endorphins fills my head and my body registers that food has become a powerful motivator, happy distraction, or simply a necessary treat, I head right back to the good view to sit patiently and write. Once the story is complete, I’m thankful that a few literal chips off the ol’ block worked and I can move onto other important things, like lunch.