“Never be afraid to sit awhile and think.”
Lorraine Hansberry

Noodling around — that’s my way of describing what I’m doing right now. I’m at a point where I think I need to make some more revisions on my YA novel, but I’m not exactly sure what to do. I have a few ideas rumbling around in my head but I’m not sure what direction to go in. To be honest, this is making me a bit nervous and edgy, but I’m challenging myself not to go that route. Instead, I’m giving myself permission to view this as a time when I’m open to new possibilities, when things are loose and fluid. There are some real advantages to this approach, and to give myself — and you as well — a boost, I’m going to see if I can corral them here:

A relaxed mind is a creative mind: I return to this idea again and again. It’s a touchstone, a mantra for me. If I can just stay relaxed rather than being stressed about the fact that I don’t know my next step, I’m more likely to figure out what that next step should be.

An open mind is an expansive mind: If I can resist my craving to lock down what I need to do next and let go of the need to know exactly where I’m going and what I should be doing right now, then I’m more likely to come across something somewhere — anywhere — that might trigger a fresh idea or a new approach.

A playful mind is an artful mind: Somewhere out there, I know there are some simple, elegant ways to resolve the writing snafus I’m facing right now. If I can keep from pressuring myself to manufacture solutions just so I can feel like I’m making progress, then I have a better chance of actually arriving at the right place. Write on.