In Writing, As in Sudoku, Sometimes We Need a Break

Last week I eagerly worked through a Sudoku puzzle book. The ones towards the beginning of the book were easier, but as I got to the last few pages, they became much more challenging. Annoyingly challenging. The type of challenging where you just want to throw the book across the room, and smack the person who designed these things to begin with! But if you’re doing Sudoku, you aren’t the type of person to just give up. And neither am I.

But I realized that in order to move forward, I needed to pause. I needed a break so that I could return to the puzzle with fresh eyes.

So when I got to that point where I’d been staring at the page for over 15 minutes, unable to place any additional numbers, I stuck my pencil inside and closed the book. I got up and did some work, then some chores around the house, and since those are never ending, I remained busy until after dinner. As my kids sat to do their homework, I picked up that Sudoku book again. And within minutes, I was already filling in those squares that I had left empty. Before I knew it, I’d completely solved the puzzle.

That break helped my mind relax, so that when I came back to it, I was better able to focus and think. That ‘restart’ was enough to help me solve the remainder of the puzzle.

It’s the same with writing scenes that give us trouble. Often just a short break from your writing will give your subconscious mind the space to think while allowing your conscious mind to rest (from this subject, at lease).

Run errands, or finish some work. Do some chores, or read, or get some exercise. It doesn’t matter what activity you busy yourself with; the pause will likely be enough to help rejuvenate your thinking and creativity, so you can finish writing that scene.