Jolt the Juices - by John Wolf

There are as many techniques to jump-start the creative process as there are for curing hiccups. I was reading, yet another article on this topic and stopped to think about my own experience. I don't have a degree in journalism or English, so I just hack my way into the bush, but here is a list of things I have used so far:

1. Go buy a lottery ticket - The anticipation of winning millions produces adrenaline. Sometimes I wait several days after the ticket date to check to see if I won, just to push the rush. I lay in bed dreaming of all the things I would buy with the money - a new chair to sit in while typing, yes. Somehow, that ends up with me thinking about the plot I'm stuck on. New ideas start showing up like relatives when they hear you actually won. Since I am still a writer, you guessed it, I haven't won yet. Losing can be capitalized upon also. Just write something dark and depressing. It works every time.

2. Clear the house of other people - Minimize the distractions. An alternative approach is to get up early, before there is any traffic and load up on caffeine, and then hit the keyboard. This usually is conducive to positive thoughts. Mix days of lotto and early writing and you can tune your writing moods.

3. Take a trip - This doesn't have to be around the world, just visit some interesting place within reach - say a Spanish Monastery from the 1500s. That's easy in San Diego. There will be some piece of history in the wall hangings that sparks and idea that you never thought about before.

4. Exercise - I find that if I haven't been exercising enough, the mind is dull. It's like a knife that's been laying around in a draw full of other things too long. Walk around the block, lift some weights, chase the wife or the dog, which ever works for you. Stop before you're exhausted or forget the writing. This is what separates the extreme sports freaks from laid-back writers - knowing when to pick up the towel and shower before you break a sweat.

5. Don't read a book - If you start reading and writing, it's like drinking and driving. The danger is you'll start self doubting or you'll go off on a tangent of rationalizing all the things you would do to make so-in-so's book better and your plot fades into the mist.

6. Keep a phrase notebook - Write down clever things as they come to you and capitalize on them when you're stuck in a rut.

7. If all else fails - bungee jump

John's second book "A Dark and Stormy Knight" signing will be at the Rancho Penaquitos Library. Go to highway 56 to Black Mt exit. Go north to Paseo Montalbon (two streets), turn right, go to Salmon River (two streets), turn right. Proceed past the police station parking lot. The library is the red building at the corner.

I'll have the first book there as will, "Orphan Records" Lets talk sci-fi and adventure tales, lets talk about writing. Tell me your tale.

Hope to see you there. Details at "wolftracksmusic.com/books"

Thanks,
John Wolf

With all the doomsday prophets talking up global warming and another massive, deadly hurricane season approaching, I have to get jittery. Here in Southern California the days are smoothing out to our usual 70 degree days and upper 50s, lower 60s nights. The sea breeze pulls in the delicate fragrance of Eucalyptus oil as the long slender leaved trees push back gently. I don't know about you, but life isn't fun if you listen to the news. I conserve, I don't indulge, so cut me a break. I trust Mother Nature to take care of herself. If that means a major slap-down of the human race - you go girl. It's not like we don't deserve it. At least the wars would stop for awhile as we all figure out how to grow a garden and dig a latrine. I just published my third book, a science fiction story told from the point of view of a bass player in a rock band in the year 2162, so, hey, maybe we will get there. I'm too busy trying to plan a marketing season to worry if Barnes&Noble is going to be hit by terrorists tonight. Before the dog days of this summer get here, check out this new story. It will get you through the hurricanes, the terrorist, and any pirates coming up from the Caribbean. Here's the path - "wolftracksmusic.com/books" The story is called "Harmonics." Have a great summer - turn off the news.