Blog Post: Spaghetti Throwing

Things have been a little hectic for Miss Molly these days, and the blog has suffered accordingly.  But I’ve carved out some time so here we go! 

Yep. Any minute now. Words of wisdom on tap.  Deep insights and razor-sharp observations. 

Galloping across my cerebral cortex. 

Nothing. 

Typical of the Muse to abandon Miss Molly when she needs her the most. What to do? Maybe take a piece of my own advice.

Something I say to my clients a lot, almost as often as WRITE BIG.  

Throw your spaghetti against the wall!

Wut?

Ok, let me explain. Anyone who loves spaghetti because it’s cheap and easy to make might have heard about checking its “doneness” by throwing a couple strands out of the pot and throwing them against the wall. 

If they stick, that’s a sign that it’s done. Something to do with the amount of starch released, I dunno. 

And what does this have to do with writing, you ask?  Well, you know how sometimes it’s hard to get started? The words will not tumble down from the top shelf of the overstuffed closet that is your brain.

But using the time-honored practice of spaghetti-throwing, this problem will be a THING OF THE PAST!!  (Or at least get a little better).

To get past the terrifying blankness of the screen, start writing. Something. Anything.  Your basic premise, as if you were telling your mom about it on the phone.  If you’re REALLY frozen, start with your shopping list, 10 most-favorite-ist Chappell Roan songs, or what you’re hoping Santa will bring you.  Anything to turn on the Word Faucet. 

Then keep the words flowing. Don’t pause. Do this for about 15 minutes or as long as you can stand it. Soon you should start feeling ideas forming. 

Now your spaghetti is starting to cook.

The idea of throwing spaghetti against the wall to see if it sticks may sound silly, but the process of generating words and ideas — even randomly — can help you move past the terror of writer’s block long enough to get out of your own way. And 9 times out of 10, that’s Problem Number One.  YOU.  (or in this case — me). 

So, happy ending, right?  I got a blog post by using my own advice!  It’s a WIN-WIN! 

So maybe you’re thinking,  Okay, Miss Molly, I’ve thrown my spaghetti, it’s on the wall, NOW WHAT?  How do I organize the starchy strands into something coherent before they stick permanently to the walls of my brain?

Well now.  That’s a WHOLE OTHER blog post, isn’t it?