Unfreeze Yourself

Once the days get shorter, a lot of writers find themselves slowing down. You start feeling a little glum, especially if you haven't met the goals you might have set for yourself, and writing just isn't coming to you as you feel it should. Here are a few holiday ideas to get your songwriting moving, and help your mood at the same time.

WRITE 10 LETTERS

Most of us need to send out holiday cards right now, anyway--why not make it a writing exercise? Try to write a really uplifting email, at least, about all you HAVE done this year, and send it to yourself. Once you get it, read it again-is it okay as is, or could you make it even more upbeat? Think of trying to make someone's day, and sending him or her a little good news, just in case others were worried about you. Put them at ease, and try to write something that will lift them up at the same time. Stick these in envelopes or go through your email list, personalize each one, and mail off at least ten of them. If you don't know ten people, go to some place like Yahoo! Groups, find a subject that you feel passionate about, and join the group-you are bound to find loads of like-minded folks there. Try adapting your letter to be something that could make their day, and don't take the easy way out and send people one of those awful chain emails, either-you are a writer, and are perfectly capable of doing your own writing, thank you. Send off your missive, and note the results. Now write a song about your adventure-how it felt to write the letter, whether or not you had people to send it to, and if not, how you went about finding new friends. See-you have a lot to write songs about-you just needed a nudge.

PUT UP DECORATIONS

What is your usual tradition? If you have a tree, or candles or whatever you do, get them out, clean them up, clear them a space where they would go well, and set them up properly. Make yourself a festive drink, put on some music, and make a party of it, even if it is just you doing the work. If you are broke, put a blanket or towel around a lamp, a potted plant or a spare barstool, and tape on wads of colorful advertisements or comics, pop yourself some popcorn and string it up for garlands, festoon it with belts/scarves jewelry, toys or whatever you have sitting around, and tape a paper star on the wall behind the "tree" if you like-the important thing is to get the effect, if nothing else. Put the cards you may have gotten already around your centerpiece. Make a couple of "presents" for people and make "bows" out of paper for them if nothing else, and wrap them in brown bag paper or comics. Now write a song about all you just did-the smells, the feelings you felt, the sounds, songs that touched you, the taste of the apple cider you made. It's real, because you just lived it-share it with the rest of us.

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