A very simple question...

[Paul Guyot]

What non-writing activity helps the most with your writing?

Meaning, when you're working, but not actually typing (or scribbling), what is it you do that always keeps the gears in the back of your head grinding on the story?

I have things I do when I absolutely DON'T want to think about writing in any way, and then there's the things when I don't want to think about writing, but I want my subconscious to be dealing with whatever I'm working on. This is what I'm asking you about.

Fishing is one of the best for me. And playing the guitar. And watching the Food Network.

[Jordan Dane]

EVOO and dee-lish. And if the world got suddenly nuked and all TV transmissions went away, would Rachel still be talking and cooking 30-minute meals? (Wait, don't answer that.)

[norby]

I hope so. I love Rachael. Yum-o!

[Thomas Bauduret]

For me it's an occupation that keeps the body busy and let the mind roam free, which mostly working out at the gym or long motorcycle rides…

[Mark Terry]

Walking the dog, taking a shower are the two biggies. If there's a specific issue, sometimes before I go to bed at night I'll consciously think, Okay, subconscious, come up with a solution while I'm sleeping. And invariably, while showering the next morning, it pops into my head.

So tonight before I go to bed: Okay, subconscious, I want you to come up with a solution to how I can make $1,000,000 this year.

[Elaine Flinn]

I shop! No. I'm kidding. I hate to shop. I'm not into the Urban Gorilla or Early Hooker look. I put on Keiko Matsui and play Solitaire. Or, I send bitchy emails to Guyot and Montgomery. Works every time.

[Jeffrey Marks]

Taking showers for me. I am immaculately clean when I write!

Agatha Christie used to go for long walks.

[Dave White]

Teaching works for me. When I'm at work focusing on what the kids are doing, my mind works on the book. However, a lot of times I forget because I often can't find a minute to get to pad and paper.

[Jordan Dane]

Think crayon and Big Chief tablets and you might have more success, Dave.

[Keith Snyder]

Speaking of gears... I do good story thinking on my bicycle. I have a contract in Manhattan through June, and I got my bike commuting routine in order last week. It's about ten miles each way, so I'll get about an hour and a quarter of gear mashing in the morning, and the same at night. (Unless I get two flats in a downpour, which happened Friday morning.)

Each session on the bike is generally good for working out one plot issue. I can't remember two when I'm in not-getting-killed-by-NYC-traffic mode.

[Iain Rowan]

I've started keeping a notebook next to the bath, because I was sick of having to jump out and stagger round the house, dazed from the heat and leaving little clumps of bubbles wherever I went, so I could write down the idea I'd just had. Don't know what it is, but a long, long hot bath is my answer to sorting out plot problems, or coming up with ideas. I take another book in to read, which seems to keep my conscious distracted, while my subconscious does its mysterious watery work.

The only thing that comes close is being on a train. If they ever put a bath on a train, I may end up ruling the world.

[Eliza Tucker]

Cleaning house and exercising relieve writing stress. But like a lot of others here, I've worked out some big plot problems in the shower or bath.

[M.G. Tarquini]

I go to a dance performance, preferably modern. The body movements combined with the music seems to trigger the creative impulses. Going to an art gallery has the same effect. I mean really good art.