Does Geographical Therapy Help Writer’s Block?

Infinite Sight, a science-fiction tale by Barbara Custer, features a young woman waking from surgery with psychic powers.

Can traveling help with editing this book?

Someone once suggested that the best therapy for any stress is an old-fashioned vacation. I’d planned a few days at Ocean City, NJ months ago. Lately, I found myself having a tough time with the edits for Infinite Sight, soon to be going live. After whining about it on my Facebook posts, I asked my Mylar balloons whether geographical therapy, that is, a vacation would help me through this conundrum, for anything major I do always involves a discussion with my balloons.

Well, my balloonies, who have an answer for everything, replied, “Put a balloon lady on the bus in Franconia, a balloon lady gets off in Ocean City.”

Still, it had been years since I did something like this, back when Mike was healthy. So I went and spent the three days shopping, soaking up sun, reading, and socializing. I didn’t lift a finger to write or edit anything, not even so much as taking notes. I didn’t sleep my best – I never do in a strange bed, away from my balloonies – but the day I came home, I slept 10 hours that night.

40 Flash Fictions, written by Allan Heller, features zombie tales.I’m not going to say that geographicals work for everyone, but when I came home, I found myself better to handle the edits. I found a plot hole that no one had mentioned and fixed it. I’ve made a big dent in the editing mess that I had … enough with confidence that this winter could turn out to be a happy one as far as book releases go. Still, my Mylar balloons had a point. Once, I woke up, thinking that I was in my bed, and rubbed the back of my head against the pillows, searching for Mylar balloons until I remembered that I was in a hotel.

So … I’d like to hear your thoughts on geographicals and writer’s block. Have you tried traveling to wake your muse? I look forward to hearing about your experiences.

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About Barbara Custer

Author of: Twilight Healer Steel Rose Life Raft: Earth City of Brotherly Death Close Liaisons Infinite Sight When Blood Reigns Infinite Sight Publisher / Editor of Night to Dawn Books & Magazine
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6 Comments

  1. Most definitely! I always take a location writer’s retreat to experience what the characters might experience. Nice post 🙂

    • Thank you, Clarissa. It had been a long time since I had that kind of vacation, and I realize now I should go back to doing it every year if I can. Barbara of the Balloons 🙂

  2. Oh yes! When I’m stuck, I hop in my convertible and drive up around the lake. It helps. I also love heading to the beach or mountains and I can definitely say last year’s trip to Paris and Prague helped! Wish I could afford to just hop on a plane any time…

    • Me too. Planning any trip has been difficulty due to my health issues, and when Ocean City worked out, it was a real treat. When my ship comes in …. 🙂 ~ Barbara of the Balloons

  3. A break from routine is used by many people to recharge personal batteries and to get new perspective on just about anything and everything. Fishing can do it for me. Sometimes just a walk along the beach is enough.

    • That’s so true, Rod. I used to love fishing until I had the hand surgeries. Barbara of the Balloons 🙂

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