I often emphasize to my classes the importance of changing up your routine, particularly when you’re in a concepting rut. Take a walk. Work somewhere else. Change the music you’re listening to. If you’ve been writing for a while, try solving your problem by drawing.
Today, I came across this TED video that confirms the importance of doodles. Sunni Brown is speaking specifically about doodling in meetings as a way to enhance your focus, but her point about it engaging your brain in a different way is true not just when you’re trying to file stuff away, but when you’re digging around trying to get stuff out too.
http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf
So the next time you’re turning an idea every which way, remember to turn your brain every which way as well. And don’t forget, if you’re a writer and your doodling produces something interesting, please submit it to Illustrated by Copywriters.