I think sometimes the biggest struggle in this art form/business is to not take things too seriously. Not take yourself or your story too seriously. Not take problems or bumps in the road too seriously. But especially not the story, because that way lies inhibition and that deer in the headlights freeze when you come to the blank page.

Which is why I go play the exploding Diet Coke and Mentos videos. Or listen to the Village People. It’s all about lightening up, not taking it too seriously. Get into a playful and relaxed frame of mind and then you can work.

If you can’t unfreeze your brain with mental stimulation, try physical. Physical activity helps loosen up muscles and then the mind, too. Move, stretch, feel the mental kinks unwind and ideas start to flow. If all else fails, do the YMCA. It’s not possible to do that and take yourself seriously at the same time.

I read unserious books, listen to unserious music, especially kid music. The small people love to sing “if you’re happy and you know it” with lots of clapping. Play time with pets is good, too.

When I loosen up and lighten up, I can think creatively. I can see creative solutions and connections that eluded me in a tight, tunnel-vision, tense frame of mind. And when all else fails, I chant my mantra: “I can fix it in edits.” Whenever I worry that I’ve gone too far, I remind myself that it’s easy to tone something down in rewrites. But it’s really hard to fix timid writing, the mistakes that come from holding back and pulling your punches.

Today when I go to write, I want to relax. Seriously. Oh, and this helps, too! (Oh, how I love Vash the Stampede. And the Gung Ho Guns.)