"I read an article in Psychology Today that talked about the way the brain is hardwired for procrastination. Part of the theory is that it perceives uncertainty as dangerous, and a possible cause of pain. I surmise that the particular habits and rituals that writers go through are part of making our brains feel safe. They are the tools that alleviate anxiety and allow the truly terrifying force of raw creativity to spring forth. To bring up that exhausted carpenter again, he’s probably aware that slamming a hammer and maneuvering sharp things into pieces of heavy plywood is a potentially dangerous trade, but he knows that if he brings his tools and utilizes the many safety rituals of his job, he’ll likely leave with all of his fingers. Maybe swilling doppios and applying Mitchum by the hour aren’t equivocal to strapping on safety goggles in a work-zone. But for writers, we promise, the things that craft the words you read often have nothing to do with ink and paper."
http://www.thinkingforaliving.org/
