I consider myself very lucky to live in Northern California, where -- don't hate me -- it's been sunny and warm-ish lately. I also have a tree in my backyard -- I think it's a Japanese magnolia -- that has gorgeous pink flowers that bloom this time of year. It's a startling image, big pink blossoms against the starkness of the leafless tree. So since I'm fortunate to be in this inspiring place, I thought I'd share the wealth by focusing today's Friday Five on how to get things back in gear when you're feeling stuck.

1. Last week I had a day where the writing was flowing like crazy. I wrote 20 pages in one school-length day. (I usually write about 3 or 4 in a day). I was flying high. But the next day, the well had run dry. There was nothing left and I was terrified that I'd written myself into a monumental block. So I did something I never ever do -- I played hooky. I went to see The King's Speech with --- well, let's just say someone who was also playing hooky -- in the middle of the day. I figured it fit in with Julia Cameron's idea of the artist's date, which basically says you've got to fill the well from time to time if you expect there to be water in it. It worked like a charm. The film was brilliant and beautiful and got the juices flowing again. So if you're feeling stuck, go look at something of beauty -- a film or a museum or a poem, whatever works for you. (Note: channel surfing doesn't count )

2. Related, yet separate, is the idea of nurturing your inner child. When was the last time you did something for him/her? Go ice skating or build a fort or toast marshmallows and have s'mores in a sleeping bag by the fireplace. Sometimes we get blocked because we're trying to be the grown-up all the time. Sometimes we still just need to be a kid.

3. Not feeling the explosives yet? (I keep picturing Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote.) My next suggestion is to shake things up. If you have writer's block and you usually write at your desk, move to the floor or a comfy chair in the family room. If you work in a dark space move to a lighter one or vice versa. Move things around in your day so that the parts that are fun come first. Or dance or exercise for ten minutes before you get started to get the blood flowing. Our brains have a tendency to fall into routine. Changing up the routine can stimulate your brain to think in new and inspiring ways. (Okay, it may not sound like dynamite, but you might find yourself surprised by the results!)

4. I won't exactly call it a New Year's Resolution, but one of the things on my list of improvements I intend to try to make in my life this year (see how i avoided the pressure of the 'resolution' label, lol) is to get more exercise. I created a plan for myself about how I would go about doing this. And for the first few weeks I really stuck to it. Then it got boring. What to do? Drop kick that plan out the window and come up with a new one! As much as we are creatures of habit, we also crave novelty. (Have you noticed that kids will read the same book or watch the same movie over and over and over and over, while adults tend to prefer something new?) It's okay to shake it up. You don't have to stick to the exact original plan. Making a new plan is a gift to the essence of the original one. So if something isn't working for you -- change it.

5. Finally, if you're finding yourself feeling stuck -- whether on a project or in life -- try looking at it from a new angle. For my current work-in-progress I've been examining it from a variety of perspectives (plot, character, voice, etc.) all on my laptop screen. Yesterday I printed it out and read through the entire thing on paper and out loud. Taking it in from these two new viewpoints (paper instead of screen and sound instead of thought) led to a wide range of new realizations about what was working and what wasn't. Find a different way to look at the same old issue.

Don't be afraid to shake things up. Face the roadblocks head on and watch the fireworks that follow. (Note: use of actual explosives not recommended )

Wishing you lots of getting-unstuck-ness and also lots of sunshine!