Lynn Slaughter Novelist
Blogger
Creative Writing Instructor

I’ve always adored mermaids, so Joanne Guidoccio’s HIPPIE MERMAID, is right up my alley! In her guest essay, she advocates for writers to take time to imagine and daydream, a good reminder for those of us who feel guilty when we’re not actively writing!

All About Moodling

by

Joanne Guidoccio

When I first heard the word “moodling” at a writing workshop, my thoughts turned to zucchini noodles. A bit off base, but considering it was close to lunchtime, I assumed there might be a culinary connection.

The facilitator quickly put an end to that line of thinking. A long-winded explanation followed with brief mentions of famous moodlers: Isaac Newton, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Albert Einstein. My appetite shifted from food to curiosity.

Intrigued, I decided to do my own research. Here’s what I discovered:

Moodling is primarily a solitary pursuit, one that defies formal instruction. You won’t find any university or college courses devoted to moodling. Nor will you find it in the Pocket Oxford English Dictionary (2013 edition) on my desk.

In her book, If You Want to Write (1938), Brenda Ueland offers the following description:

“The imagination needs moodling—long, inefficient happy idling, dawdling and puttering.”

She goes on to say, “What you write today is the result of some span of idling yesterday, some fairly long period of protection from talking and busyness.”

Moodling worked for Isaac Newton when he sat under an apple tree in Woolsthorpe, England, circa 1666. While wondering why the moon didn’t obey the principle of centrifugal force and fly off into space, an apple fell upon him. Newton formulated his theory.

Napoleon Bonaparte moodled for months, letting his thoughts simmer before making military decisions.

After the breakup of his marriage, Albert Einstein spent undisturbed days and nights in the quiet solitude of his Berlin apartment, following his mathematical hunches. This intense period allowed Einstein to finalize the general theory of relativity.

Sitting under a tree, lying on a beach, strolling in a park, soaking in a bathtub, listening to classical music, lingering in bed…these are ideal “moodling” environments. Give yourself permission to daydream and reflect without too many expectations.

If you prefer a more structured approach, follow the method suggested by Eric Grunwald, a lecturer in MIT’s Department of Global Studies:

          Set aside an hour or more.

1. Sit by a window with a pen and paper (or favorite digital device).
2. Daydream. Don’t force any thoughts or ideas. Only write a word when you feel it must be written. If you are so moved, write more.
3. Do not worry about grammar, punctuation, or spelling.
4. Repeat the next day.

In a world obsessed with productivity, moodling is a reminder that creativity thrives not in constant motion, but in stillness.

On a personal note…

Whenever I wake up before the alarm clock, I like to linger in bed and let my thoughts wander. One morning, I came up with the storyline for the following novelette:

 About HIPPIE MERMAID                   

 From sea to shore, betrayal follows her wherever she goes.

 On Christmas Eve, psychic Kendra Adams reveals the secret she’s hidden for decades—she was once Rosina, a mermaid torn between sea and shore. Betrayed in her ocean kingdom and desperate to escape banishment, she persuades a politician to smuggle her into the human world. But freedom on land comes at a cost, as she soon finds herself ensnared in another web, this one spun by the politician’s power-hungry sister.

 

Buy Links

 Amazon US  https://www.amazon.com/Hippie-Mermaid-Joanne-Guidoccio-ebook/dp/B0FVHQ2T3N

Amazon CA  https://www.amazon.ca/Hippie-Mermaid-Joanne-Guidoccio-ebook/dp/B0FVHQ2T3N

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FVHQ2T3N

Amazon AU https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FVHQ2T3N

 

Bio 

Joanne Guidoccio enjoyed a rewarding career teaching mathematics, business, and co-operative education courses before retiring to pursue writing. A member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, she writes paranormal romances, cozy mysteries, and inspirational stories from her home base of Guelph, Ontario. Find her at https://www.joanneguidoccio.com