How to keep your story running in the background of your mind

For years, my brain had a default setting. No matter what I was doing—folding laundry, sitting in a waiting room, or driving—the “background app” running in my mind was business. I was constantly triaging to-do lists, marketing strategies, and logistics.

It was productive, sure. But it was also killing the magic.

Over the last few years, I’ve made a conscious, radical shift. I’ve closed the “business” tab and opened the “story” tab. Now, when the world gets loud or the chores pile up, my manuscript is what hums in the background. This mindset switch has changed everything for my consistency.

Making the mindset switch

We are often told to “treat writing like a business.” While that’s great for hitting deadlines, it can make the act of creation feel like just another chore on the list. When your writing is the first thing to get cut during a crisis—like a surgery or a season of caregiving—it’s usually because we’ve categorized it as “work” instead of “life.”

By letting the story run in the background, you aren’t just a writer when you’re at the keyboard. You’re a writer while you’re washing the dishes or taking the dog for a walk.

Tips for dreaming into your story

If you want to reclaim your imagination during the “in-between” moments of your day, try these three practical ways to prime the pump:

• Use the mundane for “world-building”: When you’re doing something mindless like walking or scrubbing a pot, don’t reach for a podcast. Instead, step into your protagonist’s shoes. Ask yourself: Who is she actually attracted to? What does she want out of life that she’s too afraid to admit?
• Paint the past: Use your commute or your physical therapy session to “paint” your character’s history. What was her bedroom like as a child? What is the one memory that still makes her heart race? By the time you get to your desk, she’ll feel like a real person rather than a silhouette on a page.
• The “open loop” technique: Before you stop writing for the day, ask your subconscious a specific question about the next scene. Let that question simmer while you go about your life. You’ll be surprised how often the answer “pops” into your head while you’re doing something completely unrelated.

The result of a primed pump

When you keep the story running in the background, the “blank page” loses its power. You aren’t starting from zero every time you sit down. You’re recording the discoveries you made while you were out living your life.

My life has had plenty of interruptions lately—from rehab to loss—but my story didn’t stop. It just moved to the back burner where it could simmer until it was ready.

Do you struggle with “business brain” taking over your creative space? How do you keep your characters alive when you aren’t at your desk? Let’s chat in the comments.