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Phil can't settle down and write the next chapter of his book -- the chapter that's due in to his publisher next week.

Jane can't start a new writing project that's tumbled from the back of her mind to the front of her mind -- back and forth, back and forth -- for years.

Susan can't get it together long enough to compose a simple news release about her upcoming book signing.

Sound familiar?

Phil, Jane and Susan are most likely suffering from a bout of writer's block, or more formally "a phenomenon involving temporary loss of ability to begin or continue writing, usually due to lack of inspiration or creativity," so sayeth Wickipedia.

Why would such a bad thing happen to usually productive writers? There are some who believe writer's block is closely related to depression and anxiety, two mood disorders caused by the environment or by spontaneous changes in the brain's frontal lobe.

Seeking a less psychoanalytical explanation, consider the political philosopher who argues that historically many women and working-class writers have been unable to devote themselves to, or concentrate on, their writing because their social and economic circumstances prevent them from doing so.

But maybe Phil, Jane and Susan's writer's block is simply part of a natural ebb and flow in the creative process. Sometime a cigar is just a cigar!

Yet for those seeking a way to move through such a slump -- no matter the cause -- here are some ideas that may help.

Try scheduling time to write and work, no matter the quality of what you produce. It could be crap! But remember this is just a draft. This is a Just Do It (thank you, NIKE) approach but it gets the engines fired and the television turned off.

Is there a small part of your project you could finish quickly that would move things forward? Try doing something important that's very easy and skip the hard stuff for now. Try writing the title -- or even just five words to get started.

Or write whatever comes to mind. Move off the keyboard and onto a yellow pad; if you are right handed, try writing with your left, and vice versa.

At his website, 43folders.com, writer Merlin Mann suggests:

"Sit down and write anything for an arbitrary period of time--say, 10 minutes to start. Don't stop, no matter what. Cover the monitor with a manila folder if you have to. Keep writing, even if you know what you're typing is gibberish, full of misspellings, and grammatically psychopathic. Get your hand moving and your brain will think it's writing. Which it is? See?"

It is critical to release any negative thoughts about your skill or ability to write. Stinkin' thinkin' about one's self is simply a waste of time. Or as Dr. Laura would say, "Get over it!"

Writer Jack Rawlins (www.transaction.net/web/tutor/text/dissolve.html) addresses this issue: "Everyone communicates, and a lot of people write, but few people dare to call themselves "writers". If you feel like an impostor, take a deep breath and remind yourself of your unique purpose and how important it is. Or take on a fictional persona and write through that mask."

Rawlins also suggests: "If you're at a loss for words, try meeting a friend for tea and talking your way through the material, or even talking out loud to yourself. Your spoken words might not be publishable, but once you've got 'em down on paper, you can edit to your heart's content." Still stuck? Know that writer's block typically lasts only for short periods of time. So for now, why not -

Wait a day or two and then return to writing.

Do something out of the ordinary. If writer's block comes from a lack of new ideas, try sparking creativity by going somewhere new or doing something different. When was the last time you rode the train? Attended a UFO film festival? Walked along a river? Or tried to read a book upside down?

Go see a live play, attend a concert or do something else inspirational.

Like your mother probably said, over and over, go out and get some fresh air. Both diet and exercise are linked to optimal performance of mind and body. Walking is a time-honored remedy for unleashing writer's block.

Try asemic writing -- something that looks like writing but can't be read. See a sample at http://www.asemic.net/asemic.gif.

Listen to music while you work. My favorite is Amici Opera Band.

Join -- or start -- a Writing Group (at least to get out of the house and meet some new and interesting friends).

Keywords: writer's block, self publish, creativity, writing, blockage

About the Author
Susan Klopfer, Mount Pleasant, IA, USA
sklopfer542@yahoo.com