Are you crazy? If you're shaking your head yes, smiling to yourself or laughing aloud, honestly wondering when you will stop talking to the walls in your office on those days that you stare at a blank computer screen for hours hopelessly trying to find a flawless opening sentence for a perfect beginning or a clever combination of words to carry you to the ultimate ending of your work in progress - You're definitely already a writer by my definition...

If you think I'm crazy for suggesting you're crazy for wanting to be a writer, you're probably right. I am admittedly not a completely sane person. I am a writer. I do love being a writer. I also know that being a writer can be one of the most rewarding professions some days and one of the most frustrating pursuits other days.

A perfect day in my life occurs when my fingers bang on the keyboard furiously trying to keep up with the surge of ideas and words flashing in my mind as some exceptional creative thoughts connect with my ability to put it all into words effectively. I treasure those hours when inspiration, insight, talent and determination merge together to allow me to write proficiently.

Unfortunately, many days do not develop that way. Picture this - A blank computer screen, a blank stare, a glance out the window, a curse whispered to yourself, a bathroom break, a day dream in progress, a mind devoid of creativity, a lack of artistic emotion, a discussion with yourself aloud, a little scream of frustration, a request for input from the walls that surround you, a demand for a solution to get your writing started on this day when no words seem to work together - no feelings seem to want to flow from within your frustrated brain... The harder you try the less you accomplish.

Why is writing so difficult for you today? You ask the question aloud. You wait for the walls to answer. They fail you too...

As long as you don't answer yourself, you're not certifiably insane. You're just experiencing the dreadful dilemma commonly known as "Writer's Block."

How can you deal with this annoying obstacle? There are no solutions guaranteed to succeed for everyone. I can offer a few simple suggestions that have worked for me. Idea #1 - Turn off your computer. Get out of your office. Go for a walk outside.

Idea #2 - Walk away from your computer. Read a book, your favorite newspaper column, or a new magazine article that you've been meaning to look over.

Idea #3 - Get up from your desk and stretch. Close your eyes. Slowly extend your arms to reach for the stars. Breathe. Relax. Concentrate on reducing the tension in your muscles. Clear your mind. Repeat until you feel less stressed and ready to re-focus your energy.

Idea #4 - Leave your office and shut the door. Get out the vacuum cleaner. Clean your bathroom. Wash your dishes. Scrub your kitchen floor. Do some sort of housework that will make you feel like you accomplished something worthwhile today.

Idea #5 - Get out of your office. Turn on the television, kick back in a comfy chair and watch your favorite soap opera. Turn on the radio or pop in your favorite CD and dance or sing along. Let it out.

Feel free to adjust these remedies to suit your personal preferences. Whatever works is the bottom line.

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