If it's any consolation, I know exactly how you feel. I was having one of those days just last night, in fact.

{{{wil}}}

hang in there... the words will come.

You've proved that you can write already, so it's just a matter of having a cuppa tea or something and relaxing until the words come.

Ah the writer's block. I think that we all have had the creative door get stuck on us from time to time.

But hang in there homey, I have been lurking around your site for a few weeks now and have really enjoyed your writings. So I am sure that it goes without saying that you will get your literary mojo back on soon.

Prophet out.

Ah the writer's block. I think that we all have had the creative door get stuck on us from time to time.

But hang in there homey, I have been lurking around your site for a few weeks now and have really enjoyed your writings. So I am sure that it goes without saying that you will get your literary mojo back on soon.

Prophet out.

Maybe you could do some free association to get started.

Hah, little ole me giving writing advice to a published and acclaimed writer!

Hang in there, it'll come to you!

--Jessie--

Chill out, go for a walk in the park, get out of the house for a few hours..

I'm not a writer, so I can't claim to know what you're going through, buy maybe write something that already exists. The Pledge of Allegiance (okay, maybe a bad choice!), family names, song lyrics, just to get words flowing.

I agree with the others. You have proven that you can write well. You need to walk away from it for a little while.

I agree with the others. You have proven that you can write well. You need to walk away from it for a little while.

Wil, you are an amazing writer! I understand how frustrating it is when you can't do what you want to do, so badly. Try some free thinking and write down your stream of consciousness to get all your frustration out and perhaps it'll unclog whatever it is that is blocking you.

I SWEAR I clicked post only once. I got an error message and all I did was hit refresh! I SWEAR!

Once your brain calms down I am sure the words will flow....maybe it is like the more you try to write the more you can't.....so maybe stop trying so hard

Sending good Mojo your way! Relax and try reading some soapbox posts. That always gets me in the mood to write.

Douglas Adams used to say that when he had writers block he would take a warm bath and have a sandwich. Even if it doesn't clear the writer's block, at least you are warm and well-fed. :o)

I can sympathize as well. I just found out that a job I was almost guaranteed I'd get back in late May has just been filed with someone else today (yes, that *IS* about 5 months I've been holding out) and another job I applied for is being filled with someone else.

I guess I just need to focus on the good things, like the fact that I *have* a job and a wonderful wife and two beautiful kids.

But looking at my calendar of meetings all day, I just want to blow every single one of them off.

Wil, I've been reading your blog for a long time and know for a fact you can write. But man, sometimes you can't avoid the wall. My fiance is a writer and Bob knows she's been there. You know what, though? It's a beautiful morning here in L.A. Go out. Walk. Go to the flower shop and buy Anne some flowers. It's all good, man. You'll be back to your writings in no time!

Do you think that you are expecting too much of yourself? Just chill, go GeoCaching, spend the day in a non-writing scene. The words will come back to you, just in the nick of time.

I think you should take all the advice here so far:

Take your GPS to find a cache at the flower shop while having a sandwich and a cup of tea. Be sure walk to the flower shop by way of the park and if they have a fountain, take a relaxing bath while writing free-association style!

--Jessie--

the human mind goes in cycles, Wil. If you cannot create, you might want to try being receptive instead. Or meditate. Clear your mind. Dig below the surface in your mind; you may be trying to tell yourself something you're ignoring, that could be what's blocking you. Don't give yourself an ultimatum. If you do, you're paralyzed.

Get yer butt over to wherever it is you do your little writing thing and get at it...when you are sittiing where you sit when you write.....you are writing.

Good lord, do I have to teach you kids everything?

Chin up boss,
CIO

Wil,

I don't think that this is listed in WebMD, but it should be. The "Chicken Soup Cure" for writer's block.

1- Start of with plenty of beer. You choose the beer, just make sure it's enough to actually feel it. You may add chips, (potato or tortilla), to build a foundation for the beer. Stay away from those fat free 'Olestra' stool softening chips, as they may get in the way of Step 2.

2- Finish off with a round of satisfying sex. Preferably with the wife, but you can make do with what's available at that moment.

After completing steps 1 and 2, you will feel both drained and bloated at the same time. It's a balanced feeling that gets the words flowing (as well as other things).

Hope that helps.

Eric B

Wil,
Calm down!

Come to Vegas, play Hold'em,
Lose on the river;

The words will come

I think all you need is to play a little poker and relax your noggin for awhile.
Then the words will return.

This is what happens to Linux converts. Go back to using MS Word, and the words will come. Oh, and be sure turn off the Writer's Block feature(Tools/Options/Advanced/Super Advanced/Remove Writer's Block). :)

Just kidding. Good luck.

Welcome to my life, Wil. ;-) I'm writing my dissertation in EE and I have my share of days where I'd rather stick a fork in my eye than stare at the blinking cursor.

Writer's block is a plague for which there's no certain cure--except time. I don't mean that in a "tough, suck it up!" kind of way, either; it can be a blessing. If there are issues that need working through, then they'll slowly, surely work themselves out, no matter how long it takes. I hope it'll be sooner than later for you. Stay strong :)

Sometimes finding the right music can help inspire. :)

Get away from the screen for a little while. If it won't come out ,don't force it. Go do something you don't normally do. When you get done and or back in a couple of hours write about the evperience, even if its crap in a couple of paragraphs you'll pull out of it and start writing what you want. Go back and delete the crap when you'r done.

Ah, the Muse. Sometimes she's a prude, and other times she lets you use her like a twenty dollar hooker. Do something completely self absorbed, something you wouldn't normally do, until she decides to put out.

What my creative writing class does in general is start any writing day with ten minutes of just freewriting... sometimes it comes out as a frustrated string of explicatives or the same jibberish word over and over. Just dont let your hand stop writing for that ten minutes.

The point is to write out what ever is carried with you into the session. I personally have written for ten minutes about how I couldnt get my boyfriend out of my head so I could write about other things. It helps.

The teacher recommends ten minutes every day, but I usually only get it doe a couple times a week. Its only through expunging the mental clutter that I can write sometimes. Hope the second hand advice helps. :-D

Heya Wil,

Relax, man. Don't sweat the writing. To borrow an analogy: "You'll blow out your O-ring!" (Unpleasant image, but it's still apt.)

I do a bit of writing, myself, and it's always tougher when I pile the pressure on myself. Every word doesn't have to be perfect. You don't have to get monstrous wordcounts for the day. Give yourself permission for that, read a book, take a walk, spend time with the family, and the words will come. I've got faith in you. :)

I don't know if this will help, but give it a shot:

Try writing out something that you already know by heart, like the Pledge of Allegiance (with or without "under God", whichever you like) or the preamble to the Constitution (and for bonus points, try remembering the tune that was sung in the Schoolhouse Rock segment on the Preamble).
Anyway, the idea is to get your grey matter used to pumping out some words via your fingertips. You'll be concentrating more on remembering the words, and typing them, and less on how blocked you are.
That's the theory, anyway.

Or you could just write page after page of "All work and no play makes Willie a dull boy", then go try to axe-murder your wife and kids. But try my earlier suggestion first.

Firstly, take a deep breath, buddy. Secondly, it aint too early in the day for a brusky. Especially if it's Guinness. Then it's really just a liquid lunch. Thirdly, take another deep breath. And fourthly... I dunno. Take another deep breath er sumfin. Marv Wolfman says when he can't think of anything to write he goes to the movies :)Listen to Marv.

I've written a bit of everything over the last 20 years or so, starting in High School. I think much of the problem with myself and other writers is that in our society we are indoctrinated to expect speed in everything. Our meals are fast, our travel is fast, our satisfaction is fast. Perhaps this applies to you as well, but when I write, I find myself ahead of where I want to be.

In other words, my mind has finished and found its satisfaction long before my fingers can catch up. Then, every page ...every word... is a struggle.

I've only found two resolutions to this impasse, but they may work for you.

1. Change the direction of your writing, immediately. Just *do* it! Plunge in and go in a different direction that your mind hasn't been expecting. Yeah, it's not true to your original vision, but it can give you the impetus to keep going.

2. Finish something. One thing. Anything. Whether its washing dishes, cleaning counter tops, reading a magazine article you'd meant to finish, playing catch with your kids or any number of items that you tend to feel guilty for having "put off", do one of them, in its entirity. This can help assuage that other little fear that keeps many of us from writing: guilt.

I'm a bad person to give advice on this topic; I'm notorious at procrastination. I think the biggest thing keeping me from being a writer is the dedication to finish what I begin. However, on those occasions that I do complete what I set out to accomplish, it really does make up for all the times I sat on my ass doing nothing.

Just some encouragement for you, Wil. Take care and best of luck!

Yours,
Dave (Sylvan)

Hi Wil! I'm telling you, if you are having writers block, you should take a break for November and try National Novel Writing Month. (www.nanowrimo.org) It is such a great exercise for getting out of your head and just writing. You are forced to let go of that nasty internal editor for a month and just get words, any words, onto the page. Doesn't have to be good, doesn't have to be coherent, it just has to be 50,000 words. Check it out.

(I just realized this sounds kind of like shameless promotion or something, but it isn't. I just am a fan of the NaNo and like to share.)

Chin up, sailor! We all get this way. Even if you can't give up an entire month to it, get away from what you are working on and just write some random crap. Write "I don't know what to write" over and over until you start rambling about how you can't write anything. I don't know it helps me.

Anyway, writing mojo on its way.

Wil

One writer to another

Don't force it. If you do...it will suck.

mondo mojo

Sean

Wil,

You can do this. Just relax, take a deep breathe. You've been doing this for years. It's just a little writer's block.

The previous comments have mentioned a good number of things that will help: such as focus on writing something else other than what you are currently working on and going to finish another activity.

Otherwise, go for a long walk and try not to stress so much.

And remember that we're here for you if you need us.

Hey Wil...
Lot's of good advice here. I'm surprised no one mentioned Dineyland...I know you like the place. Go have some fun. The writing will still be there when you get back.

wil-

I'll tell you what I do when I'm having trouble getting over a severe case of writers' cramp...Oh wait. I've never gotten over it... Just joking! I guess you need to just be one with the words. That and playing word association games get my thoughts moving. Sometimes in a good direction, even! I'll toss you out a word and see what you come back with. Pretzel.

Sometimes a good primal scream is exactly what's needed.

Just make sure you don't scare Ferris. ;)

Wil,
I've found that when words are the enemy, I need to just do something to get my mind off of writing but not away from words.

Go to Yahoo! games into the free games sections. There are lots of word games like crosswords, scrabble, boggle, etc. It helps me clear my mind but keeps my head in think mode.

And as an extra special bonus, it'll remind you that you do own an extensive vocabulary despite the fact that no amount of force will make it flow from your brain to your computer via your fingertips. I suggest Typer Shark. Its a fun one.
Allie

Perhaps a spin of lateralus will do you some good... You sound pretty bad off so you better skip straight to 7 and then 9.

Good luck,
-- Chad

I can't write either.

Of course, this is because I am dead.

Wait a minute...

Thanks, everyone. I think I know what's going on: there's this big monster called "Stress" standing between me and the words. When I am able to deal with him, I'll be able to write again.

I think.

Thank you all for the advice and encouragement.

Wil, the best piece of advice I can give you to bust down the block is what I did: take the time to sit down and write out the thing you're most scared of writing, or the piece you're afraid other people will misinterpret, or an essay on the worst aspect of yourself or your writing. Write about the little editor in you brain that's stifling your words, and how you want to choke the life out of the little shit. Threaten him. Hell, kill him, if you want, in a gratuitous, Tarentino-like fashion.

That'll learn 'em.

Just sit down and force it out until it goes clear. Don't worry about spelling, grammar, vocabulary, just get it all down on paper.

I've found that this technique is a roto-rooter for the mind; it cleans out all the gunk and crap that causes writer's block.

Since I tried it, I've yet to be significantly blocked. (I've gotten fatigue over a topic or story, sure, and had to switch to a different one to freshen up and recharge, but I haven't really been stonewalled thus far.)

Give it a whirl.

CU

Punch something.
It always makes me feel better.

i hated writing my thesis. but i learned something: deadlines can make you productive. just wait. if you get that feeling in your guts that this will never work, write. a pounding heart provides a great rythm...

first time i post something here, so:
hi wil! greetings from austria.

I totally sympathize, Wil. But at least you are not lying in bed with a combination of a sinus infection and morning sickness. I sound like Darth Vader! I thought the MS was bad! I think the Big Guy decided to teach me a complaining lesson, and tossed sinus infection on top of it! Yeesh.

Go take a break for awhile, the writing won't come if you try to force yourself. :)

Katie in Tennessee

I'm going through the same phase on my own blog at the moment.

Brain Fart! Massive Brain Fart!

There's only one answer.......

FIRE IN THE HOLE!

*boom*

.... ready for your Pulitzer, Mister Wheaton....

*Runs screaming from the HMIC*

To respectfully mis-coin a phrase from Zevon.....

"You'll write when yer dead"?

"Stress", in the same sense as "not being able to write" is part of writing. Writers are able to ply their craft with varrying success at different stress levels. You seem like somebody who handles stress pretty well a lot of the time. You recognize it as stress and deal with it.

A suggestion....explore stress not as stress, but as dukkha . Embrace stress as part of life, and then work towards making it an ally. If you get to the point where stress just "is" .....hmm...well, I have no idea exactly what happens, but I guess it's pretty cool.

Go.....shooo...you're writing ;)

*** SENDING MASSIVE MOJO TO WIL ***

That's about all I can do for you. Hope it helps!

I can say one thing, though. Based on your previous entries, I think your problem is you simply lack confidence when it comes to your skill with the written word... and of course you really shouldn't, Mr. Perfectionist. If this is the case, you need to stop worrying and be your old Dancing Barefoot self. ;)

Check this out, it might help with writer's block:
http://oneword.invisibleland.tv/

I can completely relate! I was an English major in college and I used to suffer from writer's block all the time.

My cure:

Go take a nice long, hot shower. Just listen to the sound of the water. Allow your body to relax. The words will come.

And remember: We all come to this site because, despite what you think, you ARE a good writer.

My man.. you can take advantage of this.. you are writing about your life.. this moment is a part of that.

make a list of words that describe your feelings right now when you can't write.

Then make another that described your feelings on July 14th when you were driving to that audition.

compare the two... take a bath and go to bed.. and look at these lists again tomorrow and write about your writers block!

If it were easy, it probably wouldn't feel worthwhile. At the end, that is.

While I am not a writer myself, I'm a very big Neil Gaiman fan ( http://www.holycow.com/dreaming/ is mine) and he has this to say about writer's block:

Write anyway. Write the worst stuff you've ever written and turn off your "that's no good" censor.

Then sleep on it, and the next day, go back over what you wrote and edit it. You'll find that some of it wasn't as bad as you thought, and after fixing it you should be able to move on.

While I am not a writer myself, I'm a very big Neil Gaiman fan ( http://www.holycow.com/dreaming/ is mine) and he has this to say about writer's block:

Write anyway. Write the worst stuff you've ever written and turn off your "that's no good" censor.

Then sleep on it, and the next day, go back over what you wrote and edit it. You'll find that some of it wasn't as bad as you thought, and after fixing it you should be able to move on.

I find, when I'm having a creative block, that reorganizing my supplies with great enthusiasm and loud self-dialog can provide the dam-burst to get the creativity flowing again.

Also, I find that when I have a creative block, it usually means that subconciously, I don't want to deal with whatever it is I'm working on. So I go do what it is I really want to do for a while. Then I come back with fresh perspective.

By the way, your dog wants to go to the park and play ball. :)

T

fuck it dude, let's go bowling.

I know how you feel, dude. Happens to me whenever I have any sort of deadline...or for no reason at all. I go for a drive or to a movie. Sometimes the scenery or the movie will inspire me. Worth a try?
Because yeah, whenever I'm blocked like that I take it as my mind telling me to take a break.
Hope you have a better day!

Hey Wil:
Calm blue ocean...calm blue ocean...think of the Dali Lama...

Hey Wil,

None of us really cares if you publish that next book tomorrow or next week, or next year, or whenever... we know it will happen.

The writing will still be there when you come back to it. Take a break!

Go get some puppy therapy with Ferris. There is nothing like a face full of dog slobber to adjust your world view.

I say go to Hooters. ;-)

Try writing a detailed description of your immediate surroundings. Use as much detail as possible. That is a very good trick to overcome writer's block because it gets your mind focused. It's worked for me many times.

I advocate the beer solution mentioned previously. However, if that fails, visiting a bar in another town and telling the biggest lies that you can think of to random patrons might inspire something... might result in an overly amorous frisking by the local constable... but, hey, that's something.

I think everyone's undies are in a bunch. There is something about TODAY that is making everyone fucking moody. AND, making people not concentrate. It's really weird. You are not the only one feeling this way. Just so, you know. Mars is definitely too close to the Earth. Geesh!

Wil, breathe in.......and breathe out.

Feel better yet? :)

~nikki~

Maybe there's something going around, I've been kinda uninspired lately too. With writing, it's easy to get a block, but it can be easy to unblock... just do some unrelated creative writing to shake things loose. I don't mean to say you should sit down and write Star Trek fanfic. God no. Just something *different* than your blog or your book.

- Make a pretend blog on someplacey like livejournal or blurty, pretending to be a teenage girl. Or an old geezer who doesn't understand these newfangled computer things. Add random friends.

- Flip open a novel to five separate pages to get five different words. Write a 250 word story (exactly 250 words) making sure you use those five words.

- Write some dumb haikus:

Wil has writer's block...
No words come from his keyboard.
Check its cable, Wil!

Same deal as for depression, the thing to do about it is DO ANYTHING. Doing nothing just makes it worse.

Take care Wil!

Chris

Rent "Betty Blue" (in french, "37.2 Le Matin" )
either you will find your muse, and be inspired to write, or you will want to have a passionate love affair with someone whos french and slightly crazy. either way, it will give you something to write about... It worked for me, I did both :)

PS You really are a great writer, thats what brought me to this site.

Hi Wil, Foxy here. Perhaps you've got a lot on your mind which is why you couldn't write. I felt the same way, believe me. Walk away from the project. When you are relaxed and free from distractions, your thoughts and ideas will come...I kid you not!

Good luck!

Hi Wil, Foxy here. Perhaps you've got a lot on your mind which is why you couldn't write. I felt the same way, believe me. Walk away from the project. When you are relaxed and free from distractions, your thoughts and ideas will come...I kid you not!

Good luck!

Hey, kewl, James Lileks gave you a shout-out in his Bleat today. Well, it wasn't so much of a shout-out as it was a bit of a barb, but hey, publicity is publicity.

Dude, go to the local pool and swim as far as you can, then go get a massage - full body. Your mind is so full that you can't put things down logically. Relaxation is paramount for you to be able to think clearly.

Writer's block can actually be exacerbated by *knowing* you have writer's block. But there are simple things like relaxation techniques and structured writing that can help. Hand write topics that you want to cover, then numerically order those topics. Then flesh out each topic with a series of dot points relating to each topic. Sentences will eventually flow from this structured writing technique.

Try also having an oil burner in your office. It's the combination of relaxation and structure that will break through the sort of frustration you're experiencing.

Hang in there, Wil.

This too shall pass....writer's block is the sign of great and creative writer, words that flow freely oft times come from a lack of a creative well. Drink a guinness, breath and try again.....

Whenever I get a writer's block I just do a free write. Get a blank piece of paper and just write without thinking about it. When you read over it once your finished not only will the words be flowing and what not, but you might find a topic or quote that you really like. It helps a lot:)

This probably won't help much... but I don't think there's anything saying how long writing should take. Let it take as long as it wants.

*shrug*

maybe try making your brain do something else for a bit (like everyone else has suggested) watch a cartoon or two, do a level or two of a game... whatever.

Major mojo on its way to you. It seems like half of America is thinking about you right now. That should make you feel special.

You could try writing as someone else. Try writing as the guy you saw at the cafe yesterday with the strange hat or as Ferris or (god forbid) as TVSWILWHEATOM or even Wesley Crusher. He did get to kiss Ashley Judd, after all... he's got to have something to say.

Free writing usually works for me, as does sketching or doing crossword puzzles.

Good luck.

hey wil is it to late to recall rick berman?

Tranquilo Wil, it will come to you. There are days like that for everyone. I spent three hours yesterday avoiding my Powerbook like the plague, even thought I needed to write something very important for my business.
I came to your Blog from Dan Gillmor's, and his Blog has really inspired me to write again, I even mentioned your Blog on mine as I thought it was so freakin' cool what you are doing.
You inspire me Bro. So dont worry, it will come back to you, and if it doesnt, bring your lady, come down to Costa Rica and hang out with me for a few days, or... come alone, and after 3 or four days hangin with me you will be writing till your fingers hurt and wishing for a freakin voice activated tricoder to do dictation to.
Stay Easy Bro, and know your friends dont EXPECT you to write, we just groove on it when you do...

Dave

Have a hot guiness and a cold shower...wait..a cold guinness and a hot shower. Always works :)

Wil,

I think your writing is just fine.
I mean really, "I don't know what the fuck is wrong with me,..." That's just priceless. ;)

You are a genius. Give me some more of that sugar baby.

I ::heart:: unca willy

(no I'm not gay so shut it)

I cannot number the times I feel like that. The urge to write and then suddenly nothing comes out, but the urge is still there. Go figure.

It's not writers block. It's Writer's Curse.

Lloyd is right. OneWord is great. I'm not the greatest poet, but I really enjoy that site.

Hehehe. "We're going to be killed, for fuck's sake!" Hunter Thompson is awesome. Hey! That's it! Maybe if you went out and shot your assistant with a shotgun while trying to shoot a bear, your block will lift!

Whenever I have writer's block, I just go get drunk beyond recognition. It doesn't help me write, but at that point I really don't care.

Hey Wil,
Be patient about the writing, it will come to you. I'm having the same problem too and I know how infuriating and depressing it is. If you get upset it just makes it worse. Go do something fun for a while and then come back to it.

Look at how may wonderful people want to help... You've got a gift and that's why we love you and want to help so much.

Whenever I get writer's block it results in a blessing - I usually learn something in the downtime that was necessary for the cause. If I would have written, there would me some massive editing to fit in what the "me of now" has to say with what the "me of the writer's block" had to say.

May you find the piece you need. (lame pun intended)

take a deep breath Wil. Go outside and mow your lawn.

Look at how may wonderful people want to help... You've got a gift and that's why we love you and want to help so much.

Whenever I get writer's block it results in a blessing - I usually learn something in the downtime that was necessary for the cause. If I would have written, there would me some massive editing to fit in what the "me of now" has to say with what the "me of the writer's block" had to say.

May you find the piece you need. (lame pun intended)

BTW, Wil, what kinda kit are you shooting with? Any extras (filters, lenses, etc)? What about post-shoot stuff like GIMP or Photoshop?

I didn't click twice, believe me!!! I got a 404 and went back to the site, then clicked on the comments link... heh, and I was only checking to see if the first went through... this happened to someone else today, maybe something is amiss...

Wow, I cruised in here a bit late ^_^ Writer's block seriously blows. Other than the suggestions of relaxing and doing something else...I've found it helpful to just bounce of someone else. I have two or three good internet buddies that I can IM and just start dialogue warring with them (I take one line, whoever responds with another one). But I'm a hack fiction writer, so I don't know how much help that would be.

I just recently found this site and I believe you have nothing to worry about. Once you've schooled that stress monster you'll bring the noise. And I swear I'll never use that phrase again ^_^

Use Oulipo, or structure (mesostics, acrostics, s plus 7) techniques, heel even copy dictionary definitions-the point is to write-it doesn't matter what you are producing-in fact if you can get in the mind frame learn to seperate writing from production so that it becomes creation

writer's block is an ego fiction-it happens because we think we should be producing something important-and we don't-it is the readers that make it important

Ever read "I Feel Sick," and its sequel by Jhonen Vasquez? It's a comic book about artistic block. Very well done, and very appropriate.

Sometimes, in the dark of night I try to write. When I can't seem to find the words I write about the things i can discribe, My husband for one. The way he smiles. I also write about myself. Not from my own view but from others. About how I look in the morning, how the wind blows through me, hwo tears fall, how my laughter sounds. I find it makes it easier to just let things out and start writing. It opens the flood gates of many things most importantly emotion which to me at least feeds everything in life.

Just something to think about, hope it helps.

Andrea Leigh

Yeah I am fighting myself against that ole writers block. I hope that I win it cause there are people who are going to not be happy with me if I don't come through. An artist is their worst critic and that is hard to fight worst of all.

Wil,

If you really want to be a writer, you're going to have to work through writer's block. I was a writer for several years where I had to write everyday as part of my job. Even when I didn't feel like it. Writers' block is a convenient escape from the fear of sucking.

Write. I don't care if it sucks. Nobody will see it. Just throw the words out of your mind and onto the screen. Don't worry about punctuation, spelling or making sense. What you are going for is the feeling. Don't judge it. Don't ask yourself if you should say that or if that's honest, or if that would hurt someone's feelings if I wrote that.

The point isn't to write polished prose. It's to write over your block and get your mind focused on what you have to do and not on being blocked.

If your blocked about a subject, write about something you've written about before, but turn it on its head. Write it from someone else's perspective. Doesn't have to be good, honest, whatever.

Try it. It does work.

Let me know how it works for you.

Not sure if it's an apocryphal tale, but the old legend has it that Isaac Asimov used to force himself to sit down and write a new story every day. On a typewriter, no less.
I imagine that with that sort of discipline, over time writer's block becomes less of a stumble. Then again . . . I was about to say I wouldn't know, but after a few years of professional writing, it occurs to me that I haven't blocked in a long, long time.
I suppose the trick lies not just in writing what you want to write when you want to write it, but writing about all sorts of things all the time.
Not a lot of craft left in writing in this age of word processors.

I guess I'm just copying what other people are saying ... But, first *hugs*. Second, relax. Third, hash it out. You sound like a bit of a perfectionist, like me. But sometimes you just have to let shit come out. Then later, you can clean it up. Or write something else for a little while, if you can. Something unrrelated.

You nailed the fear of sucking, Brian Bock. That's great advice. Thank you :)

And thank you to everyone else. I've read all these comments, and taken them all to heart.

Look, Wil i didn't red anyone elses posts (sorry) im in a bit of a hurry. Why don't you try linking the two ideas together by: using them as two completely different stories of two completely different people and one event brings them together and there the story begins.

I don't think anyone has mentioned this, but I've found it helpful when encountering writer's block:

"The Writer's Block, 786 ideas to jump-start your imagination," by Jason Rekulak.

The book is actually printed in the form of a block, 3"x3"x3". Heh heh.

You can find it at amazon.com.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0762409487/qid=1066942430/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/104-8622876-1179135?v=glance&s=books

I suggest lightening up when that happens and go do something else until you feel inspired. I had to do some writing this past two weeks and just couldn't do it- a big blank would enter my brain at the very thought of writing. I just gave up until I was ready and when I finally did write, it was one of the best damned things I ever wrote. Art can be like constipation- somethings just can't be forced.

If it's any consolation, I thooght that the your telling of your hooters story was an excellent bit of writing.