I don’t believe in writer’s block but I do believe in writer’s ass. This is not the term given to a writer’s donkey, but, in fact, the term given to the numb backside which can occur while a writer sits for a long period of time. It’s a terrible and debilitating condition, second only to writer’s finger (blisters on the fingers from typing for hours on end). If you have both then your writing days might well be over. You may be better off finding an ass and going for a ride on it.

OK, so writer’s block exists in a way. I often sit in front of my computer without the slightest idea of what I am trying to say. And there in lies the clue to what I think is the source of the problem: not knowing what to say. Let’s face it, if you don’t know what you want to say then you are going to have a hard time trying to say it.

Every writer has their own way of dealing with the fact that they don’t even know their own mind. Some play tennis or run, some alphabetically sort their DVD packaging. Some go for a long drive and try to forget about it. Being a stubborn git, I do the opposite. I will just sit there until I start to write; it doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it’s something. Setting myself a time limit of an hour or so, usually when the time is up I am starting to know what I might want to say. I erase it immediately of course, because it is total rubbish, but that’s alright, because at least I have started. Starting is the only way to finish after all.

When that doesn’t work I normally read. After a few hours of that I feel the urge again, and off I go, usually with more success.