by M. Morrison

Created on: July 17, 2010   Last Updated: July 18, 2010

It's a writer's worst nightmare: writer's block. It can strike anyone at any time; it buries deep inside a writer's mind, choking the life out of the slightest trace of motivation and holding inspiration hostage; and there's no telling when it will decide to leave.

This little writing demon is not only dangerous, but sneaky as well. Often times a writer will shrug it off as a matter of not being in the mood to write, or a need for something new. Once some time has passed, however, and they find themselves getting frustrated at their inability to choke out even a few good words, they begin to realize that they are indeed blocked. If you've found yourself in such a situation, try some of the following suggestions.

- Stay organized. If you've ever spent half an hour looking for a stapler just so you can put one lousy staple in one lousy stack of paper, you recognize the importance of organization. Just as we are most productive when our homes are organized, we are also at our best when our minds are organized. When a new idea pops into your head, write it down and find a category for it so that the next time you have the writing urge, all you have to do is whip out your list and scan through until you find something that catches your interest.

- Write what you know. It's a lot easier to write from your head than it is to write while you research. Sure, it's not an impossible feat, but when you're trying to fight your way through writer's block you can't afford to get started and stop again to do a little research - once you get going, you need to keep going and build momentum. Writing about what you know is always a good idea, but for those suffering from writer's block it can also be helpful.

- Find a fresh perspective. If you're simply stumped and have no idea where to go next, try rewriting some of your plot in another character's perspective. Get inside their head and tell your story using their voice. This second character might just help you to find a new plot-line which your main character would have missed.

- Switch it up. If you usually type, get out the pen and paper; if you usually write short stories, write an article or a poem instead; if you usually write indoors, head outside and get some fresh air and new scenery. Just because one path in your mind is blocked doesn't mean all the rest are, too. Sometimes a simple change can be enough to pick a hole through that wall and get going again.

- Take baby steps. Instead of starting something over from

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