'I think, therefore I am.'

Unfortunately, this quote just isn't true if you're trying to transition from having a great idea to actually writing out that great idea. Many of us have 'great ideas' we think would make 'awesome books' and yet, the gap between those with great ideas and those who become published authors (or just authors who are trying to get published) remains wide.

Fortunately, bridging this gap isn't an impossible task, and if taken in small steps, you'll soon have a completed written work before you can think up another great idea.

(1) Put pen to paper. Sometimes the old fashioned way to do things is the best, especially in the early stages of a writing project. Having a fancy computer with a word processing program that practically writes itself is terrific, but won't it won't do is unlock that mental block that's keeping you from actually getting those great ideas out of your head and onto paper. So the first step is to set aside a short amount of time for yourself - 10 to 15 minutes a day would work - to just sit down with a piece of paper and write. Write whatever comes to mind, and don't stop for that entire time period, even if all you manage to write is, 'Um, I don't know what to write.' This is known as 'stream of consciousness' writing, and it helps to get your thoughts down on paper. Over time, it will become natural for you to write down your ideas and thoughts as opposed to keeping them in your head - which is the first step to getting your writing project going!

(2) Start small. That old saying, 'Rome wasn't built in a day,' holds true for writing - whether you're writing an article, short story or a multi-volume novel. If the thought of writing hundreds of pages, or even hundreds of words, is too daunting for you, break the project down into a size that you can manage. Start with just one chapter, or one page, or even one sentence, and build from there. Before you know it, you'll have written more than you thought was possible.

(3) Writing doesn't have to be linear. Writer's block will hit. That's a cold, hard fact, so be prepared for it. But dealing with writer's block doesn't have to be a great challenge. Often, the easiest way to conquer writer's block is to simply move onto something else. You don't have to write your book, article or story in a direct line. You can skip around. If the ending 'pops' into your head, go ahead and write it. JK Rowling wrote the ending chapter of the Harry Potter series before the

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