Just about every writer suffers from writer's block from time to time. It's easy enough to spin ideas in your head and dream up all the wonderful things you'll write about, but getting them down on paper (or the computer screen) is another matter. It's like everything dries up as soon as you try to commit your ideas to writing. So what causes writer's block, and more importantly, how do you get over it?

If you have a bad case of writer's block, it could mean that you're expecting too much from yourself. Many writers want their first draft to be perfect. They also worry about what others will think of their writing.

Many people claim that they can't write unless they feel inspired. That's all fine and good if you're only writing for yourself, but if you're serious about getting your work published or you have deadlines to meet, you can't afford this luxury.

Whatever is causing your writer's block, here are some tips to help you beat it:

* Just Start Writing
Getting started is often the hardest part of writing. Gene Fowler had another way of putting it: "All you do is stare at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead." When you're afraid or simply aren't in the mood to write, it's all too easy to put it off. I often find that making myself get started is all it takes to get the words flowing.

* Give Yourself Permission to Write Badly
Your first draft doesn't have to be perfect; that's what second and third drafts are for. You can fix everything later. Just concentrate on getting the words out, and try not to make revisions along the way. Editing as you write will just slow you down and dry up your well of inspiration. It's much easier to revise something you've already finished than it is to write perfectly the first time. Your Inner Critic won't abandon you when you need him, I promise.

* Make a Schedule
If you never seem to find time to write, then you need to make time for it. If you devote an hour or two a day strictly to writing, you will be amazed by how much you get done.

* Do Free-Writing
This where you write nonstop for ten to fifteen minutes at a time. It doesn't matter what you write; the important thing is to keep writing. This is like limbering up before you exercise. You might even come up with something brilliant in the process, but that's a bonus. Once you've spewed out a bunch of nonsense, getting down to business is a lot less intimidating.

* Turn Off the Monitor
It might sound silly, but

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