As a writer, I’m often asked what I do about writer’s block. This enigma happens to all writers. The white screen of the monitor or the blank piece of paper looms at us like a despairing void and makes us wonder if we can ever put words together to make another sentence again.

I have several tips for overcoming this obstacle. All are true and just keep in mind that most writ-ers, are, by nature, strange birds.

1. Go to the bathroom. . .or kitchen. . .or outside. Go anywhere your writing instrument isn’t. I like the bathroom because I can lock the door, the kids know not to bother me, and we have an abundance of reading materials.

2. Read one of your old favorites. For me, it’s anything Pat Conroy, but especially “My Losing Season.” Enjoy spending time with that author. Note how they structure sentences, their tone, and tempo.

3. Go back to a place in your work where you felt passion and excitement. Work your way for-ward from there.

4. Edit what you have already written. Check for passive voice (was is a dirty word), adverbs (those nasty –ly words), and redundant words or images. Search and destroy.

5. Spend some time with a minor character. Write scenes about him.

6. Spend time with your major characters and write silly scenes about them, or serious scenes, just do something different. Or change the point of view of one of you scenes by telling it through someone elses eyes. You might learn something about them you never knew, and that is often enough to motivate you.

7. Don’t panic. Your mojo will come back.

Remember, words are like rabbits, put a few together and before you know it, they are every-where. So, fellow writers, or aspiring writers, now you know what I do when I don’t know what to write about.