I do have a point to all this. I would like to try some "flow" writing on my site. What is flow writing, you may ask. I shall tell you.... err... type to you. It's a method of writing when you get yourself almost in a trance to just write. You don't worry about punctuation or how fluidly the writing is. You just write whatever you are thinking and don't think about anything else except getting whatever it is on your mind down on paper (or entered into the computer). Many novelists get themselves in the flow to write their stories.

It is said that if you have writer's block, fears and writing constraints are major culprits. "It can happen to anyone, but successful writers have learned not to panic. Here are some suggestions that may help you reframe your nonwriting periods and figure out what you need to do before you continue writing:"

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• Set reasonable goals. Giving yourself a daunting task, such as 'I will write the story of my life and appear on Oprah,' is antithetical to the writing process. It is better to trivialize the task and realize that no single writing session really matters."
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• Increase your knowledge of your subject. Serach the Internet or go to the library to look for more details you can add to your story."
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• Take risks. ... Many people are afraid of the repercussions of saying something honest. Remember: Even though writing can sometimes feel risky, you're not really risking anything in the writing. Take a chance."
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• Visualize your ideal reader. Don't picture an old boyfriend saying, 'Who'd want to read that stuff?' Instead, imagine a writing buddy or a good friend who appreciates the efforts you make and never puts you down."
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• Find a ritual or routine to help you through the process. Sometimes the hardest part of writing is deciding if it's worth the effert this time. But if you simply follow a pattern, it becomes automatic."
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• Remain focused on what's important and filter out irrevelant things. 'The felling that people have of being overwhelmed is verifiable in the lab,' says Ronald Kellogg, Ph.D., of the University of Missouri at Rolla and author of The Psychology of Writing and Cognitive Psychology. To eliminate the confusion, Kellogg recommends outlining and prioritizing your ideas."
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• Organize your thoughts. If you find yourself struggling to get words down, you might try and informal organizing device such as clustering, where you splatter information about your topic on a large sheet of paper."
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• Change something about what you're doing. If you're stuck, try to write something else, perhaps in a different genre. Or find an anecdote that makes you laugh. Putting this down on paper may revive your interest in the subject."

Okay. So I'm writing this without permission, but I think it'll help all who read it in some way. Well, I want to try flow writing and it didn't happen today, but maybe soon.

Carisa