Have you ever had the feeling that your creative mind has gone on vacation and left you behind? Do you get a blank feeling when you are staring at your computer? How about when you're holding your pen at the ready and nothing comes to mind? Welcome to writer's block.

Many writers, published and aspiring, have experienced writer's block and one of the first questions asked is, why? One factor could simply be that you are suffering from lack of sleep. Or it may be you are just a perfectionist and expect nothing less than excellence for everything you write.

So how do you lure your creative mind back home? There are many ways. Keep in mind that what works for some may not work for others. The key is to find what works for you.

Try relaxation exercises before you start to write. Yoga or deep breathing may help. Comfortable clothes and avoiding distrations may work as well. One of the best ways to avoid writer's block is to develop a schedule that sets realistic goals and stick to it. There are all sorts of helpful hints out there. Two of my favorite sites for finding helpful hints are www.about.com and www.sff.net/people/LisaRc. For best results, do a search for writer's block.