I have writer's block. Ask me anything.

[lightningandsnow]

I'm writing an article on sex ed for my school newspaper, it's going to be wicked interesting but I'm having a hard time getting it off the ground. I have tons of interesting material to work with (I interviewed this one woman who used to have a sex advice column in a magazine, as well as a couple students, and I found the ministry of education's official curriculum documents on their website), it's just actually putting all that together and getting it one paper that's the problem. Le sigh.

[taterguy]

1. What journalist do you wish you could be as good as?

[lightningandsnow]

2. Jessica Valenti

of Feministing.com

Not technically a journalist, but a really kick-ass blogger.

Also, anyone who writes for Bitch Magazine is definetly up there.

[taterguy]

3. What's your favorite river?

[lightningandsnow]

4. The St. Lawrence River?

I suppose... I never really thought about it.

[taterguy]

6. Did you pick the St Lawrence because that's where Abbie Hoffman hung out when he was a fugitive?

[lightningandsnow]

8. Didn't know that.

Interesting.

I picked it because it's the only major river that I can think of that's vaguely near where I live.

(Except for the Humber River, which isn't all that great.)

[taterguy]

9. My favorite river is the New

Ever been? It's an amazing one, peaceful and tranquil in parts, a raging torrent in others

[CGowen]

5. Waiting for the deadline, because you can work better under pressure? n/t

[lightningandsnow]

7. Waited for the deadline a little, but not for that reason

I had an insanely busy two weeks before winter break (which just started yesterday), so I had a hard time scheduling interviews and stuff, let alone sitting down to actually write.

[otherlander]

10. What's your most irrational belief?

[lightningandsnow]

11. People are mostly good.

I keep seeing evidence to the contrary, but I still believe that most people are mostly good.

[Ghost in the Machine]

12. Here are some tried and true methods of overcoming writer's block:

Here are some tried and true methods of overcoming
writer's block:

1. Be prepared. The only thing to fear is fear itself.
(I know, that's a cliche' but as soon as you start
writing, feel free to improve on it.) If you spend
some time mulling over your project before you
actually sit down to write, you may be able to
circumvent the worst of the crippling panic.

2. Forget perfectionism. No one ever writes a
masterpiece in the first draft. Don't put any
expectations on your writing at all! In fact, tell
yourself you're going to write absolute garbage, and
then give yourself permission to happily stink up your
writing room.

3. Compose instead of editing. Never, never write your
first draft with your monkey-mind sitting on your
shoulder making snide editorial comments. Composing is
a magical process. It surpasses the conscious mind by
galaxies. It's even incomprehensible to the conscious,
editorial, monkey-mind. So prepare an ambush. Sit down
at your computer or your desk. Take a deep breath and
blow out all your thoughts. Let your finger hover over
your keyboard or pick up your pen. And then pull a
fake: appear to be about to begin to write, but
instead, using your thumb and index finger of your
dominant hand, flick that little annoying ugly monkey
back into the barrel of laughs it came from. Then jump
in quickly! Write, scribble, scream, howl, let
everything loose, as long as you do it with a pen or
your computer keyboard.

4. Forget the first sentence. You can sweat over that
all-important one-liner when you've finished your
piece. Skip it! Go for the middle or even the end.
Start wherever you can. Chances are, when you read it
over, the first line will be blinking its little neon
lights right at you from the depths of your
composition.

http://www.offrampbums.com/writersblock.html

[lightningandsnow]

15. aww thanks!

[Skittles]

13. you want I should kick your ass, AspieGrrl?

for motivational purposes - I have a holiday special going

[Tuesday Afternoon]

14. Have you got your first sentence? the introduction --

Maybe write the last paragraph first....the summation.

[lightningandsnow]

16. I wrote a bit last night

I have a bit of an introduction, at least, hopefully now the rest of it will come easier.