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First of all I don’t believe in writer’s block. I believe in butcher’s block – I used to have one in my kitchen and plumber’s block – the kind that costs a fortune to unblock in my experience. I even believe in builder’s block the process whereby nothing can happen because the electrician can’t start before the plasterer, the plasterer can’t start before the plumber and there’s no way the plumber can do a thing until the electrician’s finished, but writer’s block, no. Writer’s block is the figment of an author’s imagination, an excuse for melodrama, existential despair and excessive drinking ; it is another word for idleness.
Secondly, I would like to explain that I am not personally ‘blocked’. I eat plenty of prunes, walk my dog regularly and, apart from the red wine, caffeine and chocolate habit, have quite a healthy life. The only reason I am not writing at the moment and indeed haven’t written for months is...
Well there’s the weather – we get so few nice days and I can’t see my screen outside and I can’t remember how to write with pen and paper – I get cramp just signing my name these days ( and not because I do so many autographs.)
Then there were the exams and the fact that now they are over, well,it seems only kind to let my poor overwrought children take over my work space. They do need to catch up on Facebook, MSN and Youtube so much more than I need to write a new novel. And again I think some ideas need to – how shall I put this - germinate slowly. This is especially true of ideas you haven’t yet had. The unthought story seed is as elusive as a windblown dandelion clock, that great high concept thingy waiting in some kind of inchoate state for the mind to be receptive enough to allow it to exist, needs time and patience. Of course this not another way of saying I’m clueless, how dare you suggest it! I’m merely waiting, biding my time, not stuck at all.
In the meantime, I feel the author’s mind needs plenty of sunshine – to aid germination, fluid (preferably of the pink variety, rose, kir maybe even pink champagne) and rest. I also recommend plenty of visual stimulation, sales shopping is particular good for this as it also allows the writer to engage in useful imaginative thinking: this yellow, sleeveless sundress would look wonderful if I got a tan, worked out, lost the bingo arms, had breast augmentation surgery, botox, new teeth and wore very high heels.
What me? Got writer’s block? Whatever gave you that idea?

I forgot to tell you about the February issue of Highlights. I picked it up as research, but was pleasantly surprised to find so many blog "friends" in it. On the cover is Karen Lee, inside are Paula Becker, Elizabeth Dulemba, and Jannie Ho. What a pleasant surprise!

Last week I received Studios magazine. What amazing inspiration! More "friends", too! Claudine Helmuth, Kelly Rae Roberts, and Betz White.

I've been "enjoying" a drawing block. I've started several things, but just wasn't interested in them. The passion was missing. I know all artists experience this from time to time, so I decided not to fight it, but to stay creative. I've been Modge Podging. Here you can see some of the results. Every time I go to Michaels, I walk out with more wood or paper mache things to paint, so I've got quite a collection. With my newly freshened studio, I've been enjoying my time in here. It's nice to create things that have no business purpose. It doesn't matter if they work out or not. It's just for fun.

It certainly is funny, the twists and turns of life; the paths you choose and the ones you don’t. Sometimes, life puts a road block on the path you chose and then you have to navigate a different road…without the help of a GPS system.

Growing up I was always drawn to writing and drawing, but upon graduating high school never thought of it as a career. Instead, I choose bookkeeping. At the time, the early 1970s, a lot of seventeen and eighteen-year-old girls didn’t even think of college. The Leave It to Beaver era still had a hold on our society; girls got married and raised a family. Without a second thought, this was the next path I chose. This path had its ups and downs until the mid-eighties. The divorce rate was up and so was my marriage. This was my first road block.

With two very young children, I did housecleaning and care giving until my youngest child started kindergarten. Out of necessity, this was my third path chosen. Then, I was fortunate to find a bookkeeping job with flexible hours; I was able to bring my children to school and pick them up. It was at this job that I first thought of going to college to become an accountant. My boss, who was younger than I was, put the idea in my head. He urged and even encouraged me to go for it. I regret to this day that I never really thanked him for his support. It took ten years, but I finally received my bachelor degree and I became assistant controller for a manufacturing company.

I had every intention of continuing my education toward an MBA, but life with its twists and turns had other ideas. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and had to stop working. This was my second major road block. The first few years I wasn’t able to even contemplate doing something else. But, then, by the grace of God, I found the most extraordinary acupuncturist and herbalist. Now, while I still have many limitations, I am able to devote time to writing.

Life is so amazing. If I didn’t have to support myself and my children I am sure I would never have gone to college. There are so many roads, some you take willing and others are forced upon you, one road leading to another and some roads leading nowhere. I am so grateful I found a road leading here. I seem to have come full circle.

Karen