I have written blogs on this topic before but surprisingly haven't posted any of them on my own website - I'm talking about writer's block, not that I believe in such a thing, so let's call it writer's BLAH!

I have to say it's been a shirty couple of weeks, writing wise...and I am at a loss as to say why. Okay, so I had a leg wax earlier in the week but I haven't been sick, my kids are healthy, the cat loves me...there have been no significant traumas in my life apart from the day-to-day grind of having to wake up (!) and then set about my daily domestic chores, like pulling the kids out of bed, making lunches, cleaning, cooking dinner. Blah!

But big deal. Most of us have to do all that.

So what's the problem?

Every time I sit down to write, I fidget...check emails, Facebook and Twitter at least a dozen times every ten minutes. This week I've taken to writing a to-do list in the hope of getting more organised and focussed. Still no good.

So I read back over some of my previous posts claiming that ‘when I'm feeling lazy or uninspired, I'll go for the easiest option to get my word count up for the day. I'll write new scenes or perhaps research a character.'

That's reasonable advice but at the moment I think all my characters are fools and should all die a slow and painful death.

I've also said that ‘when I‘m writing a first draft I have a daily word count of 2000 words that I try to stick to, five days a week. That way I find the momentum builds and an interesting plot and complex characters develop and I find I get into a rhythm and pace I'm comfortable with.'

Hello! Who wrote that? I did, obviously - but I must have been drunk at the time.

The one mantra I've focussed on before and continue to, is I don't care what I write, just write something!

However, there are some days when the writing doesn't flow, when it feels like you're pulling teeth and that even when you do put pen to paper, it all seems totally banal and pointless.

So this week, I'm granting myself a leave pass. Am taking the family to see Wicked! tonight and tomorrow, I'll celebrate my mum's birthday by taking her to the Art Gallery and having a great lunch in the city.

Once I'm through the BLAH I'll be back again!