The dreaded block...

There's a good article in today's Times about writer's block ("the fabled terminator of literary careers, the paralylser of talent, the murderer of the muse", as it so poetically puts it. No writer's block there).

Of course, there's the usual question about whether or not writer's block exists at all. My own feeling is that if anyone says they've suffered from it, then it exists, just as I usually trust someone if they say they have a headache. I can't see the headache, but I tend to believe people who say they have one. I've certainly experienced writer's block, and I don't mean the "I'll just shampoo the cat/clean the car/ pickle the onions first" variety, which for me comes under the heading of Not Getting Down To It; that's a different ailment altogether.

It's comforting to know there have been many eminent sufferers, including Joseph Conrad, who described it thus:
"Sometimes it takes all my resolution and power of self-control to refrain from butting my head against the wall. I want to howl and foam at the mouth ..."

Yep. That just about sums it up. The people who say WB doesn't exist tend to be those who have never suffered from it. Well, good for them. But isn't it a little arrogant to assume that because they are fortunate enough to have the kinds of minds that are constantly overflowing with wonderful ideas, anyone who is not so blessed is inventing a condition to cover up their inadequacy?