Wes Phillips

Scott Berkun has written a nice essay on writing—or more specifically, on overcoming writer's block. He leaves out the one that usually works for me: Work for an editor you don't want to disappoint. Of course, spending the money before you get the check works, too—although apparently not for everyone.

It may be different for writers who want to create "art" than it is for those of us who write for periodicals. The cardinal rule in my line of work is that I only have the blank pages to fill because some advertiser didn't buy them. Therefore, I have to worry a lot less about creating art than making it on time and the right length. Good thing, too—some days just meeting those goals is a struggle.