Writers Block or Emotional Block

I don't consider myself a writer.  I've blogged (for periods of time), I enjoy twitter and Facebook, and am constantly concocting stories in my head, but beyond that I have no honest literary aspirations.  Winning NaNo this past year was awesome, and I'm sure being in Script Frenzy will be great as well, but I have a tough time diving into a new project because life gets in the way.

Today, for example, I am feeling anxious and uneasy about personal issues (yes, they deal with my boyfriend) so while the concept of writing to cope or get away from stress is a great idea its just not something my brain can handle.  When I was in school I could sit for two hours and stare at a blank Word screen, trying to find a way to start my latest essay.  Other times if I was in the right mood the paper would be done and printed within a half hour and I would still get an A.  Maybe the problem is that writing comes easily to me so its tougher to deal with set backs or writers block.  Do any of you feel like that as well?  Is this something that just flows for you (in general), or is it a fight to get the words on the page?

For me, writers block is typically not due to a lack of creativity.  Most of the time its emotional, with something clouding my objectivity and causing issues with my desire and ability to express myself clearly.  Because of this I write anything just so I can get something on paper.  Today, it's this blog post.  Other times it is an email which is pointless but still helps me express something.  During NaNo if I had a tough time breaking through something personal I would expound on the details in a scene so that the couch or the hair style or the farm was exactly as I envisioned.  These tricks help me get past myself and into the mood I need to be an author, and if nothing else it is a way to occupy time until I'm able to break through whatever emotional problems are at bay.

Good luck to you all on the challenges- I have the short one completed and hopefully will be able to tackle the longer one now that my block has been shifted to the side!

**This does not mean I run away from problems by distracting myself- just that there are times when its necessary to set aside personal issues and focus on the big picture.

--by Liz