What sort of writer are you? That is, how do you go about preparing and composing your blog posts, and the other articles, you write?

Do you plan, or schedule, your posts? Or do you prefer to work on the fly, inspired by something you just saw on say your RSS aggregator, or in a discussion forum?

Do you, like me, have lists of ideas, together with a rough synopsis or outline for potential articles, on a notepad or whiteboard?

And once you have set yourself a topic what happens next? Does the article virtually write itself? Is the process of converting your thoughts to text a mere formality because you can see a clear and complete draft of the proposed post in your mind?

Or are there one or two key lines missing from this abstract in your mind’s eye?

I am writing this now, not because of any writer’s block, but rather what seems to be an especially acute case of opening line block.

Call me odd, but if for some reason I cannot write the first, or opening sentence of a post, I can’t seem to do anything else. It’s like the first line is a trigger, or catalyst, that kick starts the writing process for me.

Being without this essential ingredient can be frustrating to say the least.

Especially as I’ve had the idea for what was meant to be today’s post for sometime. I’d jotted down a few ideas, found a few posts on other blogs I wanted to reference in the piece, but instead of it being virtually complete, there’s a few very pathetic attempts at opening lines building up at the top of my draft.

And instead of developing the body of the article I am instead pacing the room, re-checking my stats, looking at Facebook, all the while hoping some inspiration for that pivotal first line will somehow manifest itself.

I am glad no one else is around while I am blogging, or rather faced with this particular conundrum. I doubt anyone would understand why I am looking for an opening line under the sofa or in the fridge. And once or twice I have found one in the dryer or closet, but alas not today…

Thankfully it’s not a problem that crops up too often, but it’s no fun when it does.

Has something like this happened to you? What impedes your writing? Do you have trouble starting, or finishing, a post? How do you overcome obstacles like these?

Let me know, I’m interested to hear. In the meantime I’m going to see if I can find anything inspiring out on the balcony…