For a long period in my life - it lasted about 10 years - I had writer's block.

A wonderful emotion to get things moving when one is stuck is anger. It was anger more than anything else that had set me off, roused me into productivity and creativity.

My block was due to two overlapping factors: laziness and lack of discipline.

Research on child abuse suggests that religious beliefs can foster, encourage, and justify the abuse of children. When contempt for sex underlies teachings, this creates a breeding ground for abuse.

My biggest excuse to others and myself was that I had writer's block, as if it was some kind of illness.

Reading Stephen King's book, On Writing, was like being cornered and forced to have a long, drawn out mental enema.

In the back of my mind was the constant hankering, almost yearning, to write but something always stopped me in my tracks. Or if I did find my way to put a pen to paper or finger on a keyboard I'd give up after a few minutes. I'd find other things to do: Anything but writing.