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In almost every writer’s fora that there is, the deplorable perennial problem of writer’s block has always been brought up by both professional and amateur creative writers. Some discussions have even gone as deep as defining the nature of writer’s block in the hopes of acquiring counter-active measures should writer’s block, a.k.a. “fear-of-the-blank-page” come up in the middle of a deadline.

What is a writer’s block? On the surface, it is simply a period of non-activity for the writer. A writer or a poet may attempt to write something based on the need to write something, and come up with absolutely nothing creative, if anything at all. What causes a writer’s block and what can be done about it? Here are some thoughts and suggestions:

1. The fear of coming up short from their last project - Collectively speaking, most artists and writers have an obsessive compulsion to concretize and materialize, through their works, abstracted thoughts and ideas. Once they attempt at some work, there is always that fear of producing something despairingly short of what they have intended to create from its original idea, thus, disappointing themselves more than disappointing others. If artistic or writer’s block does not happen prior tot he start of the project, it may also very well occur while the work is in process. This explains why several writers may work on different projects at the same time, jumping from one unfinished work to another, others even abandoning previous works altogether for a new one and ultimately not accomplishing anything in the end.

2. A comeback after a long time off - Vacations and some time off taking care of familial/domestic or personal matters can only have two extreme results: either it rejuvenates, recharges and inspires the writer for the next project, or it completely diminishes or finishes off whatever is left of a prolific and fecund mind! Let’s face it, even professional writers are, first and foremost, human beings before they are writers. And, as humans, brilliant and loving their professions as they may be, writers too are bound to lose footing once they have taken some time off from writing, if not inspired and recharged, as mentioned.

3. Insecurities - Lack of formal training…Being a newbie…The writing style…a friend who’s a better writer…etc., etc., etc., these can all spell one thing: insecurities. Our insecurities can really work nasty for writers and we know there is no other way out other than a paradigm shift or a change in perspective for the writer. We know that there will always be other people more educated, more renowned in the creative writing field, writers who are relatively better than us, other trends and styles in writing which the writer can become unfamiliar and intimidated with, but the bottomline is that it is just a matter of gritting your teeth with some decision-making: to write or not to write? In the first place, if a writer is already too busy being concerned with being a writer rather than actually writing, if a writer writes for some reason other than writing for its own sake, then he/she has no business being a writer at all.

4. Bills to pay, daily tasks, and other small details - Where to get the money for the bills, who brings and fetches the children to and from school, and for writers with actual day jobs, how many deadlines to meet — who can still think of writing? These concerns, to mention only a few, hampers the writer’s writer’s sensitive thoughts. These are practical things that need to be done on the daily basis. On the surface, these concerns may seem harmless to an aspiring writer, but eventually, it dries up the creative writer’s reservoir that needs constant nurturing. This is not to say, however, that children, career and domestic chores and other concerns should no longer be tended to in order to write. Being a great writer does not necessarily entail shunning away from daily practical concerns, in the same manner that a duty-free person does not give you a prolific writer. Difficult for the right-brained writer as it may be, time must be managed, schedules and systems must be established in order to attain the perfect juxtaposition and equilibrium of work (chores and responsibilities) and play (writing).

The horse has long been a part of history, used in war to carry riders into conflict, and also for sport by knights of old in their jousting matches. In our own near past they were used to draw vehicles prior to the “horseless carriage”. In the Western part of the United States they were also used on the ranges to herd cattle and fight in the range wars. Today they are used mostly for recreation and sport. Here is a quick look at some of the Legendary Horses of Old:

The Hungarians and Spanish believed that all black horses were lucky - the French believed the reverse. There was an Irish superstition that a pure white horse, when ridden by its owner, gave the special gift of advising how to cure physical ailments.

THE WHITE HORSE - The Saxon King Alfred in the ninth century had carved in a chalk cliff on the Berkshire Downs in England an enormous white horse, 374 feet long and 120 feet high, to commemorate his victory over the Danes at Ashdown. It is still visible today.

THE TROJAN HORSE - The Trojan Horse is well known to all who have read any Greek history. This was the tremendous image of a mare, built of wooden planks and concealing a group of Greek soldiers. The Trojans were led to believe that this was a peace offering to the goddess Minerva. The stratagem worked. The Trojans opened their gates and widened the gap in their wall to take in the wooden mare - and it soldiers…the rest is history!

THE HOBBY HORSE - The Hobby Horse was originally associated with the ancient May Day festivals of English seamen. It may have been derived from the early English “hobby”, meaning a nag.

THE SAILOR’S HORSE - The terms “horse a bill” meaning to pay for work not yet done, or “pay for a dead horse” meaning to pay for something which has been consumed or lost, or “pull the dead horse” meaning to work for wages that have been paid in advance, etc., come from the old maritime custom of giving sailors a note for a month’s pay in advance on signing on for a voyage. This they usually cashed at a sizable discount and had ‘fun’ before sailing. Thus, on sailing, they had 30 days of hard work ahead without pay - “for the dead horse”. Then at the end of the payless month, they would “bury” the effigy of the “dead horse”.

THE SEA HORSE - The first sea horses had a horse’s head, forefeet and barrel, terminating in a fish tail - later the Sea Horse had the head of a horse and the body of a fish. Sea Horses were prevalent in early Irish myths. When a tempest breaks over the sea in Ireland the breakers are said to be the white horse of the Gaelic God of the Sea.

The horse in mythological times naturally would have been associated with the wind because of his swiftness. The wind was deemed the sire of swift horses.

The Arabian horses today are called “Drinkers of the Wind”.

The horse in ancient times was also associated with the sea. In myth, Neptune is supposed to have created the horse in a contest with the other gods for the honor of naming what was to be the city of Athens. However, the olive tree, created by Minerva, won out.

THE NIGHTMARE - The ‘Nightmare’ derives its term from a Saxon demon vampire called Mara or Mare. This vampire rested on the chest of its sleeping victim, partially strangling him and causing fearful visions (hence nightmare). The harnesses of cart horses frequently were ornamented with brass charms to protect them from the witchcraft of ‘Mare’.

THE UNICORN - The Unicorn is a mythological animal with the head, neck and body of a horse, the legs of a stag, the tail of a lion and with a long, twisted horn protruding from its forehead. The Unicorn’s horn was supposed to effect cures. The Unicorn is famous in heraldry as a supporter of the royal arms of Britain.

PEGASUS - Pegasus is a mythological, white, winged horse, gifted with extraordinary speed and immortality. He carried Apollo and the Muses - and some favored and unfortunate mortal heroes - swiftly through the air. He is alleged to have sprung from the goddess Medusa when she was beheaded.

SAGITTARIUS - The constellation Sagittarius (The Archer) is a centaur. Mythology says that this constellation is Chiron, the “Divine Beast,” placed in the sky among the stars after being put to death by Jupiter.

Are you looking for an engaging summer novel to captivate you while lying on the beach? Or are you ready to curl up by the fire for a cozy winter’s evening read? Even if you are just immersed in day-to-day life and seek the refuge of transporting yourself into another world you must pick up one of Mave Binchy’s series of Irish novels.

Mave Binchy is the author of ‘Circle of Friends’. The book was made into a movie starring Minnie Driver and the author has won many of fans by involving them with her tales of Irish citizens and the twists and turns that create fascinating stories out of ordinary lives.

If you relish the emotion and intricacies of relationships and the madness of triumph and tragedies that inflict themselves on everyday lives, you will find yourself captivated as she spins a story of average people of whom you truly feel could be your best friend or neighbor.

Her books have been called “Mesmerizing”, “Remarkably moving” and “Compulsively readable” by reviewers.

In many of her novels, ‘The Glass Lake’, ‘Evening Class’, ‘Copper Beech’ and others, the stories of the lives of the characters emerge and become intertwined. As you become intimately involved with one character you will meet the other individuals in his or her life - at the restaurant, down the street and even during a foreign escapade.

As you travel their lives you will feel you have not only met this individual but understand their longings and place in this world based on your intimate knowledge of their past and their experiences.

When you read another novel, you will again meet these old friends as they are known to the current character. You will have the familiar feeling that you’ve known this town and it’s occupants for years. In fact, you may well wonder if Mave Binchy knows them herself. The stories have such a ring of truth and the mixing of individuals so well thought out you believe she could indefinitely create this town of people with history, lives and futures as if they existed in the real world.

You will not come to the end of a novel with the feeling of regret as we so often do when enjoying an engaging tale because you will actually visit these characters again, at another time in their life. Just as moving away from your hometown can be painful, it is wonderfully reassuring to hear news or make a visit and see how life is progressing for these dear ones.

It is an understatement to say that Mave Binchy weaves a fine yarn - the truth is that when you close the book you will sense you’ve had a long talk over a cup of coffee with an acquaintance and after listening to their life story come away with a new friend. You will become enraptured with the details of their lives and surprised or moved by the trials and tribulations they’ve encountered. They will in fact become a piece of your memory in much the same way as friends from your youth and from far away have become a small piece of you.