As I was filling in my author profile, I was presented with a question I have never before been asked: How do you handle writer's block?

I thought about it, and wondered if I had ever truly experienced writer's block.

So, to be extra sure, I decided to conduct a simple Google search for the definition of writer's block. As a result, I found: "The condition of being unable to think of what to write or how to proceed with writing."

The definition is simple enough.

The real question is: Have I ever really experienced it -- by the strict definition copy-and-pasted above. The answer: Not really.

I've never had a true writer's block. I've had what I might call a writer's hurdle. When that does occur, however, my action is to step back from my writing, for a bit, and do some reading. Sometimes I've read some of my favorite writers, but most times I've searched for "undiscovered" talent -- talent that lives and writes outside of the crowded mainstream. Frankly, using this approach, I've read some unforgettable stories. But, perhaps as important, I've recharged my writer's battery. I've recharged my imagination.

That's when I return as a stronger writer.