The Valley of Writer's Block

           There I sat for the 8th consecutive day, computer on lap, putting all of the cognitive power I could muster into a blog post. Sitting there, staring at a blank page, wishing all the thoughts bouncing around in my head would bleed through my fingers, onto the keyboard and into the ever-expanding realm which is the internet. As my eyes became bleary and my slightly frizzy hair held up by a hair-tie and pencil began to descend, framing my face, my words still could not escape my mind. The page was supposed to be filled with brilliant insights, deep thoughts, and well-formed opinions. Instead it felt as blank as the stare I had upon receiving a calculus test on infinite series and sequences. 
           It was then I realized I had fallen into the Valley of Writer's Block. A place that exists only in my imagination, but can be stumbled into quite easily. Who knows why it happens, or why it happens when it does, but I recently have been found at the bottom, searching for coherent thoughts and  eloquently linked words, but finding none. "The Pit of Writer's Block" may be a more appropriate name for this place of mental frustration. Either way, there's only one way out.
           To escape this valley, this state of mind, all one must do is write. Begin the slow crawl upwards, out of the valley by composing some piece of writing. It's fairly likely that this first attempt will be terrible. In all honesty, it'll probably be absolute rubbish. But it's a first step. You've now got a solid foothold and can begin to haul yourself out of the valley and onto bigger, better, and more thought-provoking compositions. The thoughts that make you think "I should write that down! That was golden!" will return-- slowly but surely. And the drafts you composed on the way out can always be revised and made shine like a diamond in the rough. 
           Here's hoping that I've safely broken free and will not be returning to said valley anytime soon. Here's hoping that when I do return, say when there's another 10-page paper to be written, that it'll be easier to get out due to experience. Here's hoping that those who may be stuck in the Valley of Writer's Block currently find the will power to keep writing and get out.