Dirty the paper
It's possible you haven't heard of the American comedian Fred Allen. He had a motto when it came to comedy writing:
"Dirty the paper."
This meant write something - anything! - to jump start the creative process and get over the intimidation of the blank page.
As the old-skool comedy writing duo Frank Muir and Denis Norden, who took the maxim to heart, explained,
"Once you've dirtied it - you're in charge."
It is wise advice, as pertinent now as 75 years ago.
Sometimes what we fear is writer's block is better described as a particularly tricksy, self-sabotaging form...
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