Read Stephen King's book 'On Writing'
He doesn't pull any punches about how hard it is to be a writer - most writers hate it.
Routine is the answer - it's a job just like any other and you have to get the habit of doing it. Try setting aside an hour every day - this has two benefits, firstly you make time to write and secondly you give yourself permission to write which friends and family respect. During that hour shut yourself in a room without distractions - no internet, no mobile phone, no television and so on. Sit with pen and paper or PC - whichever works best for you but I would recommend pen and paper. You *must* sit for one hour and during that time if you can't think of anything to write then you just sit there - I guarantee that after about ten minutes you become so bored that you write something to entertain yourself. You finish when you reach 1,000 words - if that ends up being less than one hour, great.
The point is that the 1k you write is not supposed to be good quality - it's just turning your head out onto the page. Put it away once finished and don't return to it for at least six weeks. Then in six weeks time read it and hopefully there will be something there worth using - even if it's only a vague idea you had or a sentence or two that are good.

You should aim at churning at least 5k of words every week, ideally 10k.

That's how writers work - the hint is in the name.

Good luck!
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Mon 28 Jun 2010, 11:50, Reply)