As a working woman, mother, and wife, my stories would be riddled with common place tales. That would be about as appealing as burnt toast! However, when I write about the unknown, suddenly the toast becomes a succulent breakfast.

Writing about a sunset, pink and purple glazing the horizon at the edge of the woods might grab a moments attention. If I contnued the description to include the fact I saw this sunset out my window as I washed the dinner dishes, children serenading me with their fighting, the ball game on the tube, with hubby shouting at the ump for a bad call...would kill the romance of the sunset.

I, personally, write romantic fiction to escape the real everyday world in which I reside. More specifically, historical romance. It takes me to another place in time, far from the normalcy of children, husband, and cleaning.

I have traveled all over the United States, as my father was a truck driver. I remember sitting in the passenger seat, my eyes taking in all the wondrous things that lay over each and every hill. My mind wandered, seeking to find what my eyes didn't see. I wondered about the people that lived in the small houses, all lined with picket fences. I imagined the elderly couples rocking in their rockers on the perfect little porches on Sunday afternoons.

I wondered about the lives they lived. What wondrous things they must have seen. What did they do when they were my age? My mind traveled to distand places, and contemplated diverse things.

What did other children do? Did they play the same games I played? And now...I dream of medieval times, of men riding black war stallions, in shining armor. And just how in the world did they manage to stay atop the large beasts?

Reading books, any kind, have always sparked my imagination. For those blessed moments, I escaped my own world, and became a new person in a glorious new place in time.

I wonder about other writers. Have they always written about things they knew? What about mysteries, fantasies, and paranormal novels? And lets not forget about horror stories. Are those writers writing what they know? Are they fairies by day and homicidal maniacs at night?

Those writers were writing about things that sparked their imaginations. Imagine yourself fulfiling your dreams. Write where your imagination and curiosity take you. Go to places you don't know. Read, research and learn about facinating lands, people, and cultures.

Albert Einstein said it best..."Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."

Imagination and knowledge. Sounds like a good combination.

Suffering from writer's block? Some believe this is only in the mind of the writer, that a block doesn't actually occur.

However, if you are that writer, and you just can't seem to get the words to flow, try this.

Stir up your schedule. If you normally write at 6am, try writing at 6pm.

If you write when it's completely quiet, try writing to the sound of soft music playing.

If you write with an outline, try ditching it, and just write. No back tracking, no editing. Allow yourself to write whatever comes to mind. It can be edited later when your creativity is back to its normal level.