From the Editor; June/July 2008; Scientific American Mind; by Mariette DiChristina; 1 Page(s)

Writer¿s block is not an affliction that I have ever suffered. So I was a little surprised at myself when I put off writing this column several times. I mulled a few options, but nothing seemed good enough to merit typing. Then it hit me: I was letting my unacknowledged fears and negativity squash my thinking. Why? Because the topic was how to tap the sources of inspiration itself¿the subject of our cover story, ¿Let Your Creativity Soar.¿

My self-editing mistake was just one way we block our inner muse. But as you¿ll learn from our creativity experts¿psychologist and contributing editor Robert Epstein, psychologist John Houtz, and poet, playwright and filmmaker Julia Cameron--everyone can cultivate new ideas, using a variety of techniques. Turn to page 24 to get their time-tested tips from our panel discussion.