This Doctor Can't Cure Writer's Block

So here I am, a month after I sealed the deal and walked across the stage at graduation. I'm a doctor now. My dissertation is complete, school is out, and I have time to write. Only problem is, I can't. Ideas are floating around, I'm surrounded by inspiration, and I can't seem to get anything started. Am I all dried up? Did three years of doctoral work suck the creativity right out of my body? Have I imprisoned myself in a cell of academic writing? I have to admit, I'm afraid this may be the case.

After weeks of consideration and wishing the school year away, a writing friend of mine finally organized a group of us into a writing circle. No lesson plans, no papers to grade, just a bunch of aspiring writers and our summer break (we all happen to be teachers too). I'm excited, inspired... but intimidated. Now that I have the time and the place, and a group of supportive people to journey with, there are no more excuses. Every good writer says, if you're going to be a writer you have to write everyday. So I figured at least if I'm writing about writing, I'm still writing!

As the stress of graduate school melts away and becomes a shrinking image in the rear view mirror, I hope the road signs ahead point me in the right direction. I expects bumps in the road, and wrong turns, but I can tell you this: I'm getting in, buckling up, and mowing down the barricades... and I plan to enjoy the ride.