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Originally Posted by Duane
I can't think of anything to write about, and I mean nothing. Anything I do write about... is either ignored, or people pretend to to compliment me on my "great" skills, and hand me a cookie...well, they don't.. but, they should. Ugh... please help me, I need something, anything, a sign that'll make me realize what I'm doing wrong... ugh...
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May I suggest joining a critique group? Or starting one if there aren't in your area. I'm not talking about an online group, because I've found out that they'll pat you on the back anyway. Also, even though there's a copyright law, it can't really be proven if someone steals your stuff. I got that information firsthand from an accomplished author who had a few stories stolen that she'd posted online, and couldn't do a thing about it. She now refuses to post anything online, period.
Anyway, I recently joined a critique group in my town, and what a difference it has made. I don't get patted on the back; I get honest critiques and suggestions for how to make my story better. There are some people who go there who don't have any new work to read, but they still go for the inspiration. That might just be what you need to give you the kick in the butt to start writing again.
As for inspiration, have you tried your dreams? I have some really crazy ones that would make crappy stories if I wrote them down as I dreamed them. But if I wrote about one or two elements that stood out in a particular dream and expanded on them, a few of them could make some good stories. Or daydreams: last week I wrote a 7000-word short story on a creepy/romantic daydream I'd been working on for years. I'm in the process of rewriting it so I can start submitting it to magazines.
Or, go to the news, pick something weird, twist the events around and personalize it, and come up with something entirely new.