It was a struggle this morning, so I did what I always do in these circumstances, I read a few of Joe Saki’s reviews from Scale Models, until I found some words and a rhythm that I could use for my own article.
3rd April 2025
When I woke up this morning I planned a day of book design and model making. As it turned out, I focused on the first and completely ignored the second, which came as something of a surprise given my desire to carry on with the Airfix Jaguar, that I started yesterday!
So I started to do some more work on my Skyhawk book, editing images and then laying out pages to give me some idea of how each would look, initially without text and then, with some adjustment, once my text was added. And that’s where things ground, initially, to a halt…
Writer’s block is a far from infrequent part of my working life. Despite writing thousands of words each month, many of those on here, I can often find myself looking for an opening to a new feature, that initial sentence, or paragraph, that will take me onto the remaining words I need to find for a completed article.
It was a struggle this morning, so I did what I always do in these circumstances, I read a few of Joe Saki’s reviews from Scale Models, until I found some words and a rhythm that I could use for my own article.
This is nothing new for me. Joe has been a constant companion for more than four decades. Indeed, his reviews in the January 1984 issue of Scale Models are Ground Zero in my career. I knew I wanted to build models before that point, but after reading his reviews of the Monogram F/A-18, F-105 and F-106 in that issue, I knew I wanted to write about them as well.
Over the years I’ve developed a writing style that is all mine, but it is very much inspired by the eloquence and I hope detail, that Joe was known for back in the 80s. A talented modelmaker, he was a genius writer, so much so I could tell it was his work without ever seeing his name at the end of a feature.
So today was a successful one, if only because I have managed to write most of the chapter on my new Magic Factory Skyhawk build which pushes my book a little closer to the finish line! Who knows what the morning will bring, but one thing’s for sure, if I have writer’s block once more I’ll know where to go and who to turn to.
See you tomorrow.
SPENCER POLLARD'S KIT BOX 
I know this may not be popular, but when I get a block like that, I turn to a GPT or other AI tool to give me the first few lines or parapgraph. Usually, as I edit and reword what “it” wrote, that gets the juices flowing and then we are off to the races.
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Writer’s block stinks.
After being in a funk about the book I’m writing (about my adventures in Japan for the past 30 years), earlier this week I finally broke through the fog to pen an introduction chapter. My current mentor had some suggestions about how I could make this happen but it took a little over a month to actually have the words come out right. Now things seem easier as I enhance the other chapters and get the thing to press.
It’s always gratifying to see someone with the same block overcome it. Congrats!
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I don’t think Joe Saki has ever – or will ever- be surpassed.
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what happened to the music of the day segment?
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i too get the dreaded writers block on occasion. It made High School and College a struggle at times. College can be tough without the block and downright scarry when the term paper is due. I found writing down points as I went thru the course I thought to be the main points I could use for the paper as the course progressed a help. I believe that as your considering a publication to write that might be if some help. Take the points of the chapters to make the introduction. Unless your writing a novel that may be the way to go. Granted I’ve never published anything, I enjoy reading as well as detailed model making, competing in model contests in IPMS sanctioned events, even the US Nationals.
I’m a new viewer of your web site and recognize some of your work and can’t place where I’ve seen it in publication. I enjoy seeing your projects and always look for inspiration for a project anywhere I can. Thank You for sharing your abilities and fantastic models and dioramas.
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