I suppose it's something I've always enjoyed doing, even as a child.
At the age of nine, I can remember having a poem published in the Topper comic and winning a small, plastic guitar. It wasn't something I could play so it sat amongst all my other toys in the corner of my bedroom, but it filled me with pride every time I looked at it.
Unfortunately, having a vivid imagination often got me into trouble. I can recall a story I wrote at primary school about my family. I described my father as an intrepid explorer who had canoed along the Amazon, fighting off hungry crocodiles as they swam towards his boat. A few days later my essay was read out in assembly by my headmaster. After he had finished, he looked at me and asked if this was really true. "Yes sir," I replied, at which point, everyone roared with laughter.
In later life, I continued to write poetry and short stories which I wrote for pleasure. I never thought about getting them published.
When my mind goes blank, I go out, either for a walk or a drive. A complete change of scene usually does the trick. I love people-watching and can sit for long periods of time just observing the general public. It's a great source of inspiration.