I think perhaps I am a mental patient. Amateur analysis welcomed.

I had that for two years! I kept falling asleep or being overwhelmed by sleepiness!

It eventually just passed.

At some point in there, I set a word count goal per day. Then it didn't matter if I got the word count in three-sentence chunks or one blazing hour. At some point or other, I realized I just wasn't falling asleep anymore.

I believe it's called lethargy. It's normal.

It could be a subconscious reaction from previous efforts to force yourself to produce when the muse is not willing. I have, on occasion, experienced something similar to this, but not as strongly as you seem to be encountering.

Try this: away from your work station, either write the first few paragraphs of the new work or jot down some notes that would apply, and then sit down to transcribe them at your keyboard.

Stress will produce that sudden "no gas in the tank" feeling. It's an old malady. Seen it, had it, got the t-shirt. Not suggesting that's your issue, Maryn. Just tossing in mis dos centavos.

I get it while writing, too. I always thought it was because my brain was working so hard.

In my day job when I'm not writing I treat sleep disorders. Many believe that they get enough sleep when in fact most of us are sleep deprived. I'm not discounting the psychological deterrent to writing you mention....but don't underestimate sleep debt. Many of us don't need more coffee but more sleep. If napping isn’t an option but cranking out the words is, try: fresh air, stimulating music, new chair (or work space).

After all sleep hygiene needs have been addressed another tack may be do journal your fears about the blank page. I’m new to this site (signed up today) and I’m guessing writer’s block has it’s own thread here somewhere.

Sleep is a function of two forces….decreased wakefulness and increased sleepiness. The juices that keep you alert during the day (serotonin) are perhaps being overtaken by the brain chemicals that make us groggy (melatonin). Bright lights stimulate serotonin so an indoor sunlight may get you so jazzed you’ll crank out tons of great prose.

After reading about your quandary I now may suggest to my insomniac patients to take up writing as a sleep inducer!

Good luck!

Dogs, when nervous or anxious start yawning. I believe it's called "displacement" perhaps you are taking it one step further? I'm only sort of kidding - but perhaps you get anxious about writing, and your body's way of dealing with it is to just shut down?

Another thought is that we naturally have highs and lows of alertness thru out the day. I am programmed to have a nap at around 1 pm. It doesn't matter where I am, I am so tired I can hardly move at that time. However if I force myself, I can move beyond it and feel fine about 1/2 an hour later. Perhaps you are trying to work during your daily "low" time. Maybe if you start sooner/later you can avoid it.

I hope you can figure it out - it must be so disheartening.

Perks, you are clearly mad. The only solution is to send me a hundred pounds for an over-the-phone therapy session, consisting of me telling you how many more sessions you will need.

A hundred pounds IS real money! How dare you! Don't even try to pass those fancy-schmancy American dollar monopoly money notes on me, pal!

And no paypal, but $100 worth of chocolate is A-okay. First class post, thanks.

Oh, and I don't want American chocolate, either. That's rubbish. It's Belgian or nowt, and you'll just have to stay a mental case.

What's that? The phone? Oh, it's the pot. He says I'm a kettle, and he's calling me black.