In almost every writing session, there comes a moment when I feel hopeless, exhausted, and ravenous all at once. Because of the frequency of these crises, I have almost accepted the reality that they are a normal, even a purposeful part of the process. Normal or not, it can be hard not to get up, or give up, during these difficult times. At its foundation, the act of writing is a spiritual practice, in that it should feed our spirit, and not merely be a means to an end.