Getting over Writer's Block

It's not real.

When someone tells me they have Writer’s block, I try to think: When was the last time I had one? And I realize that even though I have been writing professionally for nearly two decades I’ve never had one! And if you read this essay right, you’ll be rid of yours too. Yes, it’s that kind of an essay.

Writer’s block is not real.

That’s a big statement. I’ll explain. We need the help of some pop psychology to get this right. Let’s go!

We’ll use two key ideas to rid our writer’s block.

First is the idea that most people want to “live in the realm of possibilities.” That is, they don’t want to write a book. They want to bask in the feeling of “Oh…I’m writing a book.” This is especially a problem for those who have tasted some success with their first attempt. The thought stems from Adlerian psychology and is explained lucidly in the book Courage to be Disliked by Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi.

Stay with me here. This is important.

The book is an exchange between a young man and a philosopher. The Philosopher introduces the idea of teleology, contrasting it with Freudian etiology. Teleology focuses on goals and future-oriented actions, suggesting that individuals are not bound by their past but can choose their paths by aiming toward future objectives. Etiology, focuses on cause and effect. In other words, “I’m like this because of this thing that happened to me in the past” is etiology.

Adler’s psychology rejects etiology. That is, the past has nothing to do with how you turn out or whether you achieve success or not. This perspective emphasizes the ability of people to change by selecting their lifestyles, highlighting that unhappiness or a lack of progress (such as writer's block) stems from a reluctance to embrace change or fear of failure.

The Philosopher argues that excuses like "not having enough time" or "waiting for the right conditions" are ways to avoid commitment and potential criticism or rejection. Such excuses keep individuals in a safe “realm of possibility” without ever taking real action.

Ergo, the cure for writer's block, is to confront these fears directly by taking action For instance, submitting work for publication or awards, despite the possibility of rejection. Individuals can break free from the constraints of their own making (like writer's block) by choosing to act.

Now, the second idea.

Scott Adams — the creator of Dilbert Comics — is someone who has wished writing block away. Adams, a trained hypnotist, uses a trick called “reframing” to get over it. Reframing is simply the act of shifting your perspective. A reframe doesn’t have to be true. It just has to be done when you hit a wall. Here are a couple of reframes from his book: 

Usual Frame: I can’t think of anything to write. Reframe: I’m in the wrong environment for writing.

Acclaimed author Stephen King talks about the environment too (I’d done a Tweet thread about King’s methods). He talks about the benefits of shutting the door. King uses ‘shutting the door’ as a stand-in for ‘cutting out distractions.’ So many times when you “can’t think of anything to write,” reframe it as “I’m in the wrong environment for writing.” It follows that you change your environment and see how it goes.

Adams continues:

If I were sitting on my couch trying to write this chapter, I would be shooting blanks. My cute dog would be pestering me, my refrigerator would be whistling my name, and I can usually depend on some major electrical, plumbing, or other disaster to pop up when I am within the same zip code as my house. If I were less experienced as a writer, I would be cursing my writer’s block. But it wouldn’t be writer’s block at all. It would be a case of the wrong setting. 

Adams also points out that you could get a lot of writing done in a busy cafe (contrary to what we just talked about). It’s scientifically proven that an environment where you can actively ignore everything around you is great for writing. You can actively ignore random strangers in a cafe even if they’re loud tourists but you can’t do the same to your child showing you his latest “invention” or the fat cat hungry for more food. Get it?

Similarly, he advises that you experiment with timings and find the right time. For me, it’s generally been between 10.30 pm and 1.30 pm after everyone has slept in the house. The idea is to manage your energy and not your time (this is close to Naval’s “work like a lion and not graze like a cow” funda).

Adams has another helpful reframe.

Usual Frame: I have writer’s block. Reframe: I’m trying to write at the wrong time of day. 

Usual Frame: I can’t think of anything good to write. Reframe: I can write something bad and fix it.

So there, I’ve cured you of your writer’s block. Now get over yourself and go write!