Is Writer’s Block Real?
Posted on: Apr 03, 2025
“There’s no writer’s block. There’s lazy, there’s scared, but there’s no writer’s block. Just sit down and realize you’re mediocre and you’re going to have to put a lot of effort into this to make it good. That’s what writing is.” — Jerry Seinfeld
When I saw this clip from a recent Seinfeld interview, I, like many of you, felt personally attacked. “Of course, there’s writer’s block,” I thought. Writer’s block has been the subject of hundreds of articles, books, seminars and Zoom discussions. However, after dissecting and sitting with this idea for a while, I realized there might be more truth in what he said than I initially thought. Apparently, Seinfeld knows a lot more than just his common utterances like, “What’s the deal with peanuts?” But seriously, what is the deal with peanuts?
Is Wrtier’s Block Real?
After looking into the subject and spending way too much time thinking about it over sad diner coffee, I’ve come to this conclusion: Writer’s block is like Santa Claus — it only exists if you believe it does.
Think about it this way: the idea of writer’s block hasn’t always existed. If that’s true, does it make it a hard fact of life—like how humans need water to survive or how your best friend will always tell you about their dreams, even when you never, ever ask?
The concept of writer’s block is relatively new. It’s not like when the Founding Fathers were drafting the Declaration of Independence they were saying, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are… are… oh boy, I’m stuck. I have writer’s block. I think I need to go to the gym and clear my head. Someone hold my wig.”
The term “writer’s block” was first coined in 1947 by Dr. Edmund Bergler — a well-known psychiatrist — right around the time psychiatry was exploding in post-World War II America. It’s interesting that as soon as this term was introduced, writers all over the country started identifying with it and clinging to it as a natural part of the creative process.
The next logical question is: If writer’s block hasn’t always been considered part of the human condition, is it genetic? A simple Google search shows that it’s not. However, some people might have a cognitive predisposition to traits that could contribute to writer’s block, like perfectionism or self-criticism. Wikipedia even refers to writer’s block as a “non-medical condition.” If it’s not genetic and it’s a fairly new idea…did we just make the whole thing up?
The War of Art
My journey to unraveling the mystery of writer’s block started five years ago after I read Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles. It’s a must-read for anyone attempting a life in the arts. Pressfield examines writer’s block from a much more spiritual and metaphysical angle, referring to it not as a block, but as resistance.
Resistance is your mind and body’s way of avoiding a creative task. It explains why we often do literally anything else instead. Ever notice that when you have a creative deadline, you suddenly have the urgent need to deep-clean your apartment? Or how you convince yourself that before writing your dream screenplay you need to attend a seminar, read a dozen books and maybe hire a coach?
I could go even deeper into why our brains and bodies sabotage us, but let’s keep it simple: These delay tactics are actually a form of self-sabotage. Our brains are wired to keep us safe and stuck in familiar patterns — even if those patterns aren’t in our best interest.
This is where resistance kicks in. And while that might sound discouraging, I believe it’s way better than labeling it as “writer’s block.” Why? Because understanding resistance allows you to see your avoidance for what it really is: a choice. Once you recognize that, you can change it. Which brings us back to Jerry Seinfeld.
Now What?
A key part of Seinfeld’s quote is acknowledging that fear is at the core of the writing process. Underneath writer’s block—resistance, procrastination, whatever you want to call it—there’s usually fear. Fear of failure. And, even more likely, fear of success.
Recognizing that fear is behind your avoidance is the first step. The second step? Just write.
I know that’s not the magical answer you were hoping for, but it’s the truth. To overcome writer’s block, you need to—well—write. Start small. Set a timer for a few minutes, eliminate distractions, and write without judgment or expectations.Chances are, you’ll surprise yourself with a truth no one talks about enough: Writing is fun.
Once you cultivate excitement and joy in your writing, those feelings will multiply. Resistance is a natural part of the process—but you hold the keys to overcoming it. All you have to do is start.
Brendan Fitzgibbons is a comedy writer and actor living in Los Angeles. He’s written for Comedy Central, The Onion, NBC, HuffPost and Bravo. As an actor, he’s appeared on Comedy Central, MTV and Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. His podcast, Spiritual As****e was named a Top Indie Podcast by Stitcher.
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