PBNN Series: E13569 – WRITERS BLOCK
April 14, 2025
In this episode, Steve Harper and Michelle Cutler, a screenwriter and storytelling coach, unpack the causes of writer’s block—and why it’s rarely about laziness. They explore how perfectionism, early criticism, and fear of failure can interrupt the writing process long before a single word hits the page. Cutler offers practical, compassionate tools for getting unstuck, emphasizing that writer’s block often signals a deeper disconnection—from self, from story, or from purpose. Together, they discuss the role of deadlines, the temptation to multitask, and why understanding the narrative you’re trying to tell—whether for a brand or a memoir—is more powerful than relying on AI to fill in the blanks.
Rethinking Writer’s Block (and How to Beat It)
We’ve all been there: a report due, a detailed email to send, a resume to update—and your brain freezes. You know what you want to say, but you can’t get it out. Call it writer’s block, call it procrastination; either way, it’s a momentum problem, not a talent problem.
Here’s a kinder, more practical way to see it—and a toolkit to get moving.
Why we freeze (it’s not just “laziness”)
- Old red ink echoes. A teacher’s “Not good enough” or a parent’s high bar can still live in your head. That fear of not measuring up often stalls the start.
- School shaped us to stop. Bell rings just as a kid’s curiosity peaks. Years of timed subjects taught us to interrupt natural problem-solving. No wonder big thinking can feel wrong without a deadline.
- Perfection sneaks in. When something feels too easy, we distrust it. We invent friction so we’ll “earn” the result—hello, self-sabotage.
The mindset reframe
- Rename the start. Don’t write a first draft. Write a zero draft—by definition worthless, pressure-free, and purely for finding the idea.
- Prioritize in this order:
- What you mean (story/intent)
- How you say it (structure/voice)
- How it looks (grammar/polish)
Pretty comes last.
Four fast ways to unstick yourself
- Set a tiny timer (10–20 minutes).
Sprint on one mini-outcome: a list of beats, three CTAs, a single scene. When the buzzer hits, stop. You’ve made a mark. Momentum follows. - Talk, don’t type.
Voice-record a messy explanation while you walk. Transcribe it. Now you’re editing yourself instead of inventing from zero. - Email it to yourself first.
Draft the message as if you’re sending it, but send it to you. Read it on your phone. Sentence-level issues pop; intent clarifies. - Organize before you emote.
Make labeled folders (quotes, research, scenes, examples). When flow hits, you won’t stall hunting for that one stat/line/photo.
Tactics for deadlines you set (and break)
- Choose one, the easiest one. Start with the piece you can already “see.” Finishing one unlocks the rest.
- Box the effort, not the outcome. “20 minutes on Spot #1” beats “Finish all five scripts.”
- Return pass: After your sprint, step away. Come back and mine the draft for one true sentence. Build everything around that.
A gentle note on AI
Use it like a good assistant—not a ghostwriter.
Helpful for: transcription, sorting, checklists, grammar nudges.
Risky for: generating original copy that needs brand voice, accuracy, or emotional truth. It’s a slippery slope: the more you paste, the less you think—and readers can tell.
Prompts to jumpstart a zero draft
- “If I only had three sentences, what must I say?”
- “Before working with us, you were here → during, this happened → now, you’re here.”
- “What decision do I want the reader to make next—and what proof helps them do it?”
A quick rescue plan (save this)
- Set a 12-minute timer.
- Speak the idea into your phone.
- Transcribe.
- Highlight the sentence that feels truest.
- Polish only that sentence.
- Expand with 2–3 supporting lines.
- Proof on your phone and send (or schedule a revisit).
Twelve minutes can change your day—ask any CrossFit clock. You can do a surprising amount of work in a small, focused window.
Writer’s block isn’t a verdict; it’s a signal. Lower the bar to start, raise the bar to finish, and give yourself structures that respect how thinking actually works.
If you want help getting unstuck on a resume, script, email sequence, or a book you’ve half-started twelve times, I offer short, high-impact coaching sessions (and friendly deadlines). Start here: michellecutler.com.
