Writer's block is a myth - Part 2
How to overcome the "block"
Hi! Welcome to Part 2 of “Writer’s Block is a Myth” where I decode some mindsets and thought patterns that stop us from creating/writing. Most of these stem from my own experiences with writing and creativity, while others I have borrowed from my mentors. This is a 4-part series. Hope it proves useful to you!
Overcoming the Block:
Start small, show up daily: My life changed when I read The Artist Way in 2022. I had just left my job and was travelling on my motorbike with a few books. Luckily, I read this book at the exact time I needed it the most. An exercise in the book that I swear by—and use in all my writing workshops—is Morning Pages.
Morning Pages are three pages of longhand, stream-of-consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning. In simple words, it’s writing using pen and paper without taking any breaks. Instead of Julia Cameron’s rule of writing for 3 pages, I often take the liberty to write for 10 minutes. Morning Pages, simply put, are like a warm-up before the gym. They help dump all thoughts and feelings on paper in the morning, allowing the brain to refresh and spark creativity. I have ended up feeling fresher than before—and sometimes even a bit worse.
Regardless, the exercise is powerful if done every day, even if just for 5–10 minutes. On days when I am not able to write anything substantial, showing up for Morning Pages makes me at least believe that I did write something.
I share most of my work online, and it is not always easy to think of meaningful captions and interesting insights. In such cases, I write smaller, capsule-sized pieces, perhaps coupled with a series of photographs or a reel.
Word count has nothing to do with the quality of your work. Brevity definitely does.
Rituals matter: I started reading and studying famous authors’ routines last year. A book I read listed out rituals practiced by renowned creative people, and it was interesting to note how none of them simply got out of bed and started to create; they had unique rituals they followed.
Personally, I like to wake up, sit in the sun for some time, drink a lot of water, have my smoothie, prepare my coffee, and then sit to write my Morning Pages. Doing this makes me feel like I have had an accomplished morning. I start with a good pace if I follow this ritual before I actually sit down to work and create.
The one problem with rituals is that, while they allow you to arrive prepared and grounded to your work, if you’re unable to practice your ritual, you can end up feeling quite irritated and groggy! I especially do. On days when my mornings are robbed from me, I find myself cranky and irritated.
Have a ritual, but on days when you’re not able to practice it, try your best to write anyway!
Detachment from results: It’s easy to talk about detaching from outcomes when you’ve been writing or creating for a long time, but in reality, it’s incredibly hard not to get attached to the results of your work. I have been writing online for so long, and still, when I finally push the send or upload button, I secretly wish to open the app and find my account blown up with engagement. It hardly ever happens.
It is on these days that I remind myself to look within and ask, “Why am I doing this in the first place?” “Would I still do it if I knew I would never meet society’s definition of success?”
Most of the time, the answer is a resounding yes. While, as a writer, I crave validation and acknowledgement, I cannot fully depend on external outcomes to guide my work and voice.
My best pieces often surprise me with less engagement than average, while the pieces I write in a hurry or without much thought sometimes get great engagement. Does that mean I should not create more pieces that make me proud of my work? Absolutely not!
Thank you for reading the second part. The next 2 parts talk about:
On Resistance (the real enemy):
Resistance is internal
It’s universal
Resistance feeds on fear
On the Creative Journey:
Fear is a compass
Resistance never goes away
Creative Writing Laboratory Workshops
On Sunday, 2nd Feb, at 1:00 PM IST, I am hosting a 90-minute workshop on Zine Making and Creative Writing.
Zines are an accessible and impactful medium for self-expression. Often crafted from just a single sheet of paper, these small, self-published mini magazines combine words and visuals to share ideas, stories, and perspectives.
In this workshop, we’ll explore the art of zine-making and creative writing as tools for creativity and personal expression. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or a beginner, join us to create your own unique zine and discover the power of storytelling through this DIY medium.
If this interests you, consider joining the facilitated space by Creative Writing Laboratory - Zine Making and Creative Writing.
Other workshops for February:
Newsletter Writing 101
Writing + Reading Space
I am excited to see a few of you tomorrow!
PS: I have priced the call at 200. For any reason, if you’re unable to afford it, please write back to me and I will share the link with you for free no questions asked :)
Email: rishabhkhanejawrites@gmail.com
I invite you to reflect and write on the following prompt:
Write a letter to your creative block as if it were a person.
Tell it how you feel, what you’ve learned from it, and what you plan to do moving forward.
As a feature of all my newsletters, I share one song, one book, one plant-based meal, one film/video that inspired me, and some photographic updates from my life.
Book/Newsletter: I am juggling between two books - Atomic Habits and IbnBattuti. I have been reading very slowly these days but I am also mindful of the fact that I should be reading every day. The goal for the year is to read a lot more fiction.
Meal: If there is one thing that I used to miss in the mountains, it was street food like chaat, pain puri etc. Glad that Bir now has its own “Chatori Tapri” to fulfill all my chaat cravings!
Film/Video: George RR Martin asks Stephen King: "How do you write so Fast?!"
Photograph(s):
The million colours of Sunset Read my other newsletters :
The story of moving to the mountains
Compilation of all recommendations :
Video recommendations by Creative Writing Laboratory
Music recommendations by Creative Writing Laboratory
Books read by Creative Writing LaboratoryFree Journaling eBook:
Last year, I compiled a journaling ebook for myself for times when I feel I have nothing to write. I am offering it to you for free. Whether you’re starting your journaling journey or feeling stuck in a creative block, this guide will help you find your way.
Download your journaling eBook here.Thank you for reading my work
Rishabh Khaneja
Creative Writing LaboratoryInstagram | Substack | LinkedIn | Creative writing workshops
