It’s common for people to quote urban myths, as if they were facts; especially if the myth seems to make sense.
One popular myth, spread by super smart Seth Godin among other highly respected authors, seems to make it’s way into most intelligent discussions about Writer’s Block. It goes like this:
Well, you don’t hear about plumbers getting Plumber’s Block, do you? They just get up every day and do it!
Plumbers DO get Plumber’s Block
Thanks to a recent series of water related challenges, I’ve met with 2 plumbers in the past week. I have always known the Plumber’s Block argument to be bogus, so I took the opportunity to ask both of them, if they ever got Plumber’s Block. I defined Plumber’s Block as a feeling that they simply can not do a plumbing related task, because they don’t know where to start or their brain can’t focus.
Both said YES!
It seems that (at least some) plumbers do occasionally get Plumber’s Block, particularly when faced with a complex, unique plumbing challenge. Both plumbers said they sometimes experienced what people from every profession do, when trying to solve a puzzle (including writers.)
They hit a mental block!
They explained that there are elements of their job, which they can do almost on auto-pilot, because they require zero creativity and they have repeated the exact same task thousands of times. This is the equivalent of a writer, writing their name and address. Writer’s don’t get Writer’s Block when it comes to auto-pilot writing, such as writing their address, just as Plumbers don’t get Plumber’s Block when doing one of their automated processes.
However, both writers and plumbers (and everyone else) occasionally hit a block when working on something unique, which requires creativity.
So, the next time you hear someone quoting the fact that plumbers don’t get Plumber’s Block, explain that everyone occasionally hits a block, when doing something unique or creative. To suggest otherwise might make for a good sound-bite, but it’s based on bullshit.
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Photo: Elsie esq
Some sense at last.
My husband is a plumber and is often driven nuts, designing install plans for home extensions and such.
Every creative task has potential for us to get stuck, or for us to not know where to start, no?
Thanks Jim
I may update the post with your comment, Jackie.
Thanks for sharing!
This nailed it for me:
“However, both writers and plumbers (and everyone else) occasionally hit a block when working on something unique, which requires creativity.”
As a professional writer, when I am blocked from writing I use tried techniques for firing up my creativity, then, I can create and the words start coming.
Thanks for calling bullshit on the patronization of writers.
“As a professional writer, when I am blocked from writing I use tried techniques for firing up my creativity, then, I can create and the words start coming.”
You make 2 excellent points there:
1. Writer’s block is when you are blocked from writing (not when you choose not to.)
2. Writer’s block can be solved every time, by figuring out how to kickstart your creative processes. (For me, it’s walking.)
Thanks Charlie
Jim
Normally I agree with everything you write – but I can’t on this one!
Here’s why: what’s being referred to in this analogy by ‘plumber’s block’ ISN’T the solving of difficult and complex problems that require unique solutions. Instead it’s the day to day ‘doing of the work.’
Here’s the question that you should have asked your plumbers: do they every answer a call from someone with a plumbing problem by saying: Nope, don’t feel like doing any plumbing today, why don’t you call me tomorrow?
THAT would be Plumber’s Block in this analogy. And how successful do you think a Plumbing Business that did this would be?
But with writing, there are gazillions of people around the world not writing TODAY because they don’t feel like it, or they have ‘writer’s block.’
Required reading btw for anyone on this topic is THE WAR OF ART by Steven Pressfield. And Pressfield makes an important distinction – and a great point – when he says that the writers who suffer from Writer’s Block have an amateur mindset. Whilst the professionals do the work anyway. Even if they don’t feel like it. Even if it’s crap.
If you know any journalists, talking to them about writer’s block is an interesting conversation. I’ve read a lot of ‘journalism’ material – partly because their take on writing is interesting and I like different angles, and partly because I’m consulting with a journalist on his blog and a course – and journalists don’t talk about writer’s block. Ever.
They have structures for certain types of story – and even when they don’t feel ‘inspired’ they can still use these structures to produce acceptable drafts. (And there are always the editors above them to help shape the material as well).
So IMO there’s definitively a difference between ‘writer’s block/plumber’s block’ (where you don’t even show up for the work) and getting STUCK (as opposed to using the word blog) because you are working on something complex, new or unique.
Paul
@Paul Wolf: In my opinion, you’re definition is wrong.
Writers block is when are literally, blocked from writing and not when you choose not to.
@Jim Isn’t the comparison of writers to plumbers is also pretty stupid?
Hi Margo. Yes, the comparison is daft.
My late father was in the construction business until the day he died and I spent a lot of time around tradespeople. Once my dad laid out the job, he would be able to lay his bricks whilst having a conversation; little creativity involved as he had laid millions.
Writers can’t do this.
Margo
I have no problems with you disagreeing with me – but let me ask you a question: when a writer is ‘literally’ blocked, what does that mean?
And the comparison of ‘writer’s block’ to ‘plumber’s block’ isn’t intrinsically daft – it’s purposefully done to show that the concept of writer’s block itself is daft.
Seriously if you know any journalists go ask them about writer’s block. If they don’t turn their work in they risk losing their jobs – strangely enough with that incentive they don’t suffer from Writer’s Block.
And before you say ‘hack writing’ – can I point to Shakespeare and Dickens as two ‘hack’ writers who wrote to order and on deadline and didn’t suffer from Writer’s Block either.
Paul – we have some agreement here!
I agree that Writer’s Block is daft, because every profession suffers with it to a degree.
Where I think the strong feelings here arise, is the assumption that you can compare an automated process you CHOOSE not to do, with a creative process you feel BLOCKED from.
Professionals (as Charlie said earlier) use their professional tools to unblock.
It’s why people like me can write several blogs and publish content every day (without blockages!) THAT’S part of what makes us pros, maybe?
Thanks Paul.
Jim
Actually although we disagree – we have some fundamental agreements.
Looking through the comments more fully, the thing that jumps out at me is the concept that ‘professionals’ have tools that they can use to get through whatever barrier is stopping them from creating.
Like you I produce a lot of content every week – around 80 pages plus an hour or so of videos – and I have paying subscribers waiting for the bulk of this content. So it’s a strong incentive to make sure it gets done – even if I feel a bit crappy, or hungover, or even ill (I wrote 15 pages in bed the day I had my vasectomy in September! And yep, that’s probably more info than you needed….)
Paul
You know I respect your opinion, Paul.
I appreciate you taking the devil’s advocate role. It’s safe to do that here. My readers are wonderful and far more inclined to reply with education, than anger.
Jim
What I like is that you’re happy to publish ‘dissenting opinion.’ There are a couple of blogs (one of them a big name too) where I disagreed strongly with what they’d written and commented why I disagreed. I was never abusive or read, just set out my position in the way that I’ve done here.
Neither of those blogs even published those comments.
That was pretty lame. So kudos for being happy to not only publish, but also debate.
Feeling is mutual btw.
Paul
That ALWAYS amazes me; when leading blogs refuse to allow you to question or debate their opinions.
Wow.
Hi Paul,
With respect, I totally disagree.
Writer’s Block is not the inability to physically write or decision to take the day off.
Writer’s Block is the inability to create. It’s that feeling of looking at the blank screen, with nothing in your head. This is why writer’s call it “waiting for the muse.” Not “waiting for the muscles in my hands to work.”
On a day where a writer has Writer’s Block, they can still, physically write; grab a keyboard and type out something generic or automated; like their favourite poem.
What they lack is creativity; hence the muse.
BLOCKED / STUCK:
You have simply changed the language, saying that when a plumber gets it, she is STUCK, when a writer gets it, he is BLOCKED. That sticking point hits the plumber, because she is BLOCKED from thinking of what to do next – The same as the writer.
Thanks for the feedback, but on this one I think we shall have to agree, to disagree.
Jim
Healthy (i.e. respectful!) disagreement is good for people. We can’t all be right all of the time.
I highly recommend you read THE WAR OF ART if you haven’t – if you email or DM me your address I’ll even buy you a copy and have it shipped from Amazon! – he is far more eloquent than I on the subject.
I’m quite happy to agree to disagree with you on this. However I would recommend you take me up on my book offer above….THE WAR OF ART may change your mind. (it’s one of only two books that I have physical, digital and audio versions of. It’s that good.)
Hi Paul. Ahhh The Resistance!
I bought The War of Art years ago, after hearing Seth keep on pushing it. Sadly, I found it to be extremely lightweight and full of pop psychology. One for the Tony Robbins crowd, I believe.
Jim
That is ‘sad’ as I believe it’s as far from the ‘Tony Robbins Crowd’ as you can get. Again, I come back to the difference between the Professional Mindset and the amateur mindset.
As you’ve already read War of Art then we will have to agree to disagree – though I’m happy to continue debating the issue as I think it’s mentally healthy to be forced to consider another position and either reevaluate your own position or reaffirm it from a position of renewed examination.
Paul
Yep Paul. It’s always good to see both sides.
Now James, don’t you know if you say anything negative about Seth Godin, you will get the fanboi backlash.
Seriously though honey, this is a wonderful example of the proliferation of bullshit, through lack of examination.
Keep ‘figntin the good fight.
Jill
Ahhh. You called me James
Jim,
As you know I respect and have followed your missives for some time. They stimulate and inform and as with any opinion we sometimes have common ground and disagreement. I found agreement with both yours and Pauls side of this one. The part that concerned me a little was the necessity to compartmentalize and stereotype with a couple of asides to make a point in your comments.
In my view mindsets are neither professional or amateur they are simply mindsets. Tony Robbins crowd? – that one was a bit dismissive and to use another stereotype (that I belong to) very British. As someone who peddles pop psychology on his blog (primarily because of the limited capacity of my noggin to understand and script the complexities of our existence) I admire the reach and interaction you get with comments on your blog. So I may in fact be part of the Tony Robbins crowd and just be in denial. With that said – I’m not an elephant “I’m a man”. So doctor don’t dismiss me -please.
Thanks for the feeedback, Dan. Out of respect, I will resist saying that’s the kind of response I would expect from The Tony Robbins Crowd. (Just kidding!)
I’m glad you find Mr Robbin’s work useful. Long may that continue, sir.
I love this Jim … as we have a special affinity for plumbers!
Personally, I think there’s too much thought here. For me “writer’s block” is real, I guess. I just say that I’m not a prolific writer so I may struggle more than the average plumber! 
But I get the job done when needed. I don’t make a living as a writer (though it was always a dream); however, I really think it’s a discipline, practice thing. Just my two cents!
Have a fantastic day!!
Much kindness,
Elena
My experience, Elena is close to your suggestion; that it’s largely a case of practice and persistence.
It also helps, if you give yourself permission NOT to be perfect. The perfection mindset is not an asset for a writer.
Thanks for the comment.
[...] it turns out that every now and then, when faced with something that requires creative thinking, plumbers get blocked too. Just like writers, programmers, and musicians. I bet it also happens to carpenters, architects, [...]