--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't like the expression \"writer's…" description: "\"I don't like the expression \"writer's block\" because I think it presupposes that you have a problem with your plumbing. I really think it's the other w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9c/etgar-keret-2656_block_i-don-t-like-the-expression-writer-s-blo_1407018.png" --- # I don't like the expression "writer's block" because I… ![“I don't like the expression "writer's block" because I think it presupposes that you have a problem with your plumbing. I really think it's the other way around.” quote by Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9c/etgar-keret-2656_block_i-don-t-like-the-expression-writer-s-blo_1407018.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9c/etgar-keret-2656_block_i-don-t-like-the-expression-writer-s-blo_1407018.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9c/etgar-keret-2656_block_i-don-t-like-the-expression-writer-s-blo_1407018.png) > “I don't like the expression "writer's block" because I think it presupposes that you have a problem with your plumbing. I really think it's the other way around.” [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The term “writer’s block” misleads by implying a mechanical failure rather than a creative challenge. **In simple terms:** Writers face mental hurdles, not plumbing issues. Key Takeaway Reframe obstacles as mental, not physical. Themes creativity language self‑perception Mood reflective humorous Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - writing sessions - creative workshops - self‑reflection - overcoming self‑doubt Key Concepts psychology metaphor Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape your view of creative difficulty? - What mental blocks do you experience? A Different Perspective The metaphor may oversimplify complex creative processes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/block/) [Block Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/block-think-1927548/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Plumbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plumbing/) [Plumbing Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plumbing-really-4947790/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problem Plumbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-plumbing-4947789/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writer 's block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer-s-block/) [Writer Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer-block-294204/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I’ve never had a writer’s block, but still I think: Is it going to happen this time? You never know what you’re going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-ve-never-had-a-writer-s-block-but-still-i-think-is-it-going-to/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I don't believe in writer's block. Think about it - when you were blocked in college and had to write a paper, didn't it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-don-t-believe-in-writer-s-block-think-about-it-when-you-were/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [I think living in Israel and wanting to change reality is the best prescription for never-ending writer's block.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/i-think-living-in-israel-and-wanting-to-change-reality-is-the-best/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [I've experienced writer's block, but never for more than a few days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-jon-williams/i-ve-experienced-writer-s-block-but-never-for-more-than-a-few-days/) [Walter Jon Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-jon-williams/) > [With two books a year, I don't have time for writer's block.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rollins/with-two-books-a-year-i-don-t-have-time-for-writer-s-block/) [James Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rollins/) > [If I've got Writer's Block it generally means that I don't have that much to say or something's not quite connecting. I have had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-goulding/if-i-ve-got-writer-s-block-it-generally-means-that-i-don-t-have-that/) [Ellie Goulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-goulding/) > [My prescription for writer's block is to face the fact that there is no such thing… Writing well is difficult, but one can always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mallon/my-prescription-for-writer-s-block-is-to-face-the-fact-that-there-is/) [Thomas Mallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mallon/) > [Writer's block.. when one curses the blinking cursor on the blank page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-brett/writer-s-block-when-one-curses-the-blinking-cursor-on-the-blank-page/) [Regina Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-brett/) > [Cure for writer's block: blow something up(in the story)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/cure-for-writer-s-block-blow-something-up-in-the-story/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [I don't think that writer's block exists really. I think that when you're trying to do something prematurely, it just won't come. Certain subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/i-don-t-think-that-writer-s-block-exists-really-i-think-that-when-you/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [I don't believe in writer's block, writing well is very easy; it's writing horribly, the horrible work necessary to do to get to writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-young/i-don-t-believe-in-writer-s-block-writing-well-is-very-easy-it-s/) [Dean Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-young/) > [I've never really suffered complete and utter writer's block, really. I equate it with sex: in the beginning of my career, I was writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/i-ve-never-really-suffered-complete-and-utter-writer-s-block-really-i/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [Maybe one of the reasons that I don't ever experience myself as having writer's block is I don't feel that I need to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-barton/maybe-one-of-the-reasons-that-i-don-t-ever-experience-myself-as/) [Emily Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-barton/) > [I think writer's block is simply the dread that you are going to write something horrible. But as a writer, I believe that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-blount-jr/i-think-writer-s-block-is-simply-the-dread-that-you-are-going-to/) [Roy Blount, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-blount-jr/) > [Writer's block? I've never heard of a plumber complain about plumber's block.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/writer-s-block-i-ve-never-heard-of-a-plumber-complain-about-plumber-s/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) ## More by Etgar Keret > [“There should be an age limit for patients, he thinks as he takes off his shoes. You just have to say to them, "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/there-should-be-an-age-limit-for-patients-he-thinks-as-he-takes-off/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [I usually start writing stories from tone and not from content - kind of like people who create music and invent the lyrics later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/i-usually-start-writing-stories-from-tone-and-not-from-content-kind/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [Rabbits are played. Nowadays it's all about the turtles. Tell them it's a ninja, they'll freak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/rabbits-are-played-nowadays-it-s-all-about-the-turtles-tell-them-it-s/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [“She said I should pick the hall and the date and whatever I want, because it really doesn’t matter to her. That isn’t the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/she-said-i-should-pick-the-hall-and-the-date-and-whatever-i-want/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [I like smoking pot, but I'm not the kind of guy who smokes every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/i-like-smoking-pot-but-i-m-not-the-kind-of-guy-who-smokes-every-day/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [Often in writing programs, articulation and clarity are more important than what you actually say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/often-in-writing-programs-articulation-and-clarity-are-more-important/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [I write in a slangy colloquial speech that has not been common in the Israeli tradition of writing, and that is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/i-write-in-a-slangy-colloquial-speech-that-has-not-been-common-in-the/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [I write what needs to be written the way that seems genuinely right. If what comes out of it are stories, then it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/i-write-what-needs-to-be-written-the-way-that-seems-genuinely-right/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [Collaborating with your wife is amazing because you are doing something together with a person you truly love and know and discover things about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/collaborating-with-your-wife-is-amazing-because-you-are-doing/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [Sometimes, when you are in a really constrained situation, it makes you more focused about what you want to say and where you're heading.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/sometimes-when-you-are-in-a-really-constrained-situation-it-makes-you/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [Being published in Arabic is a strong and consistent wish I have. I live in the Middle East and want to be in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/being-published-in-arabic-is-a-strong-and-consistent-wish-i-have-i/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [“And suddenly the driver remembered how he'd once promised himself that if he became God in the end, he'd be merciful and kind, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/and-suddenly-the-driver-remembered-how-he-d-once-promised-himself/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [If we're a family and your brother wishes you death, it's not a very happy family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/if-we-re-a-family-and-your-brother-wishes-you-death-it-s-not-a-very/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [“I think she cried at my funeral. It's not that I'm conceited or anything, but I'm pretty sure. Sometimes I can actually picture her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/i-think-she-cried-at-my-funeral-it-s-not-that-i-m-conceited-or/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [“Dice que no la amo de verdad. Que digo que la quiero, que creo que la quiero, pero que no. He oído a más…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/dice-que-no-la-amo-de-verdad-que-digo-que-la-quiero-que-creo-que-la/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) [Explore all 150 Etgar Keret quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) ## More Block quotes > [I am told many children block out the memory of trauma. 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I'm like a DEA dog, I can smell people a block away!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/stevie-wonder-always-smells-so-good-i-m-like-a-dea-dog-i-can-smell/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) > [When it comes to people I love and care about, I may condense the time, but I'm giving them every ounce of my energy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-shetty/when-it-comes-to-people-i-love-and-care-about-i-may-condense-the-time/) [Jay Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-shetty/) > [I mean family is more important than anything in life. Family is important than my crew, D-Block, my rap career anything... 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It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I think you can train yourself to block out some of that pressure and replace it with confidence. It's about preparation, and the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rodgers/i-think-you-can-train-yourself-to-block-out-some-of-that-pressure-and/) [Aaron Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rodgers/) > [Writer's block? I've never heard of a plumber complain about plumber's block.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/writer-s-block-i-ve-never-heard-of-a-plumber-complain-about-plumber-s/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) [Browse all 1,755 Block quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/block/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't like the expression \"writer's block\" because I think it presupposes that you have a problem with your plumbing. 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