--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've often said that there's no such…" description: "\"I've often said that there's no such thing as writer's block; the problem is idea block. When I find myself frozen-whether I'm working on a brief passa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/jeffery-deaver-2663_block_i-ve-often-said-that-there-s-no-such-thi_1070211.jpg" --- # I've often said that there's no such thing as writer's… ![“I've often said that there's no such thing as writer's block; the problem is idea block. When I find myself frozen-whether I'm working on a brief passage in a novel or brainstorming about an entire book-it's usually because I'm trying to shoehorn an idea into the passage or story where it has no…” quote by Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/jeffery-deaver-2663_block_i-ve-often-said-that-there-s-no-such-thi_1070211.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/jeffery-deaver-2663_block_i-ve-often-said-that-there-s-no-such-thi_1070211.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/jeffery-deaver-2663_block_i-ve-often-said-that-there-s-no-such-thi_1070211.jpg) > “I've often said that there's no such thing as writer's block; the problem is idea block. When I find myself frozen-whether I'm working on a brief passage in a novel or brainstorming about an entire book-it's usually because I'm trying to shoehorn an idea into the passage or story where it has no place.” [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative stagnation stems from forcing ideas into unsuitable contexts rather than lack of inspiration. **In simple terms:** Ideas get stuck when forced into wrong places. Key Takeaway Allow ideas to find their natural fit. Themes creativity writing problem solving Mood reflective inspirational Type advice creative When to use this quote - novel writing - short stories - brainstorming sessions - content planning Key Concepts idea placement creative flow Questions to Reflect On - How can you identify the right context for an idea? - What habits help you keep ideas flexible? A Different Perspective Ideas may still need refinement before fitting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/block/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Brainstorming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brainstorming/) [Brainstorming Entire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brainstorming-entire-2661758/) [Frozen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frozen/) [Idea Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-block-746924/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Novel Brainstorming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel-brainstorming-2661757/) [Passages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passages/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [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/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I've often said that there's no such thing as writer's block, the problem is idea block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/i-ve-often-said-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as-writer-s-block-the-2/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [If surgeons don't get surgeon's block, then why are you allowed to get writer's block?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/if-surgeons-don-t-get-surgeon-s-block-then-why-are-you-allowed-to-get/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [Writer's block to me is where you stop because you're afraid to go forward because you're not sure of what really should be happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-hickam/writer-s-block-to-me-is-where-you-stop-because-you-re-afraid-to-go/) [Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/) > [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 Jeffery Deaver > [Trying to write books with a subject matter or in a genre or style you're not familiar with is the best way to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/trying-to-write-books-with-a-subject-matter-or-in-a-genre-or-style/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [“I realized finally what the problem was,” I told Maree. “It wasn’t him. It was my wife. She was treating him like a normal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/i-realized-finally-what-the-problem-was-i-told-maree-it-wasn-t-him-it/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [“But then someday the truth would come out. It always did. Repress what you will, someday the truth comes out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/but-then-someday-the-truth-would-come-out-it-always-did-repress-what/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [“Stanton clawed his way to the bedside table and managed to grab his knife. He jabbed it into Rhyme. Once, twice. But the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/stanton-clawed-his-way-to-the-bedside-table-and-managed-to-grab-his/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [Hardcover books are fairly expensive these days and to read one requires a significant commitment of time in our busy society. So I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/hardcover-books-are-fairly-expensive-these-days-and-to-read-one/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [“You’re sure it was Loving?” “Yes. That’s exactly the kind of strategy he’d choose. There’s no doubt it was him.” I was aware of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/you-re-sure-it-was-loving-yes-that-s-exactly-the-kind-of-strategy-he/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [“Maree opened her eyes wide. “Wait, wait . . . I know you.” She regarded me with a frown. I must have blinked in surprise. Had we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/maree-opened-her-eyes-wide-wait-wait-i-know-you-she-regarded-me-with/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [The best way to learn about writing is to study the work of other writers you admire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/the-best-way-to-learn-about-writing-is-to-study-the-work-of-other/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [“eager’ and ‘anxious’ aren’t the same, or how ‘disinterested’ doesn’t mean ‘uninterested.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/eager-and-anxious-aren-t-the-same-or-how-disinterested-doesn-t-mean/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [The recent fascination, I think, reflects the shift in approach by law enforcement officials to embrace technology as wholeheartedly as the rest of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/the-recent-fascination-i-think-reflects-the-shift-in-approach-by-law/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [“DuBois’s observations were back. She’d largely recovered from the Graham ignominy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/dubois-s-observations-were-back-she-d-largely-recovered-from-the/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [“Maree may have noted that I said “wife” and not “ex,” which imparted some information to her. She was smarter than the package suggested.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/maree-may-have-noted-that-i-said-wife-and-not-ex-which-imparted-some/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [“You see tumbleweeds? You see cowpokes? Indians? This isn’t the streets of Laredo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/you-see-tumbleweeds-you-see-cowpokes-indians-this-isn-t-the-streets/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [“The young woman shrugged, walked to her computer, picked it up. She flopped down on the couch and scanned through it. This was something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/the-young-woman-shrugged-walked-to-her-computer-picked-it-up-she/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [“As a matter of fact, yeah, they were foolproof. The problem is that you don't have to protect yourself against fools. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/as-a-matter-of-fact-yeah-they-were-foolproof-the-problem-is-that-you/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) [Explore all 154 Jeffery Deaver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) ## More Block quotes > [I am told many children block out the memory of trauma. In fact, the healing process can only truly begin when we are willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-stone/i-am-told-many-children-block-out-the-memory-of-trauma-in-fact-the/) [Phoebe Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-stone/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [If you do a black character or a female character or an Asian character, then they aren't just that character. They represent that race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/if-you-do-a-black-character-or-a-female-character-or-an-asian/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) > [Stevie Wonder always smells so good... 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... It's the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/styles-p/i-mean-family-is-more-important-than-anything-in-life-family-is/) [Styles P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/styles-p/) > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [One of those blocks (that prevent the 'Middle East from entering the mainstream of modernity') is the orthodox tenet that the Koran and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-beichman/one-of-those-blocks-that-prevent-the-middle-east-from-entering-the/) [Arnold Beichman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-beichman/) > [The family is the building block for whatever solidarity there is in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ruckelshaus/the-family-is-the-building-block-for-whatever-solidarity-there-is-in/) [William Ruckelshaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ruckelshaus/) > [New York is so serious about the creation of work. Everything is happening so fast, it feels like there's another studio, another session on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/new-york-is-so-serious-about-the-creation-of-work-everything-is/) [Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/) > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn't block traffic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/americans-will-put-up-with-anything-provided-it-doesn-t-block-traffic/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. 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've often said that there's no such thing as writer's block; the problem is idea block. When I find myself frozen-whether I'm working on a brief passage in a novel or brainstorming about an entire book-it's usually because I'm trying to shoehorn an idea into the passage or story where it has no place.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeffery Deaver" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/i-ve-often-said-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as-writer-s-block-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Block" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/i-ve-often-said-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as-writer-s-block-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/jeffery-deaver-2663_block_i-ve-often-said-that-there-s-no-such-thi_1070211.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/jeffery-deaver-2663_block_i-ve-often-said-that-there-s-no-such-thi_1070211.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/jeffery-deaver-2663_block_i-ve-often-said-that-there-s-no-such-thi_1070211.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've often said that there's no such thing as writer's block; the problem is idea block. When I find myself…” — Jeffery Deaver", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jeffery Deaver", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've often said that there's no...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/i-ve-often-said-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as-writer-s-block-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/i-ve-often-said-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as-writer-s-block-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```