--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who has not stared at the blank page and…" description: "\"Who has not stared at the blank page and not been able to think of anything to write for what at least felt like six months? Getting started is the har..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/jesse-armstrong-5759_anything_who-has-not-stared-at-the-blank-page-and_2814793.jpg" --- # Who has not stared at the blank page and not been able to… ![“Who has not stared at the blank page and not been able to think of anything to write for what at least felt like six months? Getting started is the hardest bit, obviously.” quote by Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/jesse-armstrong-5759_anything_who-has-not-stared-at-the-blank-page-and_2814793.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/jesse-armstrong-5759_anything_who-has-not-stared-at-the-blank-page-and_2814793.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/jesse-armstrong-5759_anything_who-has-not-stared-at-the-blank-page-and_2814793.jpg) > “Who has not stared at the blank page and not been able to think of anything to write for what at least felt like six months? Getting started is the hardest bit, obviously.” [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Blank pages cause months of writer’s block; starting is the hardest part. **In simple terms:** Writer’s block stalls progress. Key Takeaway Begin writing to overcome inertia. Themes creativity productivity writing Mood frustrated hopeful Type creative practical When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - blogging - journaling Key Concepts Writer’s block creative process discipline Questions to Reflect On - What strategies break your block? - How do you sustain momentum after starting? A Different Perspective Starting may not guarantee quality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blank page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blank-page/) [Getting started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-started/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [“The first step is the hardest in every journey of dreams. There is nothing else to fear unto whosoever has shown the tenacity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moffat-machingura/the-first-step-is-the-hardest-in-every-journey-of-dreams-there-is/) [Moffat Machingura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moffat-machingura/) > [“Then I stared at the blank”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cora-brent/then-i-stared-at-the-blank/) [Cora Brent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cora-brent/) > [“A blank page is no empty space. It is brimming with potential... It is a masterpiece in waiting -- yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aa-patawaran/a-blank-page-is-no-empty-space-it-is-brimming-with-potential-it-is-a/) [AA Patawaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aa-patawaran/) > [“It's unfortunate that we don't have a mentor system anymore. In the Renaissance, artists were apprentices to masters. You learn to do a painting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/it-s-unfortunate-that-we-don-t-have-a-mentor-system-anymore-in-the/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [I am furious at all the letters to answer, when all I want to do is think and write poems. ... I long for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-am-furious-at-all-the-letters-to-answer-when-all-i-want-to-do-is/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [One of the things that's good for me is that I can go from one art form to another. Because I think if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-miller/one-of-the-things-that-s-good-for-me-is-that-i-can-go-from-one-art/) [Rebecca Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-miller/) > [It seems a pity, but I do not think that I can write more. For God's sake look after our people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-falcon-scott/it-seems-a-pity-but-i-do-not-think-that-i-can-write-more-for-god-s/) [Robert Falcon Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-falcon-scott/) > [“Sitting to think of what to write will only set your ass on fire, give you headache, twist your face to look stupid, instead,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/sitting-to-think-of-what-to-write-will-only-set-your-ass-on-fire-give/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [I don't agree with the sentiment 'write what you know.'... I think one should write what one doesn't know. The world is bigger and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-ozick/i-don-t-agree-with-the-sentiment-write-what-you-know-i-think-one/) [Cynthia Ozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-ozick/) > [I really think I write about everyday life. I don't think I'm quite as odd as others say I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-really-think-i-write-about-everyday-life-i-don-t-think-i-m-quite-as/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [For me, as a writer, I desperately want to be read. I'm very conscious of readers as I'm writing. I think, 'If you write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/for-me-as-a-writer-i-desperately-want-to-be-read-i-m-very-conscious/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [“Write. If you've always dreamed of being a writer, write. Even if you think what you write is crap, write. You might be surprised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-woods/write-if-you-ve-always-dreamed-of-being-a-writer-write-even-if-you/) Stephen Woods > [I think sometimes - not always - I write songs that are accessible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-think-sometimes-not-always-i-write-songs-that-are-accessible/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [I think shorter books are going to become more and more of the trend. So I don't think you have to write big, big,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/i-think-shorter-books-are-going-to-become-more-and-more-of-the-trend/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) > [I sometimes think I should write a book. I've seen some things, you know, but it's all there in the songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzee-rascal/i-sometimes-think-i-should-write-a-book-i-ve-seen-some-things-you/) [Dizzee Rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzee-rascal/) ## More by Jesse Armstrong > [You've got to trust the audience, and hopefully if you do interesting work you'll get an audience that are interested and engaged. But if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/you-ve-got-to-trust-the-audience-and-hopefully-if-you-do-interesting/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [Wars are hard to look at head-on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/wars-are-hard-to-look-at-head-on/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [I'm in the game of realism so happy endings probably feel a little bit too neat for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/i-m-in-the-game-of-realism-so-happy-endings-probably-feel-a-little/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [Because Oswestry is very much an Anglo-Welsh mix it can lead you to feeling a bit bipolar sometimes. I mean, you're in England but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/because-oswestry-is-very-much-an-anglo-welsh-mix-it-can-lead-you-to/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [I like people to make their own decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/i-like-people-to-make-their-own-decisions/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [There are lots of great characters in fiction who viewers and readers have engaged with that behave badly. Great characters can be unfaithful. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/there-are-lots-of-great-characters-in-fiction-who-viewers-and-readers/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [The writers' room is an open forum where anything mad or weird that aggressively shakes up the show can be suggested and considered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/the-writers-room-is-an-open-forum-where-anything-mad-or-weird-that/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [Trump is just extraordinarily unusual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/trump-is-just-extraordinarily-unusual/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [I do think it's really tough being super-rich, really hard-working and wanting to get some sort of immortality by passing on the organisation to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/i-do-think-it-s-really-tough-being-super-rich-really-hard-working-and/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [Most of us now have opinions on such things as road tolling, the U.S. position on climate change, and the correct colour of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/most-of-us-now-have-opinions-on-such-things-as-road-tolling-the-u-s/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [Unlike many hour-long scripted American dramas, 'Succession' has very few standing sets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/unlike-many-hour-long-scripted-american-dramas-succession-has-very/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [There's loads of succession stories to draw on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/there-s-loads-of-succession-stories-to-draw-on/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [As a private individual, it's probably not worth having a foreign policy of your own at all. Not unless you own at least a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/as-a-private-individual-it-s-probably-not-worth-having-a-foreign/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [Why do I bother having all my stupid opinions? I mean, really, my ever evolving Balkan policy of the mid-1990s - what did I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/why-do-i-bother-having-all-my-stupid-opinions-i-mean-really-my-ever/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [There's an underlying sense that your family should accord you a greater level of safety in your interactions with them. When that's violated, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/there-s-an-underlying-sense-that-your-family-should-accord-you-a/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) [Explore all 100 Jesse Armstrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) ## More Anything quotes > [I guess I've never really wanted to be anything else. I've never even thought about having another job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-farrell/i-guess-i-ve-never-really-wanted-to-be-anything-else-i-ve-never-even/) [Owen Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-farrell/) > [I would give anything to be able to kick a ball with my son or read the kids a bedtime story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-burrow/i-would-give-anything-to-be-able-to-kick-a-ball-with-my-son-or-read/) [Rob Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-burrow/) > [Comfort food is really anything you want at that time. That said, I really love Naple-style pizza.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-zakarian/comfort-food-is-really-anything-you-want-at-that-time-that-said-i/) [Geoffrey Zakarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-zakarian/) > [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/) [Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/) > [When it really comes down to it, the job you do is more important and is more representative of who you are than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/when-it-really-comes-down-to-it-the-job-you-do-is-more-important-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [I never did drama at school. I did it for one term, when it was compulsory, and I hated it. Tennis was the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-mitchell/i-never-did-drama-at-school-i-did-it-for-one-term-when-it-was/) [Luke Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-mitchell/) > [We live in such a special time when literally anything we can think of is possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-willey/we-live-in-such-a-special-time-when-literally-anything-we-can-think/) [Daniel Willey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-willey/) > [You know, I'm from Baltimore; nobody has anything. When somebody had talent, I was hiring my uncle, my cousin, you know? Getting people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sisqo/you-know-i-m-from-baltimore-nobody-has-anything-when-somebody-had/) [Sisqo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sisqo/) > [I said to my agent, 'I want short, sharp, well-paid jobs because I haven't got time for anything else.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-whitelaw/i-said-to-my-agent-i-want-short-sharp-well-paid-jobs-because-i-haven/) [Billie Whitelaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-whitelaw/) > [I think anything that anyone writes thats any good is going to have a lot of autobiography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-adly-guirgis/i-think-anything-that-anyone-writes-thats-any-good-is-going-to-have-a/) [Stephen Adly Guirgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-adly-guirgis/) > [If the Bible is correct, and the Earth is only 6,000 years old, that means there were no dinosaurs, and museum curators have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/if-the-bible-is-correct-and-the-earth-is-only-6-000-years-old-that/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) > [Don't do anything drastic like getting your eyebrows tattooed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-lee/don-t-do-anything-drastic-like-getting-your-eyebrows-tattooed/) [Greta Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-lee/) > [Whenever you define family as anything other than a man and a woman married together, you have just introduced an ethical nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/whenever-you-define-family-as-anything-other-than-a-man-and-a-woman/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/) [Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/) Browse all 9,437 Anything quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Who has not stared at the blank page and not been able to think of anything to write for what at least felt like six months? 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