How a popular author fights writer’s block

I have the most trouble following my own advice and separating the writing and editing process. My “left brain critic” seems to subdue my “right brain muse” with alarming frequency.

The result—writing paralysis.

Recently, however, I was encouraged by the words of one of my favorite writers, Philip Pullman. He said:

“Writer’s block . . . a lot of howling nonsense would be avoided if, in every sentence containing the word WRITER, that word was taken out and the word PLUMBER substituted; and the result examined for the sense it makes. Do plumbers get plumber’s block? What would you think of a plumber who used that as an excuse not to do any work that day?”