Writer’s block is a state which is primarily associated with writing. This is when a writer is unable to produce new work or there is some sort of creative difficulty to write. This creative block is often a result of various issues the writer might be facing. But did you know Aaron Sorkin also experienced writer’s block? How did he handle it?
To overcome writer’s block, screenwriter Aaron Sorkin takes six to eight showers per day. If his writing isn’t going well, he takes a shower, changes his clothes, and tries again.
Who is Aaron Sorkin?
Aaron Benjamin Sorkin was born in Manhattan, New York City, to a Jewish family, and grew up in the Scarsdale, New York suburb. His mother was a teacher, and his father was a copyright lawyer who had served in WWII and paid his way through college on the G.I. bill. Bill’s older sister and brother both went on to become lawyers. His paternal grandfather was one of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union’s founders.
Sorkin became interested in acting at a young age. His parents took him to the theater as a child to see productions such as Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and That Championship Season.
Sorkin attended Scarsdale High School, where he was active in the drama and theater clubs. He played General Bullmoose in the eighth-grade production of Li’l Abner. In his junior and senior years at Scarsdale High, he was vice president of the drama club, and he graduated in 1979.
Sorkin enrolled at Syracuse University in 1979. He failed a core requirement class his freshman year, which was a setback because he wanted to be an actor, and the drama department did not allow students to take the stage until they completed the core classes. He returned for his sophomore year, determined to do better, and graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theater. (Source: Britannica)
What Exactly is Writer’s Block and What Causes It?
Writer’s block is a phenomenon that commonly occurs with writers. This is when an author is unable to create new work or experiences a creative slowdown. Mike Rose discovered that the creative block is not due to a lack of commitment or writing skills. The condition can range from difficulty coming up with original ideas to being unable to complete work for years. Writer’s block is not solely measured by the amount of time spent not writing. It is measured by the amount of time that passes without any productivity in the task at hand.
Other roadblocks in a writer’s life or career may include physical illness, depression, the end of a relationship, financial pressures, or a sense of failure. The pressure to produce work may contribute to writer’s block, especially if they are forced to work in ways that are contrary to their natural inclination.
Reflecting on her post-bestseller prospects, the writer Elizabeth Gilbert proposed that such pressure could be relieved by viewing creative writers as having genius rather than being a genius. (Source: Writers)