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- š Neil Gaimanās Writing Routine
š Neil Gaimanās Writing Routine
āYou have permission to not write, but you donāt have permission to do anything else.ā
Welcome to Famous Writing Routines, where we explore the daily habits, writing process, and work routines of some of the most renowned authors throughout history.
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Neil Gaiman is an English author, best-known for the comic book series, The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book.
I think itās really just a solid rule for writers. You donāt have to write. You have permission to not write, but you donāt have permission to do anything else.
Neil Gaiman doesnāt think writerās block exists, but he absolutely does believe in getting stuck. āThe difference,ā he believes, āis one is imposed on you by the gods, and one is your own damn fault.ā From the famed English authorās perspective, this āblockā is simply something writers have come up with in order to shift the blame for being unproductive.
āIt sounds like it has nothing to do with you: āI would love to write today, but I am blocked. The gods have done it to me,'ā he said during a HuffPost Live event. āAnd itās not true. Cellists donāt have cellist block. Gardeners donāt have gardenerās block. TV hosts do not have TV host block. But writers have claimed all the blocks, and we think itās a real thing.ā
Gaiman has one simple rule in his routine that has helped him become unstuck for writing. When it comes time for him to work, heāll head on down to the little gazebo at the bottom of his garden and sit at his desk. While heās there, Gaiman permits himself to do one of two things: write or do nothing.
āIām allowed to sit at my desk, Iām allowed to stare out at the world, Iām allowed to do anything I like, as long as it isnāt anything,ā he explained. āNot allowed to do a crossword, not allowed to read a book, not allowed to phone a friend, not allowed to make a clay model of something. All Iām allowed to do is absolutely nothing, or write.ā
This simple writing rule has helped turn Gaiman into one of the most beloved and prolific authors in the past decades. In addition to publishing countless works and winning numerous literary awards, including the Hugo, Nebula, and Bram Stoker awards, as well as the Newbery and Carnegie medals, many of the authorās books have been adapted for the screen.
What I love about that is Iām giving myself permission to write or not write, but writing is actually more interesting than doing nothing after a while. You sit there and youāve been staring out the window now for five minutes, and it kind of loses its charm. Youāre going, āWell, actually, letās all write something.ā
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