From Where, Does Creative Block Stem? A 9 Question Discovery Session

Published: May 19, 2026

What really is creative, and /or writer’s block? What and where does it stem from? Why do we get it and at what moments?

My creative and writer’s block comes at moments when I am writing about things I am not passionate about, or, when I am writing about things that I am lying about. Or when I am in an overwhelming, unreasonably high-pressured environment. Or when I know there is no budget for me to truly work my magic. I may have passion, but with my words and positioning, I am not being truthful. Sometimes, I am dreading all the true, grit, and thoughtful work that goes into my efforts that perhaps “leadership” didn’t account for, and I didn’t speak up for. Perhaps I did speak up and historically have, but I’m at that moment of being tired of being the trailblazer and sacrificial lamb for things that should have already been considered (check out my 360 investment strategy article, so you understand where I am coming from). And they likely already were, briefly, then overlooked and swept under the rug. Because of “targets” and “timelines” and “budget” and “ROI” and all of that jazz. That’s when I stall and procrastinate. Have you been there? I’m sure you have.

Blocked? Maybe. Let’s Look at the History.

I KNOW I am a good writer. I spent most of my childhood - from the moment I learned how to read in kindergarten – ingesting literature and language. I am adaptable. Have your parents ever told you that “you are here to be seen and not heard”? If you are black, and from the south, you may have heard this. The exceptions were school to some degree. I participated in talent shows, in spelling bees, in history projects and science projects I had to present, in choir and band, in afterschool recreational programs, and I’m sure much more. That fueled my financial and social success, so my mother ensured to invest my energy and some of hers in those areas. But even within that, I had to maintain a balance. “Shine but not too bright, don’t bring it home to me!” I’m paraphrasing. 

I was raised to neither be seen nor heard, so I had plenty of space to immerse myself in the arts of literature and language. I wrote poems – haikus and long form, songs, essays. I drew…I colored…I designed. I dare say I was born with the creative bug. So how is it that when I come into my professional career, at the point I’ve already had so much experience growing to adult age, having a 10 year career in financial and customer services, being the Social Networking Chair and Program Manager for AIG’s Houston's Black Professionals employee resource group (ERG), that I NOW struggle with communication through writing and creative strategy, effectively?

UNSTOCK the BLOCK - Reverse via FOCUS

This is why I think that the best approach to strategic writing that is designed to develop business and bring in money, is best broken down by use case. You feel less of a need to lie and stall, because you can drill into a specific problem that your customer experiences, and focus, vs trying to cast a wide net. Even with all the chaos that comes from working at an agency and in the B2B technology sector at that, AND with compliance heavy, regulated industries and companies, being able to focus within those sectors allows for moments of stillness when you can drill down.

How this works for Enterprise Scale and Growing Businesses

I believe one of the lovely things about working at a globally scaled, or enterprise, commercially scaled business is that they often deeply segment roles and responsibilities. I can be a product marketing manager who focuses solely on your AI business unit and can even specifically focus on one product in your solution suite. I’ll collaborate with a team composed of a partner marketing manager for said sector, a principal, a more technical consultant, a director if this is not myself, and I may even have a project manager - if these roles are not being performed by myself. Then surrounding us is the extended team of product managers, solution architects, customer success team and so on…you get it. The point being, I don’t have to worry about the whole thing.

Now, don’t get me wrong, you can be lean and targeted with a startup as well, I’ve worked with some extremely sophisticated startups. However, startups often run around like chickens with their heads cut off, at least for the first few rounds of funding until they can stabilize, are close to exit, or until they get someone like me in there, who can approach the engagement from the 30k, 5k, and ground level point of view (POV).

Unroot, and Rise above the BLOCK

My point being that all these factors can heavily influence creator’s and writer’s block. You are influenced when there is not a plan, or even if there is a plan and let’s say it is so compacted that you – even while following the plan to a T – end up pushing 50-70+ hour work weeks. Don’t you think you’ll get burnt out? Tired? Don’t you think your brain and body overall will get tired? Don’t you know your spirit will deteriorate? I’ve barely scratched the surface – there are many, many layers to this. Environmental. Social. Economical. Financial. Political. And so on. That’s worthy of a deep dive, if I do say so myself.

Creative and writer’s block doesn’t come from nowhere. And until we collectively address the root causes of that block, it shall remain.

Stay tuned for more insights and perspectives like these.

Best Regards,

Shaun Martinez, PMMC™ 

Co-Founder & Principal Consultant of ExSailIQ 360°