WRITER’S BLOCK’S LAST SOLUTION ISN’T AVOIDING IT

When was the last time you stared at a blinking cursor on a blank page, waiting for the words to come? Was the backspace key still a witness to your effort, or did AI step in to save the day? Writing today has become so convenient that many assume AI can replace the human mind, producing ideas instantly without breaking a sweat.

But when did taking a shortcut start to mean, “BRB, thinking—oh, never mind. AI can do it for me.”?

Writer’s block is the difficulty of knowing what to write and how to continue. Even accomplished authors like J.K Rowling have faced moments of pressure and creative slowdown, especially under growing expectations. So, is writer’s block normal? Absolutely. But relying on AI like it’s a “one-call-away friend” to bypass the struggle may disrupt the creative process rather than strengthening it.

And just a few minutes into writing this, I think I might already be experiencing it too. That strange pause in writing—the quiet, nonsensical moments—might actually mean we care deeply about our craft; It’s the act of reaching for something that isn’t there yet, trying to turn it into language. Sadly, it’s becoming rare—some writers are now handing over that sacred writing process to the artificial mind.

Was this meant to be a solution? Or was it just another problem to be dealt with?

This concern isn’t just personal, it’s reflected in recent data. In a survey by Gotham Ghostwriters and Josh Bernoff involving 1,190 writing professionals, 61% of professional writers use AI tools, and 61% use AI at least sometimes. However, only 7% have published AI-generated text. Another survey from the Authors Guild, involving fiction and non-fiction authors in the United States, found that about 13% of authors use generative AI in writing tasks, with most using it only for brainstorming or minor assistance. In the Philippine context, 83% of students in the Philippines have used generative AI such as ChatGPT, and around 75% rely on AI for writing tasks such as paraphrasing and essays—according to a report from the ASEAN Foundation. This shows that the use of AI in writing in the country has already become part of the mainstream writing ecosystem.

Used widely, AI can support writers—but it should never replace the thinking that gives writing its depth. It isn't the problem—it’s how we choose to use it. Even educators, not just students, rely on it. While it may sound cliche, this mindset could help preserve the quality of writing. Writing is like cooking—skip a crucial step, and the results may still work, but it won’t taste the same. We don’t avoid writer’s block—we experience it, because it teaches us how to shape ideas into meaningful stories.

We don’t avoid the inconvenience of writing, we embrace it. Greatness often comes from struggle, not shortcuts. So the next time you write, let it be, “BRB, I’m thinking—it might take a while, but it's always worth the effort.”