Even if you’re of the “It’s sheer self-indulgence” school of opinion, there’s no denying that writer’s block is a hot topic – except when it’s a source of silent, dark and excruciating shame.

The thing is, for every new writer declaring, “I’m blocked!” when what they mean is they’re a bit stuck on what happens in the next scene – or (un)consciously spinning their lack of determination into a Terrible Problem for a Serious Writer – there’s a professional author, with a mortgage hanging on their delivering, who can’t bear to tell their friends they’ve had to hand an advance back because there’s no hope of a finished book.