Header Logo

The Story Frame

Newsletter Video About
Log In
← Back to all posts

Trick Your Brain Into Writing: The One Phrase I Use to Overcome Resistance

by Carlos Garbiras
Jan 30, 2026
Share to…
Share

My brain makes excuses.

"This story needs more thought."
"I should outline first."
"Maybe tomorrow when I'm more inspired."

All lies. Just resistance dressed up as wisdom.

I found a phrase that bypasses all of it: "I'm just going to..."

That's it. I'm just going to open the document. I'm just going to write the subject line. I'm just going to type one sentence about that story I always tell at dinner.

Your writer-self and your resistance are two separate entities. The resistance thinks it's smarter. It will out-argue you every time if you engage with it.

So don't engage. Trick it instead.

Think of that one story you tell all the time—the one you enjoy sharing, the one you hope your wife or kids remember. You haven't written it down yet.

Open your favorite app right now. Don't think about structure or quality.

Just say: "I'm just going to write the subject of this story."

Then type it. That's all.

The resistance loses when you make the ask so small it can't argue.

What story are you "just going to" write today?

#writing #storytelling #writingtips #resistance #creativity #TheStoryFrame

Responses

Join the conversation
t("newsletters.loading")
Loading...
I Spent College Pretending I Hadn't Read The Alchemist. But That Book Taught Me Everything About Finding My Voice.
I spent most of college pretending I hadn't read The Alchemist. I was surrounded by engineers — sharp, serious people who, if they read at all, read the heavy stuff. The stuff you don't feel embarrassed to say out loud. Dostoevsky. Camus. Moliére. You know, the fartsy fancy stuff of high literary circles. The kind of books you could leave spine-out on a desk, and people would think you were sm...
I Almost Did Drugs to Keep Track of My Writing Ideas. Then I Had a Midlife Crisis Instead.
  I Almost Did Drugs to Keep Track of My Writing Ideas. Then I Had a Midlife Crisis Instead. Maybe you are one of those writers obsessed with a single topic. That's all they ever want to write — one genre revolving around a central theme. Some of my favorite writers do this. Some of my friends do this, too. If that's you, maybe this is not for you. What I'm about to talk about is for the writer...
I Have Evidence. And When They Have Kids, I'm Using It.
Before my youngest could walk, she had already figured out the door. My youngest learned to run before she could run. We always knew she was full of energy. And it was clearest whenever I was about to leave the house with her sister. She would kick very hard in her bouncy. I couldn't wait to bring her with me on "adventures," which is what I call going with my daughters to run errands. Now I t...

The Storytelling Frame

I help you uncover and write your life’s stories so your legacy lives on with the people you love.
Footer Logo

The Story Frame

Newsletter Video About
© 2026 The Story Frame
Powered by Kajabi

Join Our Free Trial

Get started today before this once in a lifetime opportunity expires.