Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an early ARC of Julia Cameron's newest book. I read the Artist's Way several years ago when I was a lot younger and liked the concept, but kept getting hung up because while I have a bunch of creative hobbies I don't work in a creative field (writing, music, etc.) I want to go back and reread that book now that I'm older and, hopefully, wiser. I've also read a few of her other books as well throughout the years.

However, this book Blasting through Blocks is perfect for both those in creative fields and those who have creative hobbies outside of their work/career. This is a book of 52 very short essays and stories about various blocks and excuses one might encounter as a creative of any sort. I immediately felt called out by some of these essays because I could see where I've done/still do these things in other areas of my life, not just in creative hobbies. Obsessiveness, comparison, responsibilities, the inner critic - those are all just a few of the topics that I immediately saw reflected in myself.

Pros: Love the direct nature of each of these essays and how concise they are - no room for extraneous information. The exercises at the end of each essay make for great journaling prompts and are thought-provoking. Because this is an essay format it makes it easy to jump around and find topics that feel more relevant than others and it also makes great reference material.

Cons: Reading it straight through you do notice that there is a bit of repetitiveness in some of the topics. I get that 52 has meaning and is a good book structure, but there were definitely a few of the essays that basically repeated what was previously said with maybe a different example or two. Even with the repetitiveness they were all great essays because you can see how the excuses/blocks can keep arising under different guises or from different angles so it does make sense to keep hammering home certain ideas.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and now I have some journaling to do!

Across 52 essays, you encounter creative blocks common to artists--the internal critic, the fear of failure,, perfectionism, and inertia--and a practice to help with the block. Many of the practices will surprise you with their straightforwardness, clarity and freshness. Over time, these practices build onto a living, flexible toolkit when you are stuck.
Wu
As a writer living in an assisted living facility, I feel like I have no one to speak to when I have creative blocks. This book is a godsend because it gives me tools to deal with problems. Highly recommended for anyone who is.an artist, particularly writers.
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A very practical and clear guide on how to get un-stuck when life crowds out creativity. Very helpful tips and very accessible practices.

I will read anything that Cameron puts out into the universe! Her content is priceless and has helped my own writing craft so much. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Five stars!

As a long-time devotee of The Artist’s Way, I credit Julia Cameron with helping me navigate some of my toughest creative slumps. When I saw Blasting Through Blocks, I knew it was exactly the mental refresh I needed for 2026. This book moves away from the intensity of a traditional program and instead offers a sleek manual to help you catapult toward main character energy in your writing career. It is perfect for anyone tired of suffering for their art and ready to start owning their process with style and staying out of your own way.

What makes this a total standout are the specific strategies Julia Cameron provides for those of us who struggle with perfectionism and the heavy creative blocks that every journalist and writer faces. I love how each chapter is short and bite-sized to be intentionally accessible rather than overwhelming. The structure is brilliant; she uses real-life examples and reflection questions to tackle themes like indecision, worry, or the fear that it's too late. Instead of feeling stressed, these exercises invite you to think and spark new ideas.

I am a huge fan of the morning pages approach, and the stream-of-consciousness tools here are game-changers for sharpening your skills and keeping your momentum. It is a powerful, motivating reminder that writer's block isn't a permanent state; it’s just a signal to pivot and try something new. This would be a wonderful gift for any writer in your life or anyone who values creativity and wants practical strategies to work through tough mental barriers.

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this book. I am writing this review voluntarily and these are my honest opinions.

Julia Cameron’s Blasting Through Blocks encourages artists to overcome common artistic obstacles and cultivate their creative selves. In fifty-two essays, short enough so the act of reading the book does not itself become another diversion – another block – from the creative project at hand, Cameron guides readers with sensible, practical instruction. While I did not find my favourite ‘not-writing’ excuse listed – clearing away dust bunnies hiding behind my refrigerator – I did find many excuses with which I’m very well acquainted: procrastination, indecision, a lack of openness, nihilism, the inner critic, vulnerability, perfectionism, alongside forty-five other unruly disruptions. Each essay declares its creative block with a title followed by a subtitle: a definition, statement, directive, or affirmation; each essay concludes with a brief exercise that prompts readers to blast through the block and resume making art. And each essay ends with two direct questions: “How do you feel about this block? Is it one of yours?”
This is a tightly structured book, and readers familiar with Cameron’s landmark book The Artist’s Way (1992) will know that “Morning Pages” (three pages of longhand, stream-of-consciousness writing) and a weekly “Artist Date” are Cameron’s bedrock tools for living a creative life. These bedrock tools and the teachings contained in Blasting Through Blocks motivate readers to resume their craft. The author’s conversational tone speaks through anecdote, example, and gentle dismissal of the excuses we use when the muse abandons us, and we want to give up. Reading this book is like eavesdropping on Cameron’s conversations with creators – writers, photographers, musicians, painters, for example. Cameron's essays include sage words from well-known artists such as editors Arthur Kretchmer and Maxwell Perkins, poet Dylan Thomas, film producer John Landau, writer-philosopher Brian Thomas. We read examples of Cameron’s artistic play in a few light-hearted poems she writes to lift her mood and discount negativity. At once instructive and practical, Cameron prompts us to be clear and honest with ourselves, identify the block, confront our fears, and recover creative momentum with one small step in the service of our art. This is a book you can read in one sitting. And it is a book you will reread one essay at a time, the essay that best captures the moment's obstacle. You will close your reading with renewed energy and resolve. As Cameron reminds us, sometimes, the fastest way to move forward is to slow down. When the obstinate muse threatens, read an essay; Do the exercise, blast the block, take creative action!

Julia Cameron has become a go-to author when I need a push with my writing, schedule, or motivation—sometimes all of it. I am going through a fear-block right now. Imagination never wanes, but the motivation and self push to write is unreachable. I needed this book, which is very much a workbook to ask yourself all of the questions that will prompt you to become productive. I know that I need to bust through this fear block because it’s causing me to spiral because I’m not creating. So we must go back to basics, morning pages, artist dates, etc. This is a go=to book that will remind me to keep pursuing my dream to create and share my imagination with readers.
Thank you to the authors, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.