The creative block no one talks about is not a lack of ideas, but a problem of too much unorganized material. Years of writing can lead to accumulation of fragments, making it harder to excavate valuable content. A recently used Google AI-powered research assistant, NotebookLM, breaks this pattern by surfacing hidden themes and connections across scattered notes.
When the author uploaded their notes and asked NotebookLM about recurring themes in their writing, it revealed four major threads: a critique of productivity tools that become distractions, tension between creativity and constraint, fascination with AI’s human-like behavior, and a longing for simplicity and trust in design. This was achieved by reframing and recombining existing fragments, creating a feedback loop that generated new ideas.
NotebookLM shifts from being a research tool to a creative partner, helping the author build on past momentum rather than seeking external inspiration. It encourages the user to mine their own notes and flag underdeveloped ideas, building on the momentum already generated. While it’s not perfect, NotebookLM’s imperfect interpretations can lead to new insights and article angles.
The key insight is that writer’s block often occurs when you have thoughts but struggle to articulate them coherently. NotebookLM collapses this space by showing users their own coherence was hiding in plain sight across months of disconnected notes.
Source: https://www.xda-developers.com/notebooklm-creativity