Summary

The titular essay "Draft No. 4" opens with a discussion of writer's block. As McPhee writes, "It puts some writers down for months. It puts some writers down for life" (157). McPhee notes that even writers who "will win huge aware and write countless books and a nationally syndicated column" suffer from writer's block (157). When faced with this struggle, John suggests that the writer pen a letter to his or her mother, telling her about "the block the frustration, the ineptitude, the despair" (157). Next, the writer should outline his or her problem by describing the subject and going "on like that as long as you can" (158). Finally, McPhee says to "delete the 'Dear Mother' and all the whimpering and whining" and just keep the material on the subject.

John then acknowledges that the blocked part of the process usually only occurs when dealing with a...