Every writer I know has trouble writing.

Heller’s remark punctures the romantic idea that accomplished authors produce prose effortlessly. By insisting that “every writer” he knows struggles, he normalizes difficulty as part of the craft rather than a sign of inadequacy. The line also hints at writing as a problem-solving activity: even experienced professionals confront uncertainty, false starts, and dissatisfaction with drafts. Coming from Heller—whose own work is associated with painstaking construction and revision—the quote can be read as both reassurance to aspiring writers and a sober description of the labor behind finished books. Its bluntness functions as a corrective to myths of inspiration, emphasizing persistence over innate ease.