We were lucky to catch up with Vaani Sai recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Vaani, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
Every writer I know has struggled with writer’s block at some point in their career—I certainly have. When I’m in a creative rut, I do what many others do: turn to the Internet for answers.
There is no shortage of blogs, videos, and even MasterClasses offering tips on how to overcome writer’s block. But as I sift through endless listicles and anecdotal advice, I often wonder, “Will this work for me?”
As a student of neuroscience, I’ve always looked for claims supported by empirical evidence—evidence that is reliable and applicable to a broader audience. This curiosity led me to explore whether there was any neuroscientific literature on writer’s block. To my delight, there was!
A wealth of research exists on the neurological bases of writer’s block, with labs from leading research institutions delving into the neural bases of creativity, procrastination and a whole sleuth of cognitive and behavioral challenges that impede writers.
Motivated to bridge the gap between this scientific knowledge and practical application, I created neurowrite. Now, writers can easily access science-based advice.
Through neurowrite’s creativity coaching program and courses, my ultimate goal is to help writers around the world cultivate a more productive and sustainable creative process, enabling them to consistently tap into their creativity and unleash their full potential.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
After earning my Honours Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from Western University in 2019, I began my career as a freelance health and wellness writer, specializing in science communication. During this time, I noticed that many writers, including myself, often struggled with challenges like procrastination, writer’s block, and maintaining mindfulness in their creative process. This realization sparked my interest in applying neuroscience to help writers overcome these obstacles, leading to the creation of neurowrite.
neurowrite addresses a range of issues that writers commonly face, from procrastination to writer’s block to inconsistent writing habits, but with a unique approach. Unlike other writing programs that rely on anecdotal tips, neurowrite’s strategies are rooted in scientific principles. By leveraging the latest research in neuroscience and drawing on insights from experts around the world, neurowrite provides clients with practical, evidence-based strategies tailored to their specific needs.
My ultimate aim is to empower each client with the knowledge and tools they need to cultivate a more mindful, productive, and sustainable writing practice. neurowrite is more than just a coaching service—it’s a resource designed to support you with science-backed strategies informed by global expertise. Whether you’re struggling with procrastination, writer’s block, or simply looking to enhance your creative process, neurowrite is here to help you unlock your full creative potential.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Growing up in an immigrant household, I was instilled with a strong sense of responsibility and a deep awareness of the value of hard work. My parents worked tirelessly to save every penny because they weren’t given anything for free. They taught me to play it safe, use less than what I had, and not to ask for too much for fear of losing it all.
Along with the positive values they taught me, I also absorbed a scarcity mindset—the belief that resources, opportunities, and even success were limited. This mindset, rooted in my parents’ experiences of building a new life in a foreign country, helped me appreciate the importance of being cautious and pragmatic. But it also instilled in me a fear of taking risks.
For a long time, this scarcity mindset prevented me from pursuing opportunities that involved uncertainty. I was hesitant to step outside my comfort zone, worried that failure would lead to irreversible consequences. While this caution had its benefits, it also held me back from realizing my full potential earlier.
The turning point came when I enrolled in a financial literacy program and realized that my scarcity mindset was in fact harming me. I learned about the power of investing in myself, and the need to take risks in order to attain new levels of success It was then that I decided to venture into freelance writing and eventually create neurowrite. I understood that the opportunities I was most passionate about required a willingness to take risks and trust in my ability to succeed.
As I transitioned into entrepreneurship, I had to unlearn the scarcity mindset and embrace an abundance mindset—a belief that opportunities are not finite and that taking risks is essential for growth. In entrepreneurship, especially, an abundance mindset is crucial. It allows you to see failure not as a dead end but as a valuable learning experience. This shift in perspective empowered me to take bold steps, such as launching neurowrite, and to approach challenges with optimism and confidence.
Unlearning this lesson has been transformative. It has allowed me to embrace growth, innovation, and the belief that there is enough success to go around. Success is not a zero-sum game. We all have the power and ability to create and succeed in whatever we set our minds to. By letting go of the scarcity mindset, I’ve been able to cultivate a more expansive view of what’s possible, both for myself and for those I aim to help through neurowrite.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Two books that have profoundly influenced my management and entrepreneurial thinking are “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol S. Dweck and “Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World” by Cal Newport.
Mindset by Carol Dweck was pivotal in shifting my perspective from a scarcity mindset to one of growth and possibility. Dweck’s exploration of fixed versus growth mindsets provided me with valuable insights into how embracing a growth mindset can lead to greater resilience and innovation. This shift was crucial for me, especially in the context of launching neurowrite, as it encouraged me to view challenges and setbacks as opportunities for learning and development rather than obstacles to avoid.
Deep Work by Cal Newport has been equally impactful in shaping my approach to productivity and focus. Newport’s emphasis on the importance of deep, focused work in achieving high levels of success resonated with me. His strategies for minimizing distractions and cultivating deep work habits have been instrumental in managing my time effectively and maintaining high levels of creativity and productivity in my work with neurowrite.
Together, these books have helped me develop a more resilient and focused approach to entrepreneurship. They have provided me with practical strategies for overcoming mental barriers and fostering a productive, innovative mindset.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dosasanddiamonds.com/neurowrite.ca
- Instagram: dosasanddiamonds/neurowriteofficial
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaani-sai/
Image Credits
Avalon Mohns