Five Things To Do When You Don’t Feel Like Writing
For some, writing is a hobby; for others, it is a profession. The goal of every writer is to write progressively without waning. But, in reality, writers encounter roadblocks at some point—when they feel overwhelmed or simply lack the inspiration to keep writing. The irony is that, as a writer, you must keep writing because you have readers who can’t wait to read your work. So, how can you forge ahead despite this feeling?
Here are some tips that can help you keep the writing spirit high. It may not be as high as you desire, but high enough to help you deliver quality writing. They are:
- Shut off everything and engage in other activities.
Sometimes, all you need to do is take a break from everything to allow your body to recharge—this refreshes your mind and gives your brain a break for more inspiration to write. Writing is mentally exhausting, but you can counterbalance this by engaging in other activities like seeing a movie, walking, or listening to music. Doing any of these activities takes you out of the writing zone and helps your mind relax. You can also draw inspiration from movies and music, or even on a walk, as you get to see or listen to fresh ideas and inspiring scenes.
- Get some motivation
The truth about writing is that you won’t always feel motivated, which is normal. It could result from hunger, lack of understanding of the subject matter, or you simply don’t ‘feel’ what you write. If hunger is the issue, you can grab a box of chocolate or a bowl of ice cream. If it isn’t, you can read through your previous works, reviews, and feedback from your readers. These can help you find the motivation to continue writing again.
- Read books or articles from authors you admire.
Most times, there are things we cannot learn by writing in isolation. The best writers are great readers. Engaging yourself in reading works by authors you admire can open up a well of inspiration and motivation. This helps you when you are not feeling your writing.
- Engage your thoughts
There are days when you write, and halfway, you go blank. You can scale through this by engaging your thoughts. How do you engage your thoughts? Read through your work for as much as you want to help you draw ideas. As you read, there is an engagement of your thoughts with your work, and this helps you eliminate the struggle of seeking inspiration.
- Keep writing. Edit later
It sounds funny to keep writing, even when you do not feel like writing, right? But every good article came from broken words. It is often said that there is always a sense to every nonsense. Sometimes, you lose motivation when it seems like your writing lacks structure and coherence. At that moment, keep writing and edit your work later!
We hope you find these tips helpful.
How do you overcome your writer’s block? Let us know in the comment section.
