3 Ways to Keep Writing When Times Are Tough

by Chandler Bolt, @Self_Pub_School

Have you ever struggled to retain your drive and motivation as a writer?

I’m sure we all have. After all, as much as we might wish it was the case, we don’t have unlimited supplies of inspiration and energy. We’re all human. We all get tired and feel like quitting.

I get it. I’ve been there.

The key is not to avoid these feelings. Rather, it’s what we do with them that counts. Do we choose to give up, or do we find the strength to keep writing even when it isn’t easy?

Today I’d like to share three proven ways to keep writing even when it feels impossible. I’ve seen these work for countless students and I hope they serve you well.

Set A Measurable Goal

Sometimes, the reason we can’t summon the energy to make progress with our writing projects is due to their seeming enormity.

When we view a writing project, such as producing a new book, as an entire whole, it seems too big to cope with and we lose our motivation for doing it.

However, when we break our writing project down into manageable goals, it suddenly seems achievable and we regain our motivation.

One of the best ways to do this is to set an end date for your writing project. Then, divide the total word count between the number of days that you have. This makes the intimidatingly large overall goal into a manageable and motivational smaller daily goal.

If you’re the kind of writer who doesn’t write each and every day, or does but in uneven amounts, you can consider setting a weekly goal instead. This allows you to be flexible with how much you write on different days. You just need to have the discipline to avoid leaving too much of your word count goal until the end of the week!

Change Your Writing Environment

As writers, we’re influenced by the environment we find ourself in. This applies both to external factors, such as the desk we write at, as well as internal factors, such as how tired we are or how much caffeine we’ve had.

One quick way to nudge your writing motivation in the right direction is to change the place you write. If you usually write in your home, consider going to a coffee shop or other place with lots of people. The energy and change of scene can add a new zest to your writing.

You can also think about changing the tool you write with. For example, if you usually write on your laptop, think about treating yourself to a nice notebook and writing longhand for a change. Sometimes, simply changing this small thing will boost your writing and give it a new energy and style.

We owe it to ourselves to challenge anything that is holding back our writing progress. If you’re feeling stuck or low on motivation, switch up your writing environment and see if it helps.

Connect With Other Writers

Isolation can be the enemy of creativity.

When we’re stuck in our own head, focusing on our own troubles and struggles as writers, we get trapped in a cycle of rumination and looking inwards.

To break free of a negative cycle of introspection, connect with your fellow writers.

It might be the last thing you feel like doing, but it’s important to break from your comfort zone and do it anyway.

By connecting with your fellow writers, either online or in person, you stop focusing on yourself and instead start helping others out. Interestingly, this is often the most effective remedy for our own writing woes.

When we stop focusing on our own problems, they diminish in importance. The energy we waste worrying is used for a positive purpose, and people help us out in turn.

Although many of us writers are naturally introverted, it doesn’t mean we should shun our fellow authors. Establishing a support network of authors is a priceless resource to be able to call on when times get tough.

This Too Shall Pass

Thank you for taking the time to check out three proven approaches you can use to keep your writing tank full of energy, even when times get truly tough.

Ultimately, it doesn’t so much come down to a particular strategy, because there are many that can work.

Instead, it is more of a mindset – an unshakeable core belief that you can use to get through times of trouble and stress.

It’s an idea taken from the Stoic school of thought, but one which is found in many different belief systems.

“This too shall pass”. It’s the idea that no matter how good or bad times are, they will inevitably change.

Sometimes, when we’re struggling to write and feeling down, it’s hard to look ahead to better times.

But remember that things will inevitably change. Just hang in there, and get ready for your writing motivation to make a powerful comeback. You’ve got this!

How do you find the motivation to continue writing when life is challenging? 

Chandler Bolt is the host of the Self Publishing School podcast & the author of 6 bestselling books including his most recent book titled “Published.”. Through his books, podcast, training videos, and Self-Publishing School, he’s helped thousands of people on their journey to writing their first book.

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