Writer Fuel—Tips to Help You Keep Going When You Don’t Feel Like It

by Edie Melson

As writers, most of us start our writing journey from a love of writing. It’s the way we process life. It’s an emotional driven process. But we can’t survive long on something that depends on how we feel. So we morph into serious writers and begin to write when we don’t necessarily feel like it. That’s when we all arrive at a crossroads of sort.

Am I going to choose to keep going when I don’t feel like it, or am I throwing in the towel?

I assume the majority of you reading this have passed through this intersection and are choosing to forge ahead. The decision to keep going is only part of the equation. Now you need the fuel to help you stay on track. These are a miscellaneous list of  environmental things, time management tips, even attitude adjustment hacks.

Writer Fuel

Set up to write in a different location. This can be as simple as moving from your office to your back porch—or as radical as driving to a coffee shop

Take a walk. This will help in several ways. It will get your endorphins flowing and remove you from a place of frustration.

Write down your goals. Start at the 20,000 foot view, such as I want to write 40 books in the next 10 years. Then begin mapping out a way to do that. It will give you a sense of control in an industry where author control seems about as easy to find as the end of the rainbow.

Turn on some music. Just the rhythm and the beat can help you power through a tough spot in your writing.

Pick up your knitting. Or crochet, or your sketch book. Whatever other creative outlet you have, picking it up can give you that extra creative push you need.

Write down your fears. What is the worst that can happen if you move forward. Putting it on paper can show you how unreasonable most of what we’re afraid of truly is.

Call or text a friend (shout out to my own accountability partner Beth Vogt). Let another person speak truth into your life when you can’t see it for yourself.

Go see a movie. Sometimes the escaping to another world can reignite the creative spark inside us.

Take a look at your diet. NO, don’t go on a diet. Just make sure you’re eating healthy food that’s helping you stay focused. Keep healthy snacks around and drink plenty of water.

Pick up a camera. It doesn’t have to be a fancy one, use your phone if you want. And this tip isn’t just for those who consider themselves amateur (or professional) photographers.   Looking at the world through a camera can give you some interesting perspective and insight.

Sit down and tackle the writing you most fear and/or dread. What are you putting off doing? Is it working on your WIP, writing a blog post, whatever it is. Spend 15 minutes on it. And yes, set a timer. I don’t care if you write junk the entire 15 minutes, you’ll feel better for working past that dread.

Finally, and most important, reread something positive that someone wrote about your writing. Maybe a reader letter, a blog comment, or something from a crit partner. And a special note here—SAVE THESE THINGS! It’s not an ego trip, sometimes it’s just what you need when the voice in your head is whispering negative comments.

These are some of the things I do to fuel myself when the writing gets tough. What are some things you’d add to the list?

Don’t forget to join the conversation!

Blessings,

Edie

TWEETABLES

Writer Fuel - @EdieMelson shares Tips to Help You Keep Going When You Don’t Feel Like It (Click to Tweet)

Are you doing everything you can to fuel your writer-self? @EdieMelson shares her own list to help keep moving forward.(Click to Tweet)