4 Things to Do When the Words Don’t Come

by Martin Wiles @LinesFromGod

“These are the last that I have. I have not had any inspiration for a couple of months, so I don’t know if there will ever be any more. I hope so, but who knows?” I, too, had experienced those times when the words don’t come. 

My heart broke as I read my friend’s words. She and I had written for the same website for a decade. But now, the managing editor had decided to retire. He would no longer take contributions. I managed two other websites and had a personal one, so I asked my friend to contribute to all three. Excitedly, she agreed. 

Months later, however, I received the above response when I emailed her, asking for more devotions. 

I responded with the only words I could muster: “I think we writers all move through those periods. I will pray for God to inspire you with new material.”

In my sixteen years of writing, I have known more than one writer who has disappeared from the grid. I’ve known popular writers whom I suddenly stopped seeing at writers’ conferences. When I questioned a mutual friend about their absence, she offered various stories about why they were no longer writing or speaking at conferences. 

I felt their pain. I had been tempted on more than one occasion to give up. I felt like my friend who thought she had nothing left to offer. Some days, the muse wouldn’t deliver the words I longed to write. I thought I had nothing more to give, as if I were repeating what I had already said a thousand times. And during the summer, or the holidays, when my blog numbers crashed, I felt even more like surrendering the pen. I remembered when I could whip out a devotion or article in no time flat. 

Then, I thought of Elijah and how he must have felt. Although perhaps not in written form, he had given God’s word. And what did it get him? Rejection and a death threat. So, he ran … and ran … and ran. Until he couldn’t run any farther. He finally crashed under the shade of a broom tree and asked God to let him die. He had nothing left to give. 

“Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die” (1 Kings 19:4 NLT).

Maybe some writers never reach that point, but I imagine most of us do—at least, once. We have no more devotions to write. No more stories to tell. No more characters to develop. No more advice to offer. No matter what we do, the words don’t come. 

No one-size-fits-all solution exists, but there are some everyday things we all can do that typically get the writing juices flowing again. 

• 1. Spend time in nature.

God has a habit of speaking through his creation when we take time to listen. Sights, smells, and sounds confront us, which, in turn, spark thoughts worth sharing.

• 2. Secure a notepad.

The notepad may be a literal one that requires a pen or pencil or an app on our phones. We tend to forget writing prompts that we don’t immediately record. We especially need something close to our bedside. What comes to us in the night will quite likely leave us in morning’s light. 

• 3. Search for silence.

Silence is increasingly challenging to find in our noisy world of gadgets and busyness. But Jesus sought it out, and if he did, we should also. In the quiet, Elijah found his renewed purpose. In silence, we often find the words that won’t come in noisy environments. 

• 4. Speed up.

We may not have time to exercise, but we cannot afford not to. A better feeling body leads to a better functioning mind. Many a devotion has come to me while taking my afternoon walk after a challenging day of teaching English and computer to middle schoolers. 

When the words don’t come, refuse the temptation to give up. God always has something else he wants you to say. 

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4 Things to Do When the Words Don't Come from Martin Wiles (@LinesFromGod) on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Martin Wiles lives in Greenwood, SC, and is the founder of Love Lines from God. He is a freelance editor, English teacher, pastor, and author. He serves as Managing Editor for both Christian Devotions and Vinewords.net and is an instructor for the Christian PEN (professional editor’s network). Wiles is a multi-published author. His most recent book, Hurt, Hope and Healing: 52 Devotions That Will Lead to Spiritual Health, is available on Amazon. He and his wife are parents of two and grandparents of seven. He can be contacted at mandmwiles@gmail.com.