When Writing Brings You Down

We all write because we love it, right? But if you're anything like me, there are moments in time when you can't help but completely forget about that love. Every time you sit down to write, it starts to feel like a chore. Perhaps you find yourself groaning and smacking your forehead more often than you'd like to admit. So, what does it take to break out of these ruts? How can we find our love for writing again?



To Write is to Live

The author Johan Thompson once said, "To read is to breathe; to write is to live!" And I don't know about you, but this quote summarizes a lot of the reasons I find myself returning to my stories no matter how much pain they bring me. There is just something about writing stories, creating entire worlds, that feels suspiciously like being alive. I need my stories, just as much as they need me. 


Who Are You Writing For?

Are you writing for yourself? If so, the external perceptions of other people shouldn't matter. Write what you love, and love what you write! If you're writing for other people, however, there is some strength you can gain from that as well. Some of the happiest moments I have while writing my books happen when I write a difficult situation my protagonist is in, and I imagine how a little girl somewhere in the world could relate. Perhaps my story can be a reason that she doesn't feel alone. 


Writing Toward Golden Moments

One of my favorite parts of writing is when I go back, read what I wrote, and think, "I wrote that? Dang, it's really good!" There is no feeling quite like it. Of course, when those moments are few and far between, they begin to feel unattainable. 

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When I start feeling like this, I try to remind myself: Every great word you write is probably going to be buried behind a worse one. It's more important, especially near the beginning, to get a draft written. As you edit, you are then allowed to adjust, writing things that make you feel proud. It's unfair, really, to hold yourself to impossible standards when you're looking at the worst your story has to offer. Give it time. It'll get better!

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When In Doubt...

I know, I know. This is all easier said than done. Believe me, I understand that. As writers, though, it's important that we keep these little things in mind. We have to know why we enjoy writing. We have to find those little moments of perfect harmony in our stories. If we can't do that, we may end up stuck, trapped in a hole with our unfinished novel, too paralyzed by self-doubt to continue. But remember: The only way to truly fail in your writing is to give up. 

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