How I Stay Motivated When Writing Gets Hard

Hello, wonderful readers and fellow writers,

Let’s be real—writing isn’t always a magical, coffee-fueled montage where the words flow like a river and inspiration strikes every hour on the hour. Sometimes? It’s a mental slugfest. A staring contest with a blinking cursor. A screaming match between you and a plot hole you accidentally created three chapters ago.

Yeah. Been there. Many, many times.

So today, I want to talk about the less glamorous side of writing: the hard days. The stuck days. And what I do to stay motivated when the words don’t want to cooperate.

Because let’s face it—writing is hard. Loving writing doesn’t mean it’s always easy.

Step One: Remember Why You Started

Whenever I hit a creative wall, I go back to the root.

Why did I start writing this story? What was it about this world, this character, this plot twist that made my fingers itch to type? There’s always something—an image, a line of dialogue, a piece of raw emotion—that pulled me in from the start.

I remind myself of that spark. I reread old notes, scenes that made me emotional, or even reader messages that said, “This story meant something to me.”

Because it’s easy to get caught in the mechanics and forget the magic.

Step Two: Write Something Else (Yes, Really)

Sometimes the best way to keep writing… is to not write the thing that’s making you want to scream into a pillow.

I give myself permission to write something fun, messy, and completely unrelated. Maybe it’s a side scene I’ll never publish. Maybe it’s a sarcastic rant from a character’s POV. Maybe it’s just dialogue between characters arguing about pizza toppings.

The point? It keeps my creativity flowing without pressure. And more often than not, it leads me back to the heart of the story.

Step Three: Step Away Without Guilt

There are moments when motivation doesn’t come from doing—it comes from resting.

I used to feel awful if I wasn’t writing every day. Like I was letting the story down. But I’ve learned that burnout is real, and sometimes the most productive thing I can do is step away. Go for a walk. Watch a movie. Read a book by someone else and let myself fall in love with storytelling again.

You don’t have to bleed for your art every day. Sometimes, recharging is the most creative act of all.

Step Four: Set Micro Goals

On the really tough days, I don’t aim to write 2,000 words. I aim to write a paragraph. A sentence. Even a bullet point.

Small wins matter. They build momentum.

“Write one scene.”“Fix one sentence.”“Name the random side character I forgot existed.”

These goals may seem tiny, but they remind me I’m still moving. And moving—no matter how slow—is progress.

Step Five: Talk to My People

My support system is everything.

Whether it’s writer friends, trusted beta readers, or just someone who loves the story and listens to me vent—I let them in. I tell them when I’m stuck. I let them remind me of what I already know deep down: I’ve done this before. I can do it again.

Sometimes, the words don’t come back until someone else says, “You’ve got this.”

(And sometimes, they just bribe me with snacks. That works too.)

Final Thoughts

If you’re struggling to write right now, you’re not alone. Seriously. Even the most successful authors have days where the words won’t play nice.

But you keep going anyway. Not because it’s easy—but because the story matters. Because the characters won’t shut up. Because even on your worst writing days… you’re still a writer.

Take a breath. Take a break. Then get back to it—one word at a time.

I believe in you.