All writers hit a wall sometimes. We’re only human, after all. In fact, I’m in the middle of a reading and writing slump right now, which is why I chose this topic to write about.
Sometimes passion isn’t enough to motivate you to write. Sometimes, the creative well runs dry, life gets in the way, or you hit the worst Writer’s Block ever encountered in the universe. It happens! The key is figuring out how not to let your writing slump overtake you, though. In this post, I outline 16 different motivating reasons to keep you writing and pick you up from the slump you’re in!
- No one tells a story quite like you. Sure, there are a finite number of ways the basics of a story go, but no other writer has your voice or your imagination. How many retellings have sold wildly well? I’ll answer for you—tons. Tons of retellings have sold well.
- For your characters. Often our characters seem more like close personal friends than fictitious figments of our imagination. You wouldn’t leave your real friends high and dry, would you? Don’t abandon the characters you’ve created, or start calling yourself Victor Frankenstein (because, you know, he did abandon his creation and it… didn’t go well).
- At least one person will benefit from the words you write. Maybe that person is you. Maybe it’s your partner. Maybe it’s a stranger who will never tell you how your words affected them. The point is, at least one person will benefit from your writing—there just may not be instant gratification.
- Because it’s fun. Admit it, writing is fun. It’s also hard, frustrating, and every other emotion you can think of, but you’re a writer because you enjoy it. I mean, what other profession creates worlds and people in their head and gets to call it work? Writing doesn’t always have to be stressful; try out some silly writing prompts to loosen your fingers and ease back into it.
- Don’t let your aesthetic boards go to waste. We stand behind a great aesthetic board, always! Personally, I love perusing other authors’ aesthetic boards to get the vibe of their current project. But no writing = no more aesthetic boards, and that’s a world too cruel and empty to fathom.
- Stories are meant to be shared. So what if your project is at the first draft stage? Give it to a critique partner for a positivity pass and do the same for them. As writers, we learn from each other.
- To create something. Just like baking, or painting, or playing an instrument, writing is the process of creating something from nothing. And as a creative, it is in your nature to, well, create. What you create is up to you; it doesn’t have to be a flashy best-seller or award-winning piece. You can just create it because it makes you happy.
- You don’t know what great idea you’ll have next. As I said at the opening of this post, there are times when you’re creative well is dry as a bone. That’s okay. But in the absence of ideas, remember this is a small season in your writing journey and actively fill your well with more creative ideas to help you get back on track. Listen to music, read, take a walk, talk to other creatives, and you’ll be ready to go in no time.
- For yourself. You owe it to yourself to see this sentence, paragraph, chapter, or project through. You deserve to finish, to look back, and proudly say “Look what I did” because you’re awesome. If not for your future readers, for family or friends, or for strangers who may need your words, do it for you.
- To process your feelings. Writing can be a visceral journey, which is why some books and characters are so relatable. Infusing your problems into your work can help you weigh out different options, foresee solutions and consequences, and connect with others who’ve experienced something similar. It’s part of the beauty that brings us all together in books.
- Because it’s your passion. Nothing worthwhile comes without hard work, am I right? And what’s more worthwhile than your passion? Working through the sticky, not-so-fun parts now will pay off in the future.
- To get better, and better, and better. It is a truth universally acknowledged that a writer in possession of a brain will write crap at some (or many) points in their career. Seriously. I don’t think there is a writer on this planet whose every written word is pure gold. Writing is a process—a long, arduous, full-of-twists-and-turns process. The more you write, the more you learn, and the better you become.
- Imposter Syndrome will not keep you down. Admittedly, this is the problem that slips me into writing slumps the most. As much as I love bookstagram, I follow a lot of great authors who I constantly compare myself to. And instead of accepting and celebrating my own accomplishments, I discredit them by convincing myself I didn’t deserve them or they aren’t genuine. This is not right. Imposter Syndrome may not be going away any time soon, but identify those thoughts and then combat them with things you know you’re proud of, or just push through the lies and continue creating.
- To celebrate the small victories. You wrote 100 words after weeks of nothing? You finally thought of a title for your new project or discovered a character’s name? Amazing!
- You’d be furious with yourself if you gave up. Picture yourself six months from now. Are you still calling yourself a writer? Are you still writing? Yes? Then make the future you a reality by jumping back in the saddle.
- Your voice matters. Despite what Imposter Syndrome tells you, despite the rejections that keep coming, despite the empty creative well in you—your voice is unique, and valuable, and worthy. Don’t silence yourself before anyone has a chance to hear you sing. You never know, you might become their new favorite song.
I hope these reasons helped you feel a bit more confidence in your writing! If you’d ever like to talk about getting out of a writing slump or need a positivity pass on your work, send me a message on Instagram! I’d love to connect.
Thanks for reading!