Should You Write When You’re Uninspired…
Don’t think about it, just do it
You’ve been at work all day, and as soon as you get home, you need to make dinner, feed the kids, then the ‘stuff’ of life begins. Once all is done, cleared away, bathed and put to bed, do you feel like writing?
I’m often exhausted from my job, and by the time life has taken over, I don’t have the headspace to write — but that’s okay.
It’s not about the quality
Rarely have I sat down and written something amazing at the first attempt. Even if it’s complete rubbish, you can go back and edit later. Don’t try to edit as you go along, or you’ll never get it finished.
If you feel like you’re in a flow state, let it all come out. That’s when some of the best stuff lands on paper, even if it’s unpolished.
It’s not the big ideas
Writing in its simplest form can be the most effective. It’s not always about waiting for the genius ideas to flood your brain; it’s about letting go. Striving for perfection creates blockages. If you’re not writing, you’re not improving.
Chose your moment
I love my sleep, and I find it so difficult to get up in the morning, let alone get up and organise myself into a state where I can write.
In the summer, I did get up and write early in the morning, and the momentum I built from writing every day was incredible. I was able to finish my book quicker, and I felt fresher. I was able to crank out 500 words in 30 minutes because I was switched on.
I have also written in the evenings when I’ve returned from work. The key for me is Yes, I feel tired, but there is something within me that wants to write.
There are no rules
You make the rules, don’t worry about anyone else. Write when is best for you, but write, even if it’s just a sentence. Sometimes that’s all I can manage, and I always have the words’ one sentence is one step closer to the finished book’ in my head because it’s true.
Little incremental progress is the key to building up your writing. A little is better than nothing.
Give Yourself a Break
It’s okay not to write and have a break. Life gets in the way, and you also need to give your brain a break. Writing should be something you enjoy, and if it feels like a chore, don’t do it. Don’t try to force something that doesn’t feel right.
Stop overthinking
It doesn’t have to be so hard. Writing is like any skill; the more you practise, the better you get. You won’t be a literary genius when you start, and your grammar will probably be terrible.
Write because you love it, write because you can’t bear not to, not because you feel you have to.
