How do you stay motivated to write?

“I’m really struggling with motivation and haven’t touched any of my WIPs in a couple weeks. Do you have any tips on staying motivated?”

Every writer knows that feeling of demotivation, when the words just won’t come, and opening your work-in-progress feels like an insurmountable task. It’s hard not to feel the draw of the TV show everyone else is watching or that book that everyone is raving about when you’re faced with a blank page. So how do you stay motivated to write?

It’s completely normal to experience periods of low motivation, but there are always strategies you can try to help you get back on track.

Understand what’s really blocking you

When we’re not motivated to write, we often label it as writer’s block. It’s a catch-all term that lets us put a label on how we’re feeling. We get to blame our lack of motivation on some ephemeral writer’s malady, when usually it’s something concrete and fixable. Before trying to force yourself back to writing, take a moment to identify what’s really holding you back:

• Are you stuck on a particular plot point?
• Has your inner critic become too loud?
• Are you overwhelmed by the scope of your project?
• Have you lost connection with your story’s core idea?
• Are you physically or mentally exhausted?

All of these are valid, and very real reasons why we might experience writer’s block. But understanding the root cause can help you choose the most effective strategy to overcome it and stay motivated.

Create a sustainable writing routine

Motivation is unreliable, but habits are powerful. We can trick our brains into staying motivated just by having a routine that we expect to follow. It stops us overthinking things and keeps us grounded in the physical activity. Instead of waiting for inspiration to strike, you could try to:

• Set aside a specific time for writing each day, even if it’s just 15 minutes.
• Create a dedicated writing space that’s free from distractions.
• Develop pre-writing rituals that signal to your brain it’s time to work.
• Track your progress to build momentum.
• Celebrate small wins along the way.

Remember, you don’t need to write for hours. Consistent small sessions are often more productive than irregular marathon writing. You can build a routine that works for you. If you can only write for 20 minutes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, then that’s fine. But set aside time that is there for writing that isn’t just “when I feel like it.”

Connect with your story again

Sometimes we lose motivation because we’ve lost touch with what excited us about our story in the first place. A fresh idea might come along and pull us in a different direction. We might even find ourselves in a different mental state that means the original idea isn’t as appealing as it once was. When this happens, first, examine whether you genuinely want to continue with the project you’re working on. If the spark is really gone, then there is no shame in shelving the project and working on something new. But if you know you want to continue, then you can try these techniques to rekindle that spark and stay motivated to write:

• Reread your favourite scenes.
• Write character backstories and do some worldbuilding, just for fun.
• Create a mood board or playlist for your story.
• Set a timer, and freewrite about why this story matters to you.
• Imagine telling someone about your book in an interview and write out your answers.

Revisiting your story in a way that goes beyond the work of it can make a world of difference when trying to reconnect.

Find your community

Writing doesn’t have to be a solitary pursuit. Having support can make a huge difference in staying motivated. Seeing someone else get excited about your story, or genuinely helping you to improve it can be a massive part of staying motivated. You could try to:

• Join a writing group or find a writing buddy to bounce ideas off and give each other critiques.
• Share your goals with someone who will hold you accountable. There’s no bigger motivator than having to justify your lack thereof to someone else.
• Participate in writing challenges or events. A deadline and a shared goal can be a great push to get some writing done.
• Consider working with a writing coach or mentor. This won’t work for everyone, but for some people, the structure really helps.

Change your perspective on motivation

Instead of viewing motivation as something you need before you can write, try seeing it as something that comes from writing. I’m often not in the mood to write when I sit down at my desk, but once I get started, I almost always get in flow. Some ways to shift your mindset might be to:

• Focus on process over product. Enjoy the act of writing and worry less about the finished product.
• Give yourself permission to write imperfectly. There’s no such thing as a perfect first draft. Hating your writing is the biggest demotivator, but just remember, everyone’s first draft is terrible compared to what gets published.
• Set achievable goals that build confidence. This means keeping your goals realistic and not setting yourself up to fail. A goal as simple as 10 words a day means you can see progress, instead of having something huge and unattainable looming over you.

When motivation simply isn’t there

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, motivation remains elusive. And sometimes it’s ok to not stay motivated, and there are usually good reasons for that. If you really can’t get back into the swing of things, then be gentle with yourself and try the following to make sure that this is really the project for you:

1. Take a deliberate, guilt-free break.
2. Set a specific date to return to your project.
3. Use the time off to refill your creative well through reading or other activities.
4. If journaling is something that works for you, write about your writing struggles and try to interrogate them.
5. Consider if your project needs to evolve in a new direction.

If you’ve tried the above (or some personal variation of it) and you still don’t have the motivation to keep going on your project, then it might be time to shelve it and move onto another project that does excite you. Sometimes you just can’t force creativity.

Practical exercises to boost motivation

1. Write a letter from your future self celebrating completing your project. Seal it, and only open it when you get to the finish line.
2. Set a timer for 5 minutes and write anything. Starting is often the hardest part.
3. Create a “done list” instead of a to-do list to recognise your progress and take focus away from the tasks still ahead of you.
4. Interview your characters about where they want the story to go. It’s fun and helps spark ideas.
5. Write something else for a little while to give yourself a break from just working on the one project.

Remember, motivation isn’t a constant state. It’s normal for it to come and go. The key is building systems and habits that help you continue making progress, even when it’s hard to stay motivated. Trust that your story is worth telling, and keep showing up for it, one word at a time.