How To Make Sure You Don’t Give Up Writing

Most writers find that their relationship with writing has highs and lows. There can be a few months where you feel completely inspired, and every time you sit down to write the words just flow. Then there can be times where it seems impossible, you are filled with self-doubt, and you don’t even know where to begin.

Having periods where writing becomes difficult is immensely challenging for writers, and once you have got out of the habit of writing it can be extremely difficult to get back into it. You wonder whether you have simply ‘lost it’ or just burnt out - it feels like all your writing juice has been used up, and you have no more words left in you.

However, happily there are things that you can do to avoid this. Here are some tips to help make sure you don’t give up writing.

Acknowledge you have a problem

It might be an age-old and rather simple first step, but by understanding and recognizing that you have a problem you can then begin to tackle it. If you are thinking you have nothing to say, that you don’t really care about writing anymore, and that your creativity has hit rock bottom you are definitely going through this, and you need to tackle it head on.

Never stop

If you are able to realise you have a problem before you actually get out of the habit of writing, one of the most important things to do is to keep on going. Even if you hate what you are writing and it feels laboured and slow, just keep at it.

Think of it as a challenge that you have to overcome. Pump yourself up. Look at yourself in the mirror every morning and repeat ‘I will not be defeated’ over and over again.

Do whatever you need to, but just don’t stop, because the longer you stop for, the harder the problem becomes to fix. Make sure you write continually and consistently, and one day it will suddenly start to feel easier - we promise!

Figure out what kind of writer you want to be

You may be feeling this way because you feel as though you have lost yourself, and with it your sense of purpose, and your own unique writing voice.

Sit down and make a note of all the reasons you want to become a writer, and what kind of writer you want to be. Whatever your message is, whoever your audience is, it’s important to remember them, and, in doing so, you’ll remember why you wanted to be a writer in the first place.

Read (a lot)

Find inspiration through other people’s work. Reading the work of authors you admire can feel daunting if you are going through a period of self-doubt, but if you approach the book with a positive mindset, and use it to inspire you, it can help you get back to tackling your own writing in no time.

Remember that you can get through this. While you may have days where you feel like throwing in the towel just remind yourself that this is something that has happened to many writers before, and something you will get through. Work through these steps, stay focused and you’ll soon see a difference in both your writing and your mindset - so hang on in there!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

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