“I don’t feel like writing today.”
Ever said that to yourself? I’m saying it today. But if I followed through on the impulse, this page would be blank.
Why You Won’t Write Today
(1) Physical
Illness can strike without warning. And some people suffer from chronic conditions. I have clients who pray for a “good” day so they can put a few words on the page.
If you find a consistent malaise, consult your doctor. I know of a writer who had severe writers block for five years. Turns out it was an imbalance in her prescription medications. Once she made the adjustment, she was fine.
(2) Procrastination
Putting off until tomorrow what you should have done last month.
The art of procrastination is a refined ability honed over years of practice. At least 10,000 hours if you follow the Malcolm Gladwell principle. Have you rearranged your paperclips by size and color today? Have you watched the new cat videos on YouTube yet? Have you updated your Facebook status, uploaded a new Instagram reel, recorded a brief TikTok video, or read the latest blog from The Steve Laube Agency?
Just a minute. I need to answer this newly received email. I’ll be right back.
(3) Lack of Inspiration
It is hard to be creative when the well is dry. Inspiration can be elusive at best and absent at worst. Learning how to write anyway is a learned disciple.
Why You Will Write Today
(1) Deadlines
The perfect cure for those who need motivation. They say “dead” is in the word deadline for a reason. (See the story of the origin of the word “deadline.”)
A publisher will assign a due date for your work for a reason. Too many writers treat a deadline like a suggestion. A number of things should not or do not happen inside a publishing house until the manuscript is in hand. Without it coming on time, all sorts of workflow plans come unraveled.
But maybe your deadline is self-imposed, and it would be so easy to just let it slide. Who is going to know? “Beware of that snare” (he said while speaking to himself).
(2) You Are Rested
If you are truly burnt out, it may be time to rest. To let the ground lay fallow so it can become a place to grow again. Too often we push ourselves too hard to achieve and forget the necessity of rest. Today, you are rested and have the strength to carry on.
(3) Dedication
Writing is hard work. And if you are in the midst of a long project, the end is a long way off. But the dedicated writer gets something done, even when it doesn’t feel right. That is the mark of dedication. The one who wilts when the going gets difficult will rarely see the final piece finished.
Your Turn
Do you have things that keep you from writing?
What do you do when it doesn’t feel right?
Do deadlines work for you or against you?
I carped and whined “Don’t wanna write!’
until Barb pointed out to me,
to my chagrin and her delight,
that writing is my ministry.
She counted up the folks I reach
who tell her I brought them to God
without ever trying to preach,
and added that the reach is broad,
with some from distant foreign lands
(where they eat snails, or kidney pie!)
who found a bloke who understands
that life ain’t over when you die.
She said that though I play the clown,
I cannot quit and let them down.
Love this, Andrew! And it’s true!!
Thank you so much, Pam!
Wise wife, Andrew. And you’re wise to listen to her.
Wow, Andrew!! I’m sure you touch many with your words – – God bless you!
I have never procrastinated writing, in fact I have often procrastinated doing other stuff by writing instead. Of course most of what I write is garbage, but it sits quietly and on my hard drive and no one ever sees it. I recently found a box full of notebooks from my early life, each one full of my writing in terrible penmanship. Talk about garbage! I would rather write than do taxes, organize stuff, play games, watch videos, (I tried making videos, hated it), or take out the actual garbage. This comment is a case in point. Sometimes I wish I could catch a case of writer’s block, so I could focus on other stuff; you know, like life.
I love deadlines! Deadlines are my friend. I get excited and inspired when I have a deadline. Kind of like running a race with the end in sight. Or going on vacation and seeing our exit coming up. haha!
Of course, there are times when I don’t feel like writing. Sometimes, I push forward. Sometimes, I find something creative to do. Anything creative we do only helps our writing. And most of the time, I end up working out some plot problem that had me hung up.
I admit that I fell into the procrastination snare a few years after my first child was born. Those first years were wonderful. Yes, I was getting only a few hours of sleep at night, but, like most babies, she also slept during the day. Multiple times! And for two to three hours each! What breaks. I could sit at the computer and pour out the words. Then the daytime naps lessened until it was only one nap a day for one hour. That is when the procrastination bug struck.
I was so tired that I would get on my phone and check every unnecessary thing I could as a way for my brain to zone out. By the end of her hour long nap, I’d get almost nothing done.
I finally had to set up word count goals to push myself to sitting down and getting to work once she fell asleep. As I met each goal, I increased the word count expectation. It helped a lot.
I usually find myself either facing burnout or I don’t feel like writing a certain project. It’s especially easy for me to do both while rewriting versus drafting, since rewriting is particularly exhausting for me compared to the excitement of a first draft. I’ll find myself peeling away from my rewrite to smash out a fanfic or a character oneshot.
I don’t like to admit this, but I definitely work better under pressure. When I know my publisher is counting on me to have a project completed, there’s no other option—I MUST get it done! So deadlines are my friend! 😉
Very interesting- the history of the word “deadline.”
It seems to help me when I have a date to complete my work. Perhaps because I taught school for ~20 years and grades were due etc., and the term ended. You know you have to complete a project within a specified time frame.
When it doesn’t feel right, I do something physical– like a walk or gardening– or something creative–like playing cello, baking, or editing. I also use my resources like prayer, craft books, and author friends to talk through a solution.