Don’t Write When You Don’t Feel Like It

Because forcing things never ends well

It’s human nature. We fight and force everything. When we don't feel like doing something we love, we panic. We automatically assume something is wrong. We run to the internet to find a solution and when we can’t find a solution, then it's a problem. Writing is one of the things that doesn't come easy every single day. And that's why writer's block is a thing.

Writer's block is a signal to stop. It's a signal to take a break or a vacation. It's a signal to go do anything else other than write. When many of us don't feel like writing, we fight it. We prove we can beat it if we just force ourselves to write.

Not feeling like writing is a sign to pause and reflect. It is the much-needed break every writer needs. Without writer's block, we would write and write until all there is left to write is garbage and lies. When you surrender to your writer's block and let it pass naturally without forcing it to leave, something amazing happens. You gain clarity and you have a sense of renewal.

We use our minds, bodies, and hearts when we write. And like everything else, you need time and space to recharge. We need breaks even from the activities we are passionate about. But when your income depends on your ability to write, whining about your writer's block seems to be the best way to go. But complaining doesn't get you anywhere. It only distracts you from the golden opportunity that writer’s block offers.

When you approach it right, writer’s block is your secret weapon to becoming a better and more resilient writer. Behind every “I don't feel like writing’’ is a deep-rooted fear. The other day, I woke up with a very strong desire to write a book. I kept thinking about it and pondering on the process. I realized how much work it all seemed.

I decided to let the idea go and write my daily article. But I couldn't write anything at all. I couldn't write because the fear of writing the book was still on my mind. Writer’s block is a signal to stop and reflect on what you fear and why. If you don’t acknowledge the fear, then you won't face it.

All it takes to move through fear is feeling it, facing it, and saying to yourself, “Okay, this is scary. But I will figure it out. I don't have to figure out every single detail about writing a book right this minute, but I will get to it.”

When you don't feel like writing, your mind goes blank for a reason. You search for ideas or some stimulation to re-ignite the writing process. The temporary stall caused by writer’s block motivates you to rethink your approach, which helps you to create new ideas and angles to write them from. When we wake up every morning and like zombies, we open up our laptops and start writing whatever, we are caught up in a routine that can prevent us from thinking outside the box.

When all we care about is reaching a word count, it minimizes our creative thinking abilities. We write whatever we can just so we can be done and get up. The downtime associated with writer’s block serves to motivate your creativity in an attempt to stimulate your brain to come up with fresh and original ideas instead of writing something that's been written multiple times already. When you stick to a flat line train of thought, you’re likely to get bored and consequently bore your readers too.

During the pause of writer’s block, you re-evaluate your situation. You ask ‘what am I trying to do’ or ‘whom am I trying to reach’ as you rediscover your focus. After an episode of writer’s block, you can finally get back on track to writing articles that actually make a difference.

Having the knowledge that you were able to overcome your inability to think or write creatively helps to restore and strengthen your own confidence. You know how to manage these mental blocks when they strike again.

When you don't feel like writing and you don't, it normally results in you finding new resources for writing material. Whether it is a different way of thinking or a new source of information, you are now better prepared to write than you were before.

A writer’s world is a world of imagination, insights, and facts. Being able to coordinate and organize the details of a story requires focus and lots of creativity. Perhaps it is high time you saw writer’s block as a timeout to create elements such as surprise and suspense that will help spice up your work and write differently.

The best time to do research is when you don't feel like writing or when you are stuck. The writing process isn't all about writing. Thinking and researching are also part of the process. When I don't feel like writing, I don't write and I engage in relevant research or anything else that will help me improve my content.

Hanging on to the frustrations associated with ‘not feeling like writing’ only makes it worse. Take a timeout to change the scenery. Writers are allowed to take vacations, too. A museum or a lake may be all you need to bring back floods of memories and the creative genius in you.

When you don't feel like writing, go back and appreciate your own work. Even the first creator of the universe stopped creating to appreciate His own creation.

Writers are not immortal. We spend a significant amount of time on a single project just to get the best. So, when you’re mentally stuck and don't feel like writing, it’s not a taboo. It's not the end of the world.

You could be mentally exhausted, or your body is simply telling you to take a nap. If I don't feel like writing, doing research, or anything writing-related, I close the laptop and I take a nap. A refreshing nap gives me the boost needed to produce the best work.

Writing isn't just recreation or a hobby. It is a vocation that requires the ability, skill, and talent to weave words together creatively. So, when you don't feel like writing, it is a reminder that like anyone with a vocation would; you need to consider a picnic, vacation, or a power nap to regroup and reboot.

Your sanity and quality writing depend on it. Stop and take care of yourself. Pour yourself a glass of wine or grab a beer, lay on the couch, and watch Harry Potter marathons on TV. It's okay to live a little.