Every writer has been there: you sit down with good intentions, maybe even a strong cup of coffee, and suddenly your brain decides it’s a potato. The cursor blinks at you like it knows you’re a fraud. And instead of writing, you’re scrolling Twitter (sorry, “X”), reorganising your pens by colour, or wondering if you should finally clean that mysterious corner of the fridge.
The truth? Not feeling like writing is normal. Even the greats face it. Neil Gaiman once said: “This is how you do it: You sit down at the keyboard, and you put one word after another until it’s done. It’s that easy, and that hard.”
So, how do we drag ourselves back to the page when everything in us screams nah, not today?
1. Lower the bar (seriously, put it underground)
Writers often sabotage themselves with expectations. We imagine sitting down and producing something Shakespeare would envy. Instead, start small. Aim for just 100 words. Or write one scrappy paragraph. Often, that momentum carries you forward.
As author Jodi Picoult puts it: “You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.”
2. Use the “Bribe & Threat” Method.
We’re not above bribes here at The Writing Community Chat Show. Promise yourself a reward: a biscuit, a walk, or even an episode of your comfort show. Pair it with a gentle threat: no words, no reward.
Yes, you’re basically parenting yourself. But it works.
3. Community > Isolation.
Writing can feel lonely, but it doesn’t have to be. Research shows accountability boosts productivity. That’s why writing sprints, online groups, or even just posting “I’m writing today, hold me accountable” in a community like ours can kick you into gear.
Fun fact: In one survey published by The Atlantic, writers admitted they often wrote more when they had an audience, even if that audience was just a cat staring at them in judgment.
4. Embrace “Bad Writing Days.”
Here’s the thing: not every writing session has to be brilliant. Sometimes you’ll write nonsense. Sometimes it’ll read like a bad soap opera script. That’s okay. Those “bad” days are still progress, they’re training your brain to show up.
The popular idea that “it takes 21 days to form a habit” comes from a 1960s book by Dr. Maxwell Maltz. He noticed it took patients around 21 days to adjust to things like losing a limb or getting plastic surgery. Over time, this was misquoted as “habits take 21 days.”
More recent research (University College London, 2009) found that on average, it takes about 66 days for a habit to stick—but the range was huge, anywhere from 18 to 254 days depending on the person and the habit.
What matters more than the number of days is consistency + context:
Doing it at the same time of day helps.
Linking it to another habit (“habit stacking”) makes it easier (e.g. “I’ll write right after I brush my teeth”)
Missing a day or two doesn’t ruin your progress—what counts is not quitting altogether.
Think of it like going to the gym: not every session is personal-best material, but every rep still builds strength.
5. Steal from Your Future Self.
One hack we love? End your writing session mid-sentence or mid-paragraph. That way, when you come back, you don’t start with a blank page, you’re already halfway into something. Hemingway did this, and if it’s good enough for Papa H, it’s good enough for us!
A Serious Note (Because We Care)
If you never feel like writing, it might be more than procrastination. Burnout is real. So is depression. If writing feels like a chore every day, step back and check in with yourself. Sometimes rest is the most productive thing you can do.
Both Chris Hooley, and I, have had our fair share of depression battles. We are here if you need us. We vouch for exercise, walking, and ICE BATHS! Really! We both do these most days now. They help.
Final Thought
Writing when you don’t feel like writing is a bit like doing laundry (or washing, in the UK): nobody wakes up excited to do it, but future-you will thank present-you for getting it done.
So next time you’re staring at that blinking cursor, remember, you’re not alone. Every author we’ve ever interviewed on The Writing Community Chat Show has had those days. The difference between finishing a book and not often comes down to one simple decision: to write anyway.
💬 Your turn: What’s your go-to trick when you don’t feel like writing? Comment below, we’ll share the best in a future episode!
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📢 Sponsored Segment – The Amazon KDP Storyteller Award!
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If you’re a writer, this could be your chance to take your career to the next level. Find out more here:
👉 Amazon KDP Storyteller Award.
Together as one, we get it done. ✍️
I love your tips! I do something similar to stealing from your future self—I always write a scene out to a point where I feel I don’t have to worry about forgetting how I wanted it to go, but then I stop and save the next bit for the next time I write. It helps to have that idea of what comes next so I can jump right back in!