Honestly, writing when you are inspired is genuinely remarkable!
But how about those days when you aren’t just feeling like writing?
It can feel awkward and let you resolve: “Hey, not today!”
Okay, don’t feel bad! We’ve all been there.
But you can break the pattern swiftly, easily, and once and for all.
You don’t need a lightning bolt of motivation to write those words down; you will find great hacks in this article to motivate you to write when you are not feeling it.
We won’t bore you with a long list—six is fine, don’t you think?
Let’s get started!
6 Ways to Write When You Are Just Not Feeling It
Here are six ways to write when you are not feeling it:
1. Lower the Bar (Deliberately)
Here is one of the sneakiest reasons we avoid writing!
The pressure to make writing good right away is the desire of most writers.
We sit down with this invisible critic on our minds and shoulders, expecting perfect sentences to come out on the first try.
Here is a spoiler: That rarely happens!
Even the writers you admire most probably have rough, awkward drafts sitting pretty in their folders.
So here’s the trick—quit aiming for perfection. Instead, reach out for help.
Write a clunky paragraph, scribble half-formed ideas, or even type out something you know you’ll eventually delete.
Think of it like warming up before engaging in a workout.
Trust me, you’re just getting the muscles moving.
The truth is, there is no way you can edit a blank page, but you can always shape and polish a completely messy one.
Sometimes the act of allowing yourself to be “bad” actually frees up your creativity.
And weirdly enough, when you take the pressure off, the words flow more naturally!
So if you’re staring at a blinking cursor, remember this: a messy first draft is still astounding progress.
Lowering the bar wouldn’t mean you don’t care; it means you’re smart enough to identify that the goal is momentum, never perfection.
2. Set a Timer
Sitting down for an entire hour (or longer) can feel unattainable when you’re not in the mood to pen down anything.
The truth is, that’s where the magic of the timer comes in.
Thus, instead of thinking: “I have to finish this whole chapter” or “I need to hit 500 words,” remind yourself: “I’ll pen down for 15 minutes.”
That’s it. Fifteen minutes. That’s exactly the length of a coffee break.
The beauty of this trick is that it lowers the pressure and tricks a person’s brain into thinking it’s time to start.
Most of the time, momentum will take over when you get past those first few reluctant sentences, and you’ll naturally keep going.
You might look up and realize you’ve been writing for half an hour or more.
And here’s the best part: Even if you stop at 15 minutes, you are still a winner.
First, you’ll have words on the page. And this is infinitely better than staring at a blank screen.
Small wins add up over time; consistency matters far more than a “perfect” writing session.
So pick up your phone, set a timer, and give yourself permission to stop when you hear the buzz.
Guess what? You won’t even want to stop!
3. Change Your Scenery
Sometimes the problem isn’t just you, it’s where you are: Your surroundings!
Sitting at the same desk, in the same chair, or staring at the same wall daily can cause your brain to feel stuck on repeat.
Creativity likes a slight variation, and your environment has a greater influence on your mood than you might think.
The fix wouldn’t have to be dramatic.
You can move from your desk to the couch, write at the kitchen table, or even face a different direction in the room.
If you can and it’s safe, step outside—fresh air and natural light do wonders for your energy levels.
And if you really want to shake things up, go with your notebook or laptop to a library, coffee shop, or even a park bench.
The buzz of life around you can act like fuel, sparking great thoughts you might not have had in your usual writing spot.
Changing scenery also signals your brain: This is something new, so let’s pay attention!
Sometimes that little shift is all it takes to really get unstuck.
So the next time your writing feels flat, you don’t have to fight the page; move yourself instead.
4. Write Something Small
Big projects can feel like a mountain when your energy is very low.
A detailed blog post, a novel chapter, or that report you’ve been putting off might look so huge that you don’t even want to take the first leap.
That’s when the trick is to only think smaller. Much smaller.
Instead of forcing yourself to tackle the “big thing,” give yourself permission to write something small.
Jot down a quick journal entry about your day. You can even scribble a silly poem that makes no sense.
Make a list of random thoughts, song lyrics stuck in your head, or even what you ate for breakfast.
Irrespective of what you write, it doesn’t have to be brilliant.
It doesn’t even have to be connected to the main project.
Why does this work? It always works because the momentum is powerful!
Once you break the ice with a small, easy win, it’s easier to keep moving and going.
That silly poem could turn into a character idea.
That random thought might also spark a blog post.
Or maybe you’ll need a short piece of writing that allows you to smile. You know the drill—it’s still progress.
On low-energy days, the goal wouldn’t be to scale the mountain.
It’s just to take a step. And a small piece of writing can be precisely the step that gets you started.
5. Borrow Other People’s Words
When your words feel stuck, sometimes the best and only way forward is to lean on someone else’s.
Think of it like jump-starting a car.
You need a spark from another battery to get your engine running again.
Pick up a favorite book and read just a few pages.
Scroll through a poem, a blog, or a magazine article that lets you smile.
Also, please pay attention to the rhythm of the sentences, the way the writer turns a phrase, or the mood their words create.
Often, just soaking in another voice will help you loosen up your own.
Here’s another simple trick: copy out a sentence or two you love—by hand, if you can.
Something about physically writing someone else’s words shakes ideas loose in your mind.
You might begin by echoing their style.
Thereafter, find yourself veering into new directions that are uniquely yours.
Don’t get it wrong; this isn’t about imitation but inspiration.
Like musicians riff off each other’s melodies, writers can use another voice as a springboard. So, no guilt!
The next time you write, if your own words won’t come, don’t panic.
Borrow a little spark from someone else till your creativity catches fire again.
6. Bribe Yourself
The team at the Exquisite Writers truly means this!
Let’s be honest—sometimes the only thing that would get us through the door is the promise of something enjoyable on the other side.
Yes, that’s perfectly okay.
Writing is hard work, and it’s normal to require a bit of extra motivation now and then.
That’s where bribery (the good kind) comes in.
Make a deal with yourself: “If I write for 30 minutes, I get to enjoy [Type your reward here].”
Maybe it’s your favorite snack, a hot cup of coffee, a walk outside, or an episode of that show you can’t even stop binging.
The core concept here is to choose something that feels like a treat and makes you look forward to finishing your writing session, even if the session itself feels like a slog.
These little incentives can turn writing into less of a battle and more of a game.
You’re not just wrestling with the blank page. Instead, you’re working toward a prize.
Over time, this trick also helps build consistency, because your brain starts associating writing with positive rewards instead of pressure.
So if you’re dreading the page, try this: pick your bribe, set your writing goal, and then you can follow through.
It’s incredible how much easier “sitting down to write” feels when candy—or Netflix—is waiting simply at the finish line.
Final Thought
Dear writer: Not every writing session has to feel magical.
Some days you’ll write gold. Other days, you might drag yourself through mud.
But every word you put down is a step forward, and the act of writing itself often brings the spark back.
So, when you’re not feeling it, you won’t have to wait for inspiration.
Therefore, start small, stay kind to yourself, and trust that the words you are reaching out for will come.
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