12. When the Words Won't Come: Writing Habits and Mindfulness to Get You Back on Track
“Why couldn’t I write a single sentence today?”
You’re sitting in front of a blank screen, but your mind is somewhere else entirely. The story that felt so clear yesterday has vanished like morning fog. Your head feels empty, and every time you reach for a sentence, nothing comes.
There’s a name for this: writer’s block.
But it’s more than just “not being able to write.” Sometimes you write something, hate it, delete it, and repeat the cycle. Sometimes you lose the thread of your story entirely and have no idea where to go next. It’s the kind of thing that makes anyone feel anxious — and a little inadequate.
But here’s the reassuring truth: nearly every writer who has ever lived has been through this. You’re not broken. You’re not a fraud. You’re just in one of the most common — and most human — phases of the creative process.
So how do we get through it?
Today, in the final installment of our How to Write series, we’re talking about something that doesn’t get discussed often enough: protecting your mind as a writer. The inner strength to keep writing. The courage to keep sharing. The habits that carry you forward when motivation fades. This is a practical — and compassionate — guide to making your creative life sustainable.
Small Movements to Keep You Writing
1. Move Your Body to Move Your Mind
We’ve all had those days: you’re sitting at your desk, staring at the screen, and no matter how hard you try, nothing clicks. On days like these, forcing yourself to stay glued to your chair rarely helps. Instead, try moving your body.
Go outside for a walk — even just twenty minutes. Feel the sunlight, let the breeze hit your face. There’s a reason so many writers swear by walking: from Wordsworth tramping through the Lake District to Thoreau’s daily rambles. A walk isn’t just exercise; it’s a way of letting your tangled thoughts unspool, one step at a time.
Changing your environment works wonders, too. Leave your usual writing spot and try a coffee shop, a park bench, or even a different room in your house. Psychologists call this “psychological distancing” — and it genuinely helps your brain think more flexibly and process emotions more clearly. When the space changes, your thinking shifts with it.
Sometimes even something as simple as a hot shower can unlock something. The warm water, the white noise — your mind relaxes, and ideas start drifting in. That quiet, unproductive moment might turn out to be the most creative part of your day.
Writing is, at its core, the act of opening up your inner world. When that world feels locked shut, don’t try to force the door. Sometimes the gentlest way back in is simply to move.
2. Embrace the “Terrible First Draft”
Before you can write a perfect sentence, you need to give yourself permission to write a terrible one. Anne Lamott popularized this idea in Bird by Bird, and it remains one of the most liberating pieces of advice in all of writing: let yourself write a “shitty first draft.”
Five-minute free write: Every morning — or whenever you can — set a timer for five minutes and just write. Nonsensical sentences, cliches, cringeworthy dialogue — all welcome. Just keep your fingers moving.
Write the worst version on purpose: Deliberately use every cliche in the book. “It was a dark and stormy night.” “Their eyes met across a crowded room.” Write the version you’d never show anyone, and notice how the pressure melts away.
Remember: this is a draft no one will ever see. Think of it as a private sketchbook — for your eyes only. Once you accept that, you’ll find the words come much more easily.
3. Turn Writing into a Game
Writing doesn’t have to feel like climbing a mountain. What if you approached it more like a game?
The Pomodoro Technique: Set a timer for 25 minutes and write — nothing else. When the timer rings, take a 5-minute break. It’s a dead-simple rhythm, and you’ll be surprised how much focus it creates.
Word sprints: Challenge yourself — “500 words in 30 minutes!” Treat it like a personal mission. Many writers in NaNoWriMo communities use this technique to hit their daily word counts, and it works because it shifts the focus from quality to momentum.
Reward yourself: After hitting your goal, do something you enjoy — a favorite snack, ten minutes in the sun, an episode of a show you love. Small rewards send a signal to your brain: “You did well.” Over time, they help wire writing as a positive habit loop.
Habits and Community: How to Keep Going
Building Sustainable Writing Habits
Set realistic goals: Start with something manageable — “30 minutes a day” or “500 words a day.” The key is consistency, not heroics. As Anthony Trollope proved with his legendary morning writing routine, steady daily output beats occasional bursts of genius.
Build gradually: In your first week, write for 15 minutes. The next week, bump it to 20. Small, incremental growth matters far more than dramatic leaps.
Create a writing ritual: Before you write, do the same thing every time — brew a cup of tea, light a candle, put on a specific playlist. These rituals act as a signal to your brain: “It’s time to write.” James Clear calls this “habit stacking” — and it’s one of the most effective ways to build any new behavior.
The Power of a Writing Community
Writing alone is hard. Writing with others is far more sustainable.
Join a writing group or workshop: Whether it’s an online community, a local creative writing class, or a university workshop, putting yourself in a room (real or virtual) with other writers changes the game. Groups like Shut Up & Write, NaNoWriMo circles, or even a small critique group of friends can provide the structure and motivation you need.
Find an accountability partner: Having someone who checks in on your progress — and whose progress you check in on — makes it much harder to quit. You don’t need a formal arrangement; even a weekly “How’s the writing going?” text from a friend can work wonders.
Share your work: It takes courage to let someone read what you’ve written. But that act of sharing — even a small piece — reminds you that your words can reach someone. And that feeling is one of the most powerful motivators a writer can have.
Keep Sharing, Keep Submitting, Keep Moving Forward
At some point, every writer feels the pull to step outside their private world and put their work out there — whether that means entering a contest, submitting to a literary journal, or pursuing publication.
Start where you are: A personal blog, a writing platform like Wattpad or Medium, or a community newsletter are all great starting points. Don’t wait until your work is “ready” — the act of sharing is itself a form of growth.
Climb the ladder gradually: From there, you might submit a short story to a literary magazine, enter a writing contest, or begin drafting a book proposal. Each step builds on the last.
Failure is part of the process: You may get rejection letters. You may hear nothing at all. That’s normal — and it’s something every published author has experienced, often many times over. Those rejections aren’t roadblocks; they’re stepping stones on the path to becoming a working writer.
Life after publishing: A writer’s journey doesn’t end with one book. It’s a life of continually writing, sharing, and starting again. Publication isn’t the finish line — it’s a new beginning.
The Courage to Choose Writing as a Way of Being
Writing is an act of looking honestly at yourself. It’s also an act of faith — faith in your own voice, your own story, your own right to create.
Think back to the reason you first started writing. Maybe it was a feeling, a scene, a question, a longing. Whatever it was, return to that starting point from time to time. It’s your compass.
“If you know why you write, it’s okay to lose your way for a while.”
Keep that thought close. It’s enough to carry you further than you think.
And Finally: Coming Back to Yourself
The most important thing isn’t the word count, the publication credits, or the contest wins. It’s the relationship you have with yourself as someone who writes.
Befriend your inner critic: Instead of letting that harsh internal voice berate you, try treating it with the same kindness you’d offer a friend. You didn’t write today? That’s okay. You’ll come back tomorrow. As Maya Angelou once said: there is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you — but that story will wait for you.
And above all, don’t forget why you write.
“Why do I write?”
If you have your own answer to that question — however simple, however uncertain — then you already belong on this path.
