Writing can feel like a rather lonely business ... and if you're feeling down or discouraged about your writing, it can be really tough to pick yourself up and find the energy and motivation you need to carry on.

There are plenty of places to find encouragement, though ... even if some of the ideas on this list don't work for you and your circumstances, others hopefully will.

#1: Supportive Loved Ones

We all deserve loving and supportive people in our lives. Hopefully you have at least one person who you can turn to for encouragement, whether that's your mum, your partner, a good friend, or maybe a kind uncle, cousin, or colleague. 

It's fine if they're not also a writer. What matters is that they care about you, that you can talk honestly with them about how you feel, and that they'll be kind and supportive rather than dismissive.

#2: Writing Friends and Acquaintances

Another great source of encouragement is fellow writers ... even those you don't necessarily know very well. Of course it's lovely if you can get together with another writer for coffee or drinks, and share your triumphs/struggles, but there are plenty of other ways you can get the support of fellow writers.

If you don't know any writers to talk to, try online writing-related blogs, forums, groups, and social media hashtags. If you've ever bought anything from me (like any of the guides and courses in the Aliventures shop, or anything that I sold in the past), then you get free lifetime membership of the Aliventures Club on Facebook. This is a great, supportive place to talk about how your writing is going and what you're finding challenging.

#3: Writing Podcasts

I find that listening to podcasts is a great way to feel encouraged in my goals (I'm particularly into a decluttering podcast at present, as I try to make real headway in our house!) 

There are loads of great writing-related podcasts out there, covering all kinds of topics. A couple that I'm currently enjoying are:

• The Creative Penn, by Joanna Penn - mostly covering self-publishing related topics, but also covers mindset, having a career as an author, marketing, and more.
• Become a Writer Today, by Bryan Collins - a wide range of different writing topics, along with book recommendations/roundups (e.g. best copywriting books, best Irish authors).

I also really like the Focus on This podcast for general goal-achievement support. It's not writing-specific but it's always encouraging to listen to.

#4: Writing Books, Magazines, and Blogs

I've always enjoyed reading about writing (even at times when I've not been actively writing much!) As well as picking up useful practical tips, it can be encouraging simply to surround yourself with the words and ideas of other writers.

There are so many helpful books out there to turn to, but for general fiction-writing support, I like Stephen King's On Writing, Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird, and Joanne Harris's Ten Things About Writing.

I subscribe to Writing Magazine in the UK, which is always a treat when it comes through the letterbox.

When it comes to blogs, you've got hundreds of options ... I find K.M. Weiland's Helping Writers Become Authors to be practical, insightful, and encouraging, and I hope you find Aliventures a source of encouragement too!

#5: Books in Your Genre ... and Beyond

The books you read can be a source of encouragement, too. If you're reading successful books in your genre, those can help you see that other writers have made it through the drafting and revision process and got their book out there into the world. If you're reading more widely, you might be inspired by authors' world-building or dialogue or characterisation.

It can be hard to find the time to read, especially if it feels like you should be busy writing books of your own ... but I think it's really important as a writer to make at least a little bit of time and space to enjoy reading. The joy you get from curling up with a good book is the joy you hope your readers will one day feel, too.

#6: Your Past Successes

The things you've achieved in the past can be a huge source of encouragement to you ... so remind yourself of them!

Perhaps you had a piece published in a magazine or on a website. Maybe a freelance client said lovely words about your writing. You might have been shortlisted in a competition. Keep track of your writing successes and keep a note of the nice things people say about your work. Use these to encourage yourself when you're having a bad writing week.

There'll always be ups and downs in the writing life ... the trick is to find ways to stay motivated despite this, getting going again even after a setback or discouragement. Try some of the ideas above this week and hopefully you'll find your writing spark again.

Happy writing,

Ali

P.S. If you missed last week's Aliventures blog post, here it is:

Batch Writing: How to Streamline Your Freelance Writing Process in 2024