In Monday's blog post, I wrote about how it's okay to take a break from writing. Writing shouldn't be yet another task you have to check off your list or an added source of pressure at a difficul time.
But what if you do want to carry on writing when things are tough?
Here are some small and simple ways to do it, without piling pressure on yourself.
#1: Write a Sentence a Day
If you're trying to get back into a big project, could you commit to writing just a sentence a day? It might sound like so little it's not worth bothering with -- but on good days, you'll hopefully be able to carry on and write more. On bad days, you can be done with your goal in well under 60 seconds!
#2: Keep a Diary or Journal
One huge benefit of writing is that it can help us think things through and find some clarity. Keeping a private diary or journal can be a way to give yourself space to unload worries and process your feelings.
#3: Start a SMALL New Project
Maybe writing your novel or posting regularly on your blog feels overwhelming right now. How about working on something smaller? This could be a piece of flash fiction, a standalone piece for someone else's blog, a poem, or anything else that you could start and finish within a week.
#4: Find a Writing Partner or Group
The support of other writers can make a huge difference. Do you have any friends who write? Could you set up an accountability partnership or group where you check in with one another each week? I'm doing this with some of my colleagues at Awesome Motive, and finding it really helpful.
#5: Make Notes for a Project
If you don't have the energy to write new material – like scenes for your novel or posts for your blog – then how about just making some notes? Writing down your ideas can feel less daunting. It can also help you ease back into the actual writing.
#6: Set Mini Goals
While big writing goals – "finish my novel draft by Christmas" – can be powerful and motivating, they can also feel overwhelming when the rest of life is hard. Bring your focus down to the short term. Set yourself a small goal for the week, like "write 400 words" or "come up with 20 blog post ideas".
Be gentle and kind to yourself. Your writing still matters and it's still important. It shouldn't be yet another thing weighing on you at a difficult time, though. Enjoy it as an escape and something that you love to do; don't pressure yourself to do more writing than you actually want to.
Happy writing,
Ali
