Many creative people speak of waiting for that “lightning bolt” of inspiration to jolt them into making art. The problem is, those lightning bolt moments can be few and far between. If you really want to make writing a career, you have to treat it like one—putting in the hours even when it feels like a Friday afternoon and everyone else left the office for a long weekend. Treat inspiration like an unexpected gift, not a starting shot. You’ll appreciate it more, and you’ll get into the rhythm of writing regardless of whether grand inspiration is there.
So, to help you find your rhythm, here are three ways to keep writing when you feel uninspired.
1. Write dialogue scenes.
Creating dialogue between your characters is a great way to get to know your characters better, and for them to get to know each other. You may not use that scene about Alexis and Marco visiting an ice cream store, but your discovery that Marco is lactose intolerant informs the manuscript in other ways.
2. Don’t write in full sentences.
Break scenes down into bullets and block them out like a play. Where are the characters standing? What is the weather like? What is the mood? Why is this moment happening? When you get all the details out of your head, you may find you’re ready to try writing the scene again. If not, set it aside and keep going, laying the groundwork for a day when the words come more easily.
3. Write about why you can’t write.
Try being your own writing therapist. Why do you feel like you can’t write? Are you afraid of failing? Tired of the project you’re working on? Write a list of all the reasons you “can’t” write, then take a hard look and see what you can do about them. You may find that just doing this exercise is enough to get the words flowing.
Don’t use a lack of inspiration as an excuse. The most successful writers are the ones that know their most powerful writing will come not from staring at a blank page, but from consistently working on their craft. And you can bet that when that lightning comes, they’ll be at their desk, ready to catch it.
