Five Tips for Beating the Writing Blues

All writers know about the writing blues. You've been productive and prolific for weeks when all of a sudden you can't bear the thought of looking at your computer for one more minute. The writing blues often come on fast and they frequently are caused by something other than writing. If you can figure out why you're lacking motivation, you can usually push it aside.

Beating the Writing Blues: Write Something You Enjoy

Writers are, above all else, creators, and we enjoy writing about things that interest us. If you are forced to write about something you hate every day, you're eventually going to burn out on writing altogether, so try writing about something you enjoy. Blogging, writing in a journal or submitting short stories to magazines are all great ways to go back to what you really love about your career.

Beating the Writing Blues: Take a Day Off

You can't write every day of your life; you'll start to go insane. When you start to feel like vomiting every time you head toward your computer, take a day off and go fishing or shopping or hiking. There aren't any rules that say you must write all the time, and if you don't give yourself a breather every once in a while, your work will start to suffer. Sometimes a change of scenery is all you need to put your career back into perspective.

Beating the Writing Blues: Talk with Other Writers

Regardless of what emotions you are feeling, chances are another writer has felt them before. Talk with some of your writer friends about the blues and ask what they do to cope. Sometimes just talking about it will help to relieve some of the tension, and you'll find that misery does enjoy company. In fact, you might want to start a writer's group or get involved with a writing class that will help you to feel connected.

Beating the Writing Blues: Find Your Passion