When writing becomes something you no longer feel you want to continue doing, it’s not necessarily a sign that you should stop doing it. Taking a short break is one thing, and probably a good first step in moments of frustration or discouragement.
But the next step is always to jump back in — even if you don’t feel “ready.” Because here’s the truth: When writing starts getting harder, that’s when you know you’re doing it right.
Writing Is Work
There’s often a common fear among aspiring writers that as soon as writing becomes a “job,” it will stop being fun. In reality, if you really want to make a career out of writing, you’ll figure out how to push past that fear and enjoy the ride — even in the tougher stretches. Something that really helps ground me as a writer is reminding myself that even when I’m working on a personal writing project that may never see the light of day, of course it should be fun. But it’s also already a job.
Writing is difficult. Not because there’s something wrong with you or because you’re not meant to be a writer, but rather, writing is work. It takes extreme focus, determination, and even physical energy to write something from start to finish. It’s not supposed to be easy. If it were, everyone would be a published author or working writer of some form. Not everyone can do it because it’s work that not everyone is willing to do.
Comparison Is a Writer’s Ticket to Failure
The more you compare yourself to other writers, the less you will want to keep doing it. I know it can be hard to watch your friends and even people you don’t know well start to find success in the field you too want to succeed in. The good news is: When you see someone else get published and you think, “I want that to be me,” that is a pretty good sign that you have at least some real drive to make that dream a reality.
But as writers, we have to be careful not to hold ourselves to some imaginary standard in terms of types of success or timelines. Everyone’s writing journey is different. Some people publish their first books as teenagers. Others don’t get there until after they retire from the “traditional” workforce, in their sixties or beyond. Some people publish novels. Others win short story contests or write articles. You are not competing against anyone else — only yourself. If you can strive to be a better writer today than you were yesterday, that has the potential to serve as the motivation you need to sit down and get your work done.
How to Have Fun Writing (Most of the Time)
So, writing is getting harder, and you think you’re not having fun anymore. Honestly, it happens to the best of us. I’m approaching 30,000 words in my novel, and while it’s still an overall rewarding experience so far, the story is really starting to test my capabilities as a writer. The real challenge (the middle of my story) has arrived. Some mornings, I dread sitting down to write because I don’t know where my characters are going next and that’s terrifying.
What makes writing fun when it starts to really “feel” like work? That’s something you may have to figure out for yourself. The same way everyone’s writing journey is different, everyone’s creative highs and lows also vary. What’s keeping me going right now is reminding myself that publishing a novel has been my dream for years, and with every page I write, I’m potentially one step closer to that goal. It feels good. THAT makes it fun. You might need something more tangible, like a few M&Ms every time you write 200 words. You might have to try a few things to find what gives you that burst of dopamine that makes writing feel fun — even when you’re actively doing the work that sometimes doesn’t feel so great in the moment.
Always keep one important thing in mind: Many people, when they say they want to be writers, are after that grand satisfaction that comes with “having written.” You can achieve that every time you write. That is what sets you apart from those who want to write but don’t. At least you’re doing it. It may not always be fun. But at least you’re writing!
Meg Dowell Writes 