I love writing, most of the time. The thing is, every day, basically all day, I spend my time writing. Whether that means emails or blog posts or process documentation or letters or my next novel, I am constantly putting words onto paper. Now, if you’re like me and constantly blogging and writing your life away, you know that it sometimes becomes super stressful to even look at your computer and the blank page in front of you. Sometimes you have no idea what to write, how to write it or what even to say once you do pick a topic. I get it, then you spiral into the deep abyss of being completely and utterly stressed about what your going to write next! It happens to all of us! So here is a list of 10 ways to make writing fun for yourself; which you might need when you’re stuck in a rut and hating it.
Write About Something You Enjoy to make Writing Fun
When it comes to writing, and if you’re doing it “not for someone else”, you need to pick topics and things you actually enjoy writing about. There are a tonne of blog posts about “highest paying blog topic”, but if you hate what you are writing about you are never going to make a penny. You will actually hate it every time you sit down and put any words on paper. You need to love what you write, because you need to actually be able to take time to write it. If you hate what you write, you need to find a way to bring your passion into writing and actually enjoy writing again. Writing something you truly enjoy will make writing fun again for you.
Make Time To Actually Write
Everyone is busy, I totally get it, I am too. But sometimes this means that you end up dreading writing because you are super stressed about finding time for it. Every night at around 10 pm, I sit at my computer and feel bad about how little I accomplished in my nightly writing goal. Sometimes it’s because I watched a movie instead of writing or I went shopping, either way, I find myself feeling guilty because I had “dedicated my entire night” to writing. This isn’t feasible, instead you need to find a time to write and adjust based on the day. When you have time to write you will find it much more enjoyable.
While You’re At It – Make Time For Everything Else
I am bad for following this, because as I mentioned above, I don’t make time to write, I make time for everything else. Then I feel bad about myself when I don’t put enough words on paper by the end of the day. There is such thing as writer burnout, and I’ve definitely been there! My goal is to write 10 posts a week across 4 blogs. Most of the time I never reach that, and my excel spreadsheet just keeps getting pushed back. So, as a writer, you need to make time to write, but you also need to make time for the rest of your life, and the other things you love. Then, when you sit down to actually write something, you will love it again.
Write Things You Want Sometimes
You have an audience in mind when you are writing, because as a writer you have to know who you are writing for. But sometimes you need to forget about them, and write for you. I’m not telling you to write for yourself all the time, because you write for people to read it. However, sometimes you need to write that post you’ve been dying to finish or that chapter of the novel that you’ve been dying to start. You have to make writing fun by writing what you want sometimes.
Sometimes Have Fun With It
Sometimes, and just sometimes, throw the manual out the window! Instead of writing for SEO solely, write in a manner that you think readers would love. Or completely change up the way write a post. Who knows! You might come up with a great new way of doing something!
Switch Up What You Write
No matter what you write, whether it is blog posts or novels, you can find a new thing to write. Whether that is a blog post you normally don’t write about (that is still somewhat related to your blog, because #niche ), or writing a sultry scene when you normally shy away, getting out of your comfort zone can be great to make writing fun again.
Change Formats
I’m not talking about switching to a different topic like above, I talking about trying your hand at a new thing. Whether you switch from blog posts to podcast scripts or fiction to nonfiction, take a minute and try your hand at something new. This gets your mind away from what you normally write and actually can be a great way to find some amazing information.
Take Time To Read
While writing is great, and using all your time actually writing is great, you need to take some time out to read. Reading allows you to see how other people use language, grammar and structure. It also means that you you can take time away from your own words and learn something new. As a writer, you need to take time to read, and even though this is something I rarely do, I wholeheartedly believe that when you have time to read, you will not only become a better writer, but also enjoy writing more, and it will make writing fun again for you.
Give Yourself The Ability To Be Inspired
Giving yourself time to be inspired is important, because honestly, no one wants to read work that is an uninspired piece of garbage. You need to go out into the world, you need to feel, you need to live and you need to relate it back to people. Sitting at home staring at your blank screen all day isn’t fun, and I know you can pump out a blog post in an hour if you are inspired enough to put your fingers on the keys.
Sometimes Just Take A Break
Working yourself to the bone, is a great way to burnout. I’ve been there, everyone has, especially every writer and blogger. Sometimes, you need to give yourself the ability to just sit and rest. You need time to rejuvenate and see where your goals really lie.
Just Remember Why You CHOSE To Write
At the end of the day, these things can make writing fun again for you. But you always need to remember why you are writing and why you chose to write! No one is forcing you to do it, you do it because you love it.