Why You Aren’t Writing

The premise of this post is simple. It’s a list of some of the reasons why you aren’t writing and what you can do about it.

You’re lazy.

This is common. But if you are serious about writing, you can’t wait until you want to write or feel like writing. It doesn’t work that way.

You’re scared.

Pigs can’t fly or drive yet so there’s nothing to be afraid of. Besides no fear in this world should stop you from putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard.

You’re bored.

Of the story. Of your characters. Of sitting in the same place, staring out the same window every day. In that case, the medicine you need is called Change. You don’t need a prescription, just your imagination. You are a writer after all. Revamp your plot. Revise your cast. And for what it’s worth, get outside. Shake up your schedule. Do something new and interesting.

You’re lost.

You have no idea where your story is going or what you want to say. While some writers can write without too much direction, others can’t. That’s perfectly fine. Take the time you need to figure it out. You don’t need to have all the answers but a general sense of your destination should be enough to get you going on your way.

You just don’t care. 

There’s nothing wrong with that. Do you care for every single character in every book you’ve read? No. Do you care for some stories over others? Yes. Solution: find something you care about, then write. Craft a character who excites you, interests you. But most of all, makes you and possibly your readers, care. And if you don’t care much for writing, you’re on the wrong site.

I would redirect you but I really should be writing. And you should too.