5 Unconventional Ways to Find Writing Motivation

We've all been there: staring at that blank page, the cursor blinking mockingly as if to say, "Well? I'm waiting." You've probably tried all the standard advice — tidying your desk, setting realistic goals, using the Pomodoro technique — but what if those popular strategies just aren't working for you?

The truth is, writing motivation isn't one-size-fits-all. Sometimes, we need to shake things up and try something completely different to reignite that creative spark. In this guide, I'll share 5 untraditional approaches that might just be the jolt your creativity needs. Let's stop waiting for the perfect moment and try something that’ll actually get you writing again!

1. Read a book you hate

It might sound counterintuitive, but sometimes, the best way to spark your writing motivation is by diving into a book you absolutely can't stand. Whether it's a genre you’ve always disliked or an overhyped bestseller everyone else seems to love, challenge yourself to read it from start to finish.

🔥 Why it works: Engaging with something that frustrates or bores you taps into a powerful intrinsic motivation — the desire to do better. This negative reading experience can:

• Clarify what you don't want in your own writing

• Highlight techniques that fall flat with readers

• Challenge you to craft something more compelling

For example, if you're struggling with dialogue in your novel, pick up a book with stilted conversations. That irritation you feel? Transform it into determination to make your characters speak authentically.

Even critically acclaimed works can serve this purpose if they don't resonate with you personally. The goal isn't to be unfairly critical but to use your genuine reaction as motivation.

2. Visit a place unrelated to writing

Even if you're a creature of habit, every writer should consider stepping away from typical "writing zones" once in a while. Instead of heading to your desk or a quiet café, try going somewhere that has absolutely nothing to do with writing. The aim is to immerse yourself in an environment that feels completely disconnected from your usual routine.

🌎 Try some of these locations:

• A local museum or art gallery

• A botanical garden or zoo

• A busy train station or airport

• A completely different neighborhood in your city

A few months ago, when I found myself wandering through a local museum on a whim, I initially felt guilty about “wasting time.” It felt like a random detour, but I ended up getting caught up in all the different exhibitions and beautiful paintings. Being around other kinds of artwork on display motivated me to return to my own project and write a scene set in — you guessed it — a museum!

Being around new sounds, seeing new sights, and even interacting with strangers (or people-watching) are all great ways to spark your creativity and help you think outside of the box in unfamiliar settings. While I’ll never stop going to bookstores and my local library, I now have an extensive list of different places in my city I can try visiting whenever the last thing I want to do is write!

3. Publicly announce your goals

Writing is often described as a solitary act, but sometimes, the best way to make progress is by putting your intentions out there for everyone to see. This means making your writing goals public — whether that’s through your website or blog, an announcement post on social media, or by telling your family or best friends.

🔊 How to make it effective:

• Be specific about what you're committing to (“I'll write 10,000 words of my novel by June 15th”)

• Choose the right audience (supportive friends, a writing community or group, social media followers)

• Provide regular updates to maintain accountability

• Consider the level of detail that feels comfortable to you (e.g., you don't have to share your story’s entire plot)

While we shouldn’t constantly put ourselves under extreme pressure, I’d argue that this kind — the pressure of having others know about your objectives — can be a surprisingly effective motivator that’ll help you actually follow through!

After all, when you publicly commit to something, the fear of failure or the possibility of letting others down could very well be the push you need. It adds that extra layer of accountability that staying alone and silent at your desk could never bring about.

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4. Create outrageous consequences

If you're not ready to go public with your goals just yet, you could still up the stakes by making a bet or challenge with a friend (bonus points if they're a fellow writer!).

⚡ The more ridiculous the stakes, the better:

• Wear a silly costume to work or school

• Perform an impromptu stand-up routine at an open mic night

• Let your friend post an embarrassing childhood photo on social media

I once knew a writer who challenged her partner to write 5,000 words in a weekend or else he'd have to perform stand-up comedy at his upcoming class reunion. Instead of running for the hills, he gladly accepted the challenge, and the sheer ridiculousness of the bet made him buckle down and get to work. (He actually ended up exceeding his original goal!)

This approach works because it:

• Creates a sense of playful urgency or pressure

• Transforms writing from a chore into a game

• Provides immediate consequences (rather than the long-term reward of a finished manuscript)

• Adds a social element to what's typically a solitary activity

While I wouldn't recommend doing this for every writing session, it can be the perfect boost when you're extremely stuck.

5. Write the worst story ever

If you’re a perfectionist like me, the thought of writing can sometimes be overwhelming because of the pressure to write something “perfect.” To help you break free from that, why not try writing the worst story you can possibly think of?

📝 How to embrace the terrible:

• Give yourself permission to use every cliché in the book

• Create the most two-dimensional characters possible

• Use adverbs with wild abandon

• Include dialogue that makes you cringe

• Write the most purple prose imaginable

By allowing yourself to write something intentionally terrible, you remove the fear of failure completely. After all, you can't fail at writing a horrible story if that was your goal all along!

This exercise notably creates a low-pressure environment that’ll help you laugh at yourself and the writing process, and overcome perfection paralysis. The hope is that the writing process will feel fun again because of the absurdity of it all. In fact, sometimes the most awful stories might just be what you need to rediscover why you loved writing in the first place!

The next time you feel stuck, consider trying one of these unconventional approaches. Writing motivation doesn't always come from discipline and structure — sometimes, it springs from the unexpected, the ridiculous, and even the terrible!

Remember, the "perfect" writing routine is the one that gets you writing. If that means reading books you hate or making outrageous bets with friends, so be it. Your creativity deserves whatever spark it needs to flourish.