How to get in the mood to write daily: 9 tips

Some days, I can write for hours on end, the words flowing effortlessly. Often, though, writing even a single sentence can feel like a battle.

After years of writing daily, I’ve developed a few strategies to set me up for success — whether the mood is right or not. If you also would like to look forward to sitting down to write every day, read on! 

1. Write at your peak time

Everyone’s creativity peaks at different times, so it’s worth figuring out when you’re at your best.

Some people are at their sharpest early in the morning, before the world gets busy with work and school. Others feel more at ease after dark. Take a week to experiment with writing at different times of the day. Pay attention to your energy levels throughout the day. Do you feel laser-focused after that first cup of coffee? Or does creativity tend to strike on your lunch break?  

Once you find your sweet spot, protect that time and make it a regular habit. Over time, the consistency you build by writing during your peak times will build confidence, strengthen your writing skills, and make your practice more rewarding. 

Once you know what time of day best suits your creative habits, it’s time to commit to your writing practice by finding time to write. 

2. Block out your writing time each week

I’ve learned the hard way that if I don’t plan my writing time, it’ll never happen. Finding a writing schedule that works for you is the key to a consistent writing practice.

When you’re looking ahead to the next week, block your writing time out on your calendar the same way you’d mark a meeting or appointment. I plan ahead each week with a calendar in my freewriting notebook. The schedule is color-coded to mark out different aspects of my creative process: drafting, revising, or self-promotion.  

If you need help sticking to a schedule, a tool like Reedsy Studio might be for you. Its customizable goals and reminders allow you to learn about your writing habits and set up writing goals that suit them. 

Even if you’ve figured out your most creative time of day to the second, putting pen to paper isn’t always easy.

3. Set the stage with a pre-writing ritual

Sometimes I suddenly remember other things I urgently need to do the exact moment I finally sit down. I have a chronic case of “let’s block out writing time for everything but writing”-itis, and a pre-writing ritual helps ease my brain into writing mode. I like to make a strong cup of coffee, put on a bossa nova playlist, and freewrite for ten minutes in my notebook before opening my favorite writing tool. (I love Reedsy Studio for its built-in organization tools — perfect if you’re working on a book!)

These small actions prompt a mental shift that lets my brain know it’s time to write. Over time, these rituals have become ingrained habits. And if I ever feel resistant, I remind myself that all I need to do is start the ritual — the writing will follow naturally. Well-known authors have offered pre-writing rituals ranging from prayer and candle-lighting (Jack Kerouac) to watching the sunrise over a cup of coffee (Toni Morrison). 

Here are a few pre-writing ritual ideas to get you started:

• Getting your blood flowing can awaken creativity. Walk outside for 20 minutes — no music, no early morning news. Just pay attention to the sounds around you. When you sit down to write, spend 5 minutes freewriting about your walk. 

• Settle in for a snug evening. Make a hot cup of your favorite tea, light a candle, and put on some calming music. Before you start writing, take a few deep breaths to clear your mind and shift into writing mode.

• Be your own cheerleader with an affirmation. It might sound cheesy, but saying something encouraging to yourself, like “I’ve done this before, I can do it again” really will calm your inner critic. Sometimes I start my sessions by writing an affirmation on a sticky note to post on my desk. 

And speaking of my desk, that takes us to my next tip…

4. Create the perfect writing space 

We’d all like to be able to write anywhere, anytime. But for most of us, that just isn’t possible! Most places are plagued by at least one distraction, whether it’s visual clutter, noise, or interruptions from well-meaning roommates or family members. To get into the right mood, you’ll need a place where you can write distraction-free.

I write best when I’m in a dedicated writing space. Sometimes it’s been a cozy corner of my room; other times it’s been a corner table in a quiet café. Right now, I write in a cozy armchair by the window of my local public library. (As you can probably tell, “cozy” is the running theme here.)

The place itself doesn’t matter as much as consistency. When I return to the same place each time, my brain learns to recognize it as my “writing zone.” As with ritual, settling down in my “zone” shifts my brain into writing mode, even when I feel unmotivated.

Don’t be discouraged if you can’t furnish a fancy home office. The search for a writing nook can be a great chance to explore your area. Check out libraries, local parks, and coffee shops to see what setting works for you. You might even bump into other writers while you’re there!

On the topic of other writers:

5. Find a writing community

We often think of writing as a solitary activity, but it’s hard to find motivation in a vacuum. Without someone to share your writing wins (and, let’s face it, writing losses) with, it’s easy to feel like you’re alone in your struggles.

Enter a fantastic innovation: the writing group. Whether it’s a formal writing course with a built-in community, an online group dedicated to writers, or a local in-person meetup, a writing group can provide accountability and encouragement. My online writing group — a casual community of aspiring novelists — gives me a place to vent when it feels like my work is going nowhere.

You’ll always get something valuable out of discussing struggles and victories with people who truly understand the creative process. And when you’re feeling uninspired, celebrating the progress of your peers might spark your own desire to write — even if you’re mostly motivated by jealousy.

Writing communities shouldn’t be your only source of inspiration, though. 

6. Fuel your creativity with inspiring reads

On especially difficult days, the regular writing practice that you’ve painstakingly built up won’t cut it. This happens to me, too! I’ll make my strong cup of coffee, settle down in my comfy writing chair, crank up the bossa nova, crack open my notebook… and sit staring at the blank page, unable to come up with anything worth writing down. On these days, you’ll want to call for backup — and what better backup than the books that inspire us to write in the first place? 

I often find inspiration when I read within my genre. If you write personal essays, read a few paragraphs from your favorite memoir. If you’re trying to choose the perfect trope to pull your romance novel’s protagonists together, reread the inciting incident in your favorite romance. Just a few paragraphs of some inspiring reading might be enough to get your pen moving.

Another tip: Start a list of essays, short stories, poems, and quotes that inspire you. Turn to these when you need a little extra motivation. 

That list might also include writing prompts to get your pen moving.

7. Experiment with writing prompts

Sometimes, writing feels like work (okay, sometimes writing is work — but that’s beside the point!), which can make it hard to get excited to start. 

The solution? Bring fun back into your writing.

I recommend trying out funny fill-in-the-blank exercises, or following a writing prompt that covers something I wouldn’t usually write about. 

A good writing exercise will take the pressure off and get you thinking creatively. Here are a few to get you started: 

• Write a story entirely of dialogue. 

• Write a story in the form of a letter, or multiple letters back and forth.

• Set your story over the course of a few minutes; no flashbacks, no flashforwards.

• Make a character’s obsession or addiction an important element of your story.

Starting with a prompt might allow you to write more freely — it doesn’t matter if what you write for these exercises isn’t any good. In fact, allowing yourself to write badly might spark even more creativity.   

8. Give yourself permission to write badly

When you stop worrying about picking the perfect word every time, you’ll silence your inner critic — that mean voice in your head that tells you you’ll never make a good writer. Free yourself to experiment and explore, and embrace the messy first draft. After all, writing is a process. Every great story starts with a draft — revision should come second.  

If the biggest obstacle to getting yourself to write is the fear that it’ll be terrible, remember that you can’t edit a blank page. Shut down the part of you that wants to revise as you write.

9. Set goals and reward yourself for meeting them.

Which sounds more achievable to you: “Write 80,000 words in three months!” or “Write 888 words today”? Chances are, it’s the latter. Psychologically, it’s easier to get into the mood to write when you have an immediate goal in mind. 

When I feel uninspired, I’ll set a goal I know I can achieve that day — maybe drafting 200 words, or outlining a single scene. By giving myself permission to stop writing after I get this small objective done, I take the pressure off. Sometimes, this leads to more writing than I expected.

If you’re overwhelmed by a big project, Reedsy Studio’s built-in goals page can make it easier for you to break big goals down into smaller ones and track your progress.

Along with setting achievable goals, it’s important to recognize all progress. Find small ways to reward yourself after each writing session — I like to dive into a good book or call a friend after my writing sessions. 

If you’ve ever struggled to get in the mood to write, know that you are not alone. The right approach is different for everyone, but these tips help me show up and get words on the page every day, even when I feel like I have nothing to say. Experiment with different combinations of these strategies to find what works for you — eventually, getting into the writing mindset will feel like second nature!