How Do You Get In the Mood for Writing? 10 Authors Share the Habits That Got Them Published

You want to write a novel – you really do. The problem is, you’re just… never in the mood for writing.

We feel you. Wanting to write is one thing – doing it is another matter entirely. So what’s the solution?

In the first article in our Ask An Author blog series, we share advice from ten published authors who have actually been there. Read on to discover how they get themselves motivated, and the habits, tips and tricks that have helped get them to where they are today.

How do you get in the mood for writing?

See writing as a discipline

Writing is a discipline and like all disciplines you don’t necessarily have to be ‘in the mood’ to do it. I try to keep to a strict work ethic, just like with any other job. I make sure I’m at my desk by 9am and I sit and write (whether I want to or not). When I’m finishing a draft or editing I’ll work until it’s finished – I can be a bit obsessive! Sometimes it’s harder than others and if I’m stuck on a plot hole I find that a change of scenery usually works, like going for a walk with the dogs or playing games with my daughter. Sometimes completely clearing your head of the problem helps to sort the muddle and the solution will reveal itself.

Once the draft or edit is done I give myself some time off to avoid complete over saturation. I find not writing is as important as writing– a story needs to have space and it’s good to give yourself some distance in order to be more objective.

– Ali Clack, author of Lie or Die and Blood Moon (coming soon!)

Remember – you can’t edit a blank page

I think it’s best to train your brain to just write no matter how you feel – the idea is that you can’t edit a blank page and books are made good in the editing of them. I have deadlines that need to be met, so I use the Pomodoro method, which means I write in 20-minute sprints with 5-minute breaks in between until I get to my daily target word count. Oh, and I put on sound blocking headphones, because I live in a busy household!

– Cara Miller, author of The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder and Death on the Red Sea 

Find what works for you

I find that if I’m very tired after work or a bit stressed with other stuff, I don’t always have the headspace to create from scratch, but I’m OK editing something I’ve already written. Some people have a set routine or favourite time of day to write, but because I have to fit my writing around other commitments, I don’t have that luxury.

I need quiet to write new scenes. Some writers like to curate a playlist to get them in the right mood, but music doesn’t work for me as I find it distracting – I’m either annoyed by it or, if it’s a song I like, I find myself singing along in my head! However, I can edit in a noisy room with my lads watching the football in the background, no problem.

If I’m stuck, I’ll take the dog out or go and do something else for half an hour, but if I’m time limited, it’s a matter of ‘bum on seat and get going’ even if that means jumping to an entirely different scene or getting into the groove by editing something I’ve already written. Once I’ve got started, I’m usually OK. I am a master procrastinator and get easily distracted with rabbit holes of research but deadlines always work for me – fear is a fabulous motivator!

– Sue Cunningham, author of TOTALLY DECEASED and CLOUD NINE 

See the bigger picture

It’s important to remember that the act of sitting down and typing words is only one small part of the process. Coming up with new ideas, research, rumination and experimentation are also parts of the creative process. Eventually, however, one has to start typing words onto the page or screen, because those are what bring all that creativity to life. So, sometimes I need to remind myself that it’s okay to have fun with the other aspects of the writing process and have to push myself to sit down and type.

The era we live in is one in which we’re led to confuse hard work with pain. But following that line of thinking will ruin you as a writer, because it implies that if the work is hard it means something is wrong and you should stop. But it’s okay for something to be difficult, to demand your focus and determination. That’s when the work is hardest, but also when it’s most satisfying.

– Sebastien De Castell, author of The Greatcoats fantasy series and the YA fantasy series, Spellslinger

Break it down so it feels manageable

I look at writing as a job. You still go to work, or school, when you don’t feel like it, right? What helps me is to break the workload down into sections so that I know I only have to write a certain amount of words, or a scene, before I’m done. My workcount is usually around 1000–1500 words per day. That feels much more manageable and gets me where I need to go.

– Laila Rifaat, author of Aliya to the Infinite City and Aliya Aboard the Time Train

Experiment with different locations

I just make myself write. My favourite place for writing, where I am most productive, is in cafés. I think it’s because there are no interruptions. But I try to write every day at home, and if I have a deadline I will use a star chart and give myself stars for each hourly writing sprint. I’ve got a target of at least 3 stars a day at the moment.

– Kirsty Collinson, author of Storm Heart

Try white noise for concentration

I find that the thing that most makes me want to write is reading. I often start off a writing session by reading a few pages of a book that is really beautifully written, or that has the kind of atmosphere that I’m looking for in my own work. (This usually needs to be a book that I’ve read before, otherwise I just give into temptation and keep on reading, and no writing gets done at all!). I also love writing in coffee shops, and find it much easier to get down to writing when I’m away from home (and armed with a large coffee and a croissant, obviously). Another thing I use a lot is white noise – this was initially to drown out tinnitus, but seems to work really well to help with concentration. My first book is set on a train, so I discovered the (surprisingly large!) number of YouTube videos which are just ‘train noise’, and now that I’m writing about the sea for book 2 I’ve turned to – yes, ‘sea noise’. YouTube is a strange place, but very useful for writers!

– Sarah Brooks, author of The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands

Just sit down and write

How do I get in the mood for writing? I don’t. I just make sure I sit down every morning and don’t stop until I’ve written something. I have to empty my mind though. If I’m stressed it doesn’t work – then I have to go for a walk and come back to it.

– Alex Atkinson, author of The Cinderman and the rest of the Spooksmiths Investigate series

Consume the creativity of others

I get in the mood for writing by consuming the creativity of others – reading, watching TV, listening to music, etc. – and then re-reading parts of the story I currently have down to get myself back into that world’s frame of mind. I also use a lot of Pomodoro timer videos on YouTube.

– Jessica Popplewell, author of The Dark Within Us

Remember that even a little bit of progress is progress

Like many others writers, I don’t think in terms of ‘getting in the mood’ for writing. When it’s my time to write, I sit down and I do it.

If you’re waiting for the muse to strike you before you’ll sit down and write, then you’re going to be waiting a very long time.

There are certainly times when I feel more in the flow, and the words and ideas come easily, and those moments are the very best.
And there are other times when every word is like getting blood out of a stone, and it’s gruelling and exhausting. But I think during those times you still have to keep your bum in that seat and make some progress, even if it’s just a little. Because it’s still progress.

– Katja Kaine, author of Blood of Gods and Girls (coming soon!)