Let’s be real, writing isn’t always a magical stream of creativity. Sometimes it’s messy, stubborn, and downright exhausting. I’ve stared at the blinking cursor more times than I’d like to admit, thinking, “How do I even start?”, waiting for the stars above to align in my favor to have that Eureka! Moment, but over time, I’ve picked up a few writing tips that have helped me stay motivated, productive, and a little more sane.

So if you’re looking for practical advice from someone who’s in the writing trenches just like you, here are the tips I swear by (and trust me, I’ve tried a lot).

1. Stop Waiting for the Perfect Time to Write

I used to believe I needed the perfect conditions to sit down and write: a quiet house, a clean desk, a hot drink, and an exact mood. Spoiler alert: that rarely happens. Especially if you have a chaotic household like mine, always full of chaos, and where silence isn’t always golden. Usually, when it is quiet in my house, it means one of the kids is up to something or about to do something.

Now, I write whenever I can. I write while the kids are swimming in the pond, with me sitting under a tree. Sometimes it’s late at night after the kids go to bed. Sometimes it’s scribbled notes in my phone between errands. The perfect time doesn’t exist. Start where you are, even if it’s messy. Embrace your life and make it work for you. I find that it’s the messy moments that I find my most creative ideas.

2. Embrace the Crappy First Draft

The first draft is not supposed to be good. Say it with me: “It does not need to be good.”

Its job is to exist, to be messy, get your story out of your head and onto paper, not impress. Once I finally accepted that, I felt so much freer, like a weight was lifted from my shoulders. I just let the words come. You can’t edit a blank page, but you can work with a rough one. The magic happens in the rewrites.

I often do a journal session before I start writing as a way of letting my brain just dump everything going on inside, so that my mind is clear and I can focus.

3. Use Prompts to Get Unstuck

We all hit those “I have no idea what to write” walls. When that happens, I turn to writing prompts. Whether it’s a simple “What if…” scenario or a prompt from a card deck, they give me a place to start. I don’t always stick to them, but they help unlock ideas I didn’t know I had. I keep these writings in a special place for me to look back on if I need a fresh idea to help my story along.

Don’t know where to find any writing prompts? I have got that covered. In my FREE resource library available to my subscribers, I have 30 days of writing prompts, fantasy edition. You can sign up here and check it out!

You can also Google search just for general ones as well, and that is the beauty of writing. You find what works for you.

Tip: Try setting a timer for 10 minutes and just write based on the prompt. No overthinking. Just go.

4. Talk It Out

This might sound weird, but sometimes when I’m stuck, I talk to myself. (Okay, maybe whisper if people are around.) I’ll say things like, “Okay, why would my character do that?” or “What’s the point of this chapter?”

My husband at first thought I had finally lost my marbles, but now just knows that I am having arguments with characters who aren’t doing what I want them to do. (I can’t be the only one that they do that to.)

It’s like brainstorming out loud. Hearing the problem helps me figure it out. Bonus: I’ve also recorded voice memos while driving or walking when ideas strike and I don’t want to lose them.

5. Create a Writing Ritual

I don’t mean anything fancy. Just something that signals “writing time” to your brain. For me, it’s lighting a candle, savoring a fresh cup of coffee (I mean, who doesn’t love coffee?), putting on my “focus” playlist, and opening my document. It tells my brain, “Alright, we’re doing this now.”

It doesn’t have to be the same every time, but a small routine helps ease you into writing mode. Having a routine that you do also can help boost productivity, develop good writing habits, reduce stress and anxiety, and can help prevent those cursed creative blocks.

It could even be having your comfort show playing in the background while you write. I know when I have my specific writing playlist of music, I have to only have instrumentals playing, because if there are words in them, then my ADD pays more attention to what they are singing than writing.

6. Set Micro Goals

“Write a novel” sounds overwhelming. “Write 500 words today” sounds doable. Even setting a goal of 100 words a day is doable.

I break my writing down into bite-sized goals. Some days it’s a word count. Other days it’s “finish that scene I’ve been avoiding.” Small wins keep me moving and give me a nice boost of endorphins. And let’s be honest, crossing things off a to-do list feels amazing; it’s a real neurochemical reward for my brain.

Just look at your end goal of what you would like to accomplish, then break it down into sections. Even after this, break it down into even smaller chunks if you have to. Whatever makes sense and is doable to you. No two writers work the same way or even think the same way; that’s what makes us amazing!

7. Write First, Edit Later

Editing while writing is a creativity killer. I used to backspace so much, I barely made any forward progress. Now I permit myself to write messily. I leave all the misspelled words, horrible grammar, and punctuation for later. If I can’t think of exactly what I am trying to convey, I will highlight or place brackets in that spot to signal to myself to pay attention to that section when I do get to the editing stage.

I don’t let myself edit until the draft is done, or at least I try to, but sometimes I can’t resist and at least wait until the scene is finished. I do try not to let my inner critic roam free, but I mean, we are all human, and there is no right way or wrong way of doing things. Forward motion matters more than perfection, and progress is still progress as long as you keep moving towards your end goals.

8. Don’t Be Afraid to Delete

Once I do get into editing, I’ve learned not to get too attached to my words. If something isn’t working, even if it’s beautifully written, I cut it. Sometimes I paste it into a “Maybe Later” document just in case. But if it doesn’t serve the story, it’s gotta go.

I struggle with this part, especially because I feel like everything I wrote deserves its place within the story I poured my heart into. That’s not always the case, and sometimes less can be more. Readers know how to read between the lines to put information together. It hurts a little, but the story always ends up tighter and stronger.

9. Read Like a Writer

Reading has taught me more about writing than any class ever has. But I don’t just read for enjoyment, I read to learn. I pay attention to how authors build tension, how they transition scenes, and how they describe emotions.

If a scene hits hard, I reread it to figure out why. If something falls flat, I ask what could’ve made it better. Reading with a writer’s eye is like free mentorship.

Another great reading resource that really helped me is a great book that really broke down the process for me was Save The Cat! Writes A Young Adult Novel, written by Jessica Brody. Her other novel, Save The Cat! Writes A Novel, is just as great! Jessica breaks down what readers expect to be in YA novels and even shows examples of how other authors executed those in different ways. In my copy of it, I have highlighted and tabbed pages that I reference often.

10. Find Your Voice, Not Someone Else’s

It’s easy to compare your style to other writers and think you’re doing it “wrong.” But your voice matters. Maybe you’re funny. Maybe you’re lyrical. Maybe you write like you talk (that’s me). I tend to be on the side of being an oversharer. Don’t stifle your voice to sound more “literary” or polished.

Readers connect with authenticity; they want real human voices speaking to them through words. The more I lean into my natural voice, the more I enjoy writing, and the more others respond to it.

I know it is a scary thing to put yourself out in the big, scary world, but you just may be surprised by how many others are out there looking for content just like yours.

11. Use Tools That Work for You

There are so many writing tools out there: Scrivener, Notion, Google Docs, Grammarly, The Story Engine deck (I’m obsessed). You can read how I use them here. Try different ones until you find what fits your style. Don’t use a tool just because it’s popular; use what helps you actually write.

And yes, I keep a notes app full of random dialogue, plot twists, and title ideas. It’s chaotic, but it is what works best for me and my thought process. There are so many writing tools out there that it can be overwhelming to know which one to try first. Here is some very simple advice for that: just pick one, try it out. If it just isn’t clicking for you, then put it away and pick another. You won’t know which ones work for you unless you actually try.

12. Protect Your Writing Time

This one is tough, especially if you have kids, a job, or a dozen other responsibilities (Hey, it’s me). But even if it’s 20 minutes a day, guard that time. Put it on your calendar. Let your family know that it’s your time to create. It could be when you are at home, or maybe you write better in a coffee shop setting and can schedule bits of time to go there.

I have a sign that I put on my door, and I tell each one of my kids that if they see this sign, do not disturb. These times are usually when my husband is home, and he can wrangle them all.

It doesn’t have to be hours of uninterrupted silence. Just show up for yourself, even in small pockets of time.

13. Celebrate the Little Things

Finished a scene? Celebrate. Hit your word count? Do a happy dance. Writing is hard, and we don’t give ourselves enough credit. Celebrate the wins, even the small ones.

Because every word you write gets you one step closer to your story being real.

You can have a system of ‘rewards’ or ‘treats’ you can give to yourself each time you finish a micro goal. For writing sessions, I have a cup full of my favorite candies, and I tell myself that I cannot have one unless I accomplish the writing goal I had set for that day.

It doesn’t even have to be a big goal; it can be mini goals you do to achieve the bigger goal for that day. For example, if you have a goal to write 500 words that day, then you can set up a mini goal for every 100 words you write; you get a piece of candy.

14. Remember Your Why

Some days, writing will feel impossible; on these days, I remind myself why I started this journey. Maybe it’s to share a story that’s been burning inside you, maybe it’s to prove to yourself you can finish a book. Maybe it’s just because you love the feeling of creating something from nothing. Or it’s because writing is your way of processing the world around you.

Whatever your reason is, hold onto it. Let it guide you through the rough patches. We are all going through different phases of our lives, and you are not alone.

Final Thoughts

Writing isn’t just about having talent or the perfect idea. It’s about showing up, figuring it out as you go, and giving yourself grace when it’s hard. If you’re reading this and wondering if your writing matters, it does. And you’re not alone.

Whether you’re drafting your first story or your fiftieth, I hope these tips remind you that you’ve got what it takes. Keep writing. Keep learning. Keep going.

And if you ever need someone to cheer you on, I’m right here, typing away with you.

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Best Regards,

Real Talk Writing: Tips That Actually Worked For Me