9 Gentle Reminders For When You’re Afraid You Can’t Write Anymore

I believe I’m a writer, but sometimes, the words just don’t come. I could force them, but sometimes I choose not to.

Sometimes, I cannot write, no matter how desperately I want to.

So that’s what I’m writing about.

When you’re afraid your creativity has been stolen from you, please remember this.

1. It’s okay to take a break

We are not machines, but some of us are living our lives as though we are. Hustle hard. Grind. Produce. Sleep when you’re dead.

We are human beings. We need rest. We need time. We need space.

It’s okay to give yourself that time; that space.  You have permission to take a break if that’s what your heart is telling you to do.

Just listen.

2. Writing is a practice

Every time you write something, you’ll get a little better at it. The words will appear, and gently flow faster.

If you take a day off, you’ll stand still. If you take a few days or weeks off, you might take a few steps backward.

No judgement.

This is just the way it is. The way it has always been, and always will be. If you feel out of practice, know that when you step back into the ring things might be a little bumpy.

And that’s okay.

Be accepting of this. Buckle up for a bumpy ride.

3. The longer you wait, the more afraid you’ll grow

When we procrastinate, we always make things worse for ourselves. Because while we avoid doing that thing we don’t want to do, we instead end up spending all our time thinking about that thing we don’t want to do.

The more we avoid, the more anxious and afraid we become.

So if you’re afraid right now, I want you to know that’s okay. You’ll be okay.

Step into your courage today, and face your fears. Because if you don’t, they’ll have grown by tomorrow. And fear should never hold you back from what you love.

4. But be patient with yourself

You might sit down with your journal, or in front of a blank screen, and nothing will come. You might do the same thing tomorrow, and be met by more nothingness.

Patience is the reminder you need in this moment.

If inspiration has dried up, why not write about that. See where this takes you.

5. This is not a competition

You might be looking around and noticing other writers who, without fail, write every single day. And what they write is always really good. Meanwhile, you are struggling to string one sentence together.

But remember, you are not them. You are not on their journey.

Art is not a competition. It is a unique journey that we all take. And this is what makes it beautiful to those around us.

6. Your gift lives inside of you

If you ever fear that your gift has been lost or stolen from you, I need you to know that this is not a possibility.

Your gift lives inside of you. It always has, and it always will. No one can take it from you.

You might be struggling to find it today, but trust me, it is there.

7. Creativity is infinite

Maybe you’re worried you’ve used up all of your great ideas?

Nope.

Those ideas come from source. Everything in our world is born from source. And source is everything. So if you feel like your creative spark has burned out, it is your duty to re-ignite it again.

Get outdoors. Immerse yourself in nature. Have new experiences. Play. Dance. Sing. Paint. Laugh. This is how you’ll get your spark back.

And know that you can always re-ignite your flame within.

8. All you have to do is begin again

So what if the past week, month, or year was filled with stalling, erasing, or a lack of believing?

Today is a new chance. A fresh start. Today could be the beginning of your next chapter. All you have to do is try again. Begin again.

There is no shame in taking a break, or failing, and starting over.

This is how we grow.

9. This world needs your Art

You might wonder, what’s the point? Why you should I bother? No one’s ever going to read this anyway… and even if they do, what if they hate it?

Stop.

Because this is not your concern.

Your only duty is to make your art. The rest, is out of your hands. How people respond to your art, is out of your control. And if you create art from your soul, trust me, it will matter.

It will matter to that one person who’s afraid to share their own art. It will matter to the person who deeply resonates with your story. It will matter to the lives you touch, and the lives you change.

This world needs your art in it.