eWriteLife Blog

“Only a mediocre writer is always at his best.”
- W. Somerset Maugham

As writers, we often delude ourselves into thinking that we must always be inspired to write. If it’s not ‘inspired writing’ - it’s not writing at all.

Maybe there’s some truth in it.

But then, as many writers who depend on written words for food, rent, and shelter can attest: We can’t always depend on inspiration. There are times when we just have to do it. Write, that is.

So, we draw our inspiration not on the whispering winds or the majestic sunsets, but at the thought of eviction or that gurgling stomach. Or, from anything else that makes us bleed words on that empty page.

Maybe that’s why Pearl Buck ended up saying: “I don’t wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has got to get down to work.”

So, we plough on: word after word after word. Until we reach that goal - and deadline. Or rather, lifeline.

That is why I’m here. Stuck, but here nevertheless. This can remind us that though there will be times when we feel stuck and uninspired, we can still keep writing.

How about you? What do you when you get stuck and uninspired? Do you have tips for other writers on how to get ‘unstuck’ and write with or without inspiration?

Note: This was previously published in a slightly different format at Suite101.com. I’m the original author, of course. So I have the right to reprint this. And, so far, I haven’t given permission to anyone else to do the same.