I’ve got a confession to make: I started drafting my WIP a year ago, and I’m not even halfway through. In the past year, I’ve written a whopping 30,000 words. I should have this thing drafted and edited by now. I’m a slow writer… but not that slow.

I can make lots of excuses for why this story is eking out like clogged-up honey (or, in the last few months, rock hard honey). In addition to working a full-time job as a special education coordinator, I’ve been setting up an editing business. The end goal is to cut back hours on the day job and have more time to write, but for the moment, at least, I have less time. I’ve also worked some on edits on a different manuscript so my agent can get it ready to go on sub. I have my family and my church and my friends. I have cats who need belly rubs and a house that needs dusting and a garden that needs tending.

Those are all valid reasons. But there’s something deeper than that, I think. The real reason is that I haven’t wanted to write. I like the creepy paranormal YA that I’m writing, but I don’t know where the plot is going or what happens next, and for the longest time, I didn’t even want to think about it. My creativity had shriveled, and writing was something that filled me with dread instead of joy. It was like I had completely forgotten how to write a book—never mind that I’ve written seven of them.

This isn’t the first time that this has happened. One of the most memorable times was after I signed with my first agent, and I had my second book out on sub. I was sure it would sell, but we kept getting very kind passes, and I questioned whether I should just give up on writing. Meanwhile, I was trying to draft a new book, but I was putting so much pressure on myself to have it come out perfect that it wasn’t coming out at all. Eventually, I figured out that I needed to rediscover my love of writing and enjoy the process, no matter the outcome. (For the record, the outcome in that instance was terrible and the story needed a load of rewriting, but that’s okay. I got it done.)

This time around, I’m being more patient with myself. The dry spell is frustrating, but I know it won’t last forever. There are already glimmers of hope. The other day, I decided to swallow my pride and sign up for a workshop on getting “unstuck.” I forgot to actually attend the workshop, but within thirty minutes of signing up, ideas started flowing. I’ve started thinking about my story again, and it no longer feels like trying to squeeze out solidified honey. It’s refreshing.

If you’re stuck with your writing, here are my tips for rediscovering joy in your writing:

1. Give yourself grace. We all have seasons in life, and our creativity ebbs and flows. Sometimes life is a lot, and we don’t have the bandwidth for plotting doom and disaster for our characters. It’s okay. The story will wait. (Unless you’re on deadline. Then you better figure it out.)
2. Fill up your creative well with things not related to writing. Draw. Paint. Garden. Go for a walk. One of the reasons my ability to write is finally coming back is that it’s a lovely spring here in Minnesota, and I’m spending more time outside. It’s hard to get out in the winter when it’s so cold my nostrils freeze together, and it’s dark when I leave for work and dark when I get home. Being in nature renews me.
3. Read books you love. Whether you read new books or revisit books you’ve read ten times, focus on stories that lift your heart with masterful storytelling. (Maybe even include something you’ve written to remind yourself that you can do this.)
4. Do low-pressure activities related to your story. Free write ideas without filtering them. Just sit down at the keyboard or with a notebook and let out any far-fetched idea that comes to mind. Or sit in the bathtub and stare at a candle while listening to music that makes you think of your WIP. Go for a walk and concentrate on your story without a blinking cursor taunting you for your lack of productivity. (Plus, the exercise will help!)
5. Talk it out. Find someone—whether it be your significant other, a friend, or a writing buddy—who is willing to listen to your ideas and throw ideas back at you. They don’t even have to be good ideas. Sometimes the most horrible suggestions can get you thinking and inspire something wonderful.
6. Write somewhere new. Personally, I love writing at coffee shops, parks, and beaches. When I’m at home, I get distracted by my unvacuumed floors and the cat who insists on sitting in my face. My writing time disappears because instead of putting my fingers on the keyboard, I’m pulling thistles out of the wild edge of my yard while daydreaming about taking a flamethrower to them all. When I get away, I focus better. Plus, it feels like a special treat, which goes a long way in fixing my attitude. It’s fun, not a chore.
7. Fix your attitude. When I’m stuck in a rut, I think of writing as a chore that has to be done. I need to remember that storytelling is a joy. I don’t do this just for the end product, but because the process fills me up. When I get into the flow of writing, I’m refreshed. I feel like I was created to do this. And while I can’t rely on experiencing that joy every time I write (and I certainly can’t wait until I’m “in the mood”), I can certainly foster a positive attitude toward the act of writing. I can look forward to it as something I’m privileged to do, not as a chore akin to cleaning toilets and scooping out litter boxes.

What do you do when you’re struck in a creative dry spell? Comment below with how you pull yourself out!