If you’re a writer but you don’t always feel like writing, there are things that you can do to manufacture being in the right mood or mindset until you really start to feel your creative juices flowing. These tips should work whether you’re trying to write something for work, write something for yourself, or write something as an exercise.

To help you learn just what you can do to overcome issues with feeling ready to write, here are three tips for getting into the right mood for writing. 

Work With A Timer

Sometimes, if you’re needing to write something long, the idea of having to start from scratch can be intimidating. Especially if you’re putting a lot of pressure on yourself to write something good, it can be hard to take the first steps into your writing. And if you know you’re going to have to invest a lot of time into it, that journey can be a tough one to take. 

One way you can overcome all of these issues is to use a timer when you write. If you set a timer for 30 minutes to an hour and commit to getting as much writing done as you can during this time, you may find that it’s easier to get started and to focus your attention on your writing. Then, once the timer is up, you can reward yourself by doing something else until you’re needing to start writing again. 

Try Various Locations

When you can’t think of anything to write about, sometimes what you need is a change of scenery to help spark something in your mind. 

If you have the ability to move to different locations when writing, this could be something worth trying. You could move around to different rooms in your home or go outside of your home to areas that might inspire you. Another option is to change the way you work in spaces you’re familiar with, like cranking up the air conditioning or adjusting the lighting to bring about a new experience in an old space. Anything that changes up your routine and gets your mind out of its normal ways of thinking can be beneficial in getting you more in the mood to write. 

Storyboard Your Work

If you aren’t exactly sure what you want to write about specifically but you have a general idea in mind for how you want your writing to unfold, something else that you can try is to create a mood board or storyboard of sorts about what you’re trying to write. 

For some people, having something visual to look at while coming up with concepts or ideas for writing can really help. So if you can create a collage or an inspiration board that you can set up next to you while you’re trying to write, you might find the motivation you need to get started. 

If you know you need to write but you just can’t find the desire or motivation to do so, consider implementing some of the tips mentioned above to help you get yourself into the right mood for the work of writing.