Have you ever felt like calling it quits on writing? Have you ever felt like you’ve been pushed, pulled and stretched so thin, that you don’t know how you’ll manage to write another word?

If you can relate to wanting to quit writing, read on. My hope is that something said here will inspire you to keep going.

How to keep writing…

I’ve struggled with writing the middle of books. I’ve struggled to finish them too.

The romance I’m writing right now(under pen name), has frustrated me for the past 4 weeks, because I wasn’t sure exactly where my muse was taking the story.

So many times I’ve wanted to just give up. 

The messy middle of any story has always been the hardest part of writing for me. I definitely relate to this middle part of the story as feeling like I’m in the belly of the beast… as Steven Pressfield describes it in his book, The War of Art.

This middle part of the book is where we as writers feel suspended between the beginning and the end. It’s also where real doubt forms in our minds that we can actually finish this book.

Incidentally, I’ve noticed when I’m writing romance, this middle part is also where the hero and heroine form their strong doubts. Maybe there’s a connection between what I’m experiencing as a writer and what I’m writing in my fiction? Hmmm… that’s something to think about. 😉

As you write a book, blogpost or anything else, don’t be surprised when some form of resistance hits you and tries to stop you in your tracks.

I used to give into resistance, telling myself it was too difficult to finish.

But then I learned…

How to Hang on and Finish the writing project

The more I write, the more I’ve learned that a prepared and successful mindset is a very real part of finishing writing projects.

How to tackle resistance that tries to stop you from writing…

1.Learn how to write alone. Yep, instead of needing to feel validated all the time(which is very real for me), I’ve needed to train myself to find emotional and spiritual nourishment in the work itself.

As a writer, you will grow into a greater awareness of your gifts and what you’re called to write. Let the emotional and spiritual journey you go on as you write, become what sustains you.

2.Learn how to handle fear. I’ve come to realize that my greatest fears come at me when I’m at the point in a project when a creative breakthrough is right around the corner.

The reason we panic is because resistance is doing everything it can to keep us from getting to the next level in our writing journey. Don’t let panic or fear get to you. Instead, stay grounded and keep writing.

Your greatest fears are thrown at you when a creative breakthrough is right around the corner. Stay grounded and keep writing. Click To Tweet

3.Learn how to push past your comfort zone. As I write romance and self-publish I can always tell when I’m stepping out of my comfort zone. For instance, as I write this romance series, I’m writing tropes that I’ve never done before and also pushing myself to enhance my writing skills as a visual storyteller. Along with that I’ve also been working hard to accelerate my writing and self-publishing schedule. Doing this has really pushed me beyond my limits.

Try to write beyond where you feel its safe and keep trying new and bigger things. It's out there where all good things happen. Click To Tweet

The above list, are still areas where I battle everyday to overcome resistance so I can write and finish more books.

You can do this too.

Everyday push past resistance to write the next page of your story.

You’ll be happy you did!

 

Do you sometimes want to quit writing? What are some tips that help you hang on?  Please do share your thoughts in the comments, I’d love to hear from you! 🙂