(This post is an updated version from my old blog, but since it had to do with writing, I figured I’d bring it over here.)

(Image take from here)

We’ve all heard that to get better at writing, we have to write more. But what do you do if, on some days,  you don’t want to write?

Even as I sit here blogging about what to do if you don’t want to write, I’m fighting the feelings of not wanting to write.

Every skill and craft worth learning is going to have its fair amount of drudgery. Writing is no different. Over the years, I’ve learned a few tips and tricks that help me to work through that drudgery. I thought I would put some up here in case anyone else needs a boost to put that brain to work.

1. Set a goal for each day.

I know many authors tell you to set the same goal every day, but that doesn’t always work for me. I have a changing schedule, so sometimes I can sit down and write pages and other days, I’m lucky if I can write 200 words. Take a keen look at your schedule for that day and set a reasonable goal for yourself in the morning – and then stick to it. Even if it’s only 100 words, every little bit counts as long as you do it.

2. Have a set time.

This is similar to the first point. Again, if you have a changing schedule, pick a time that works for you, but stick to that time. Treat it like a job – you’re clocking in at a certain time and you’re clocking out at a certain time. Try different times at first to see at what time of the day you work best. For me, morning is my best writing time (as I sit here plunking away in the afternoon…), but oftentimes, my mornings get crammed with other things to do, so I’m forced to write in the afternoon. Night sometimes works for me if I’m not too tired, but that’s a rare circumstance nowadays. Consistency is key. No matter what time of day works best for you, try to stick to that time. Sometimes, it might get bumped later – as happened to me today – but the more you keep to a set time, the more writing will become a habit.

3. Tea.

I find that a good cup of tea always helps me concentrate better. Coffee tends to make me too jittery, but tea works. If you think you don’t like tea, keep trying some. I’m convinced that there’s a tea for everyone to enjoy. I sometimes set my writing time for however long it takes me to finish my tea. This doesn’t always work for me, since I like to drink my tea as soon as its poured and it usually only takes me about fifteen minutes to finish a cup, but if you take an hour to finish a hot beverage, this could be a helpful route to take.

4. Music.

I love soundtracks. Soundtracks are fantastic writing companions. I recommend soundtracks because I’m less tempted to sing along with them since they don’t have words – though I still find myself humming along occasionally. As any Doctor Who fan  will tell you, “Who says I can’t sing along with the theme song?!”

Here are the top soundtracks/composers I would recommend for writing:

a. Hans Zimmer – anything by this man is fantastic, but I particularly recommend Inception and Man of Steel (Zimmer is responsible for the only redeeming part about that movie).

b. Thomas Newman – his music is always soft, beautiful, and soothing to a writer’s frazzled soul. My personal favorites are Cinderella Man and A Series of Unfortunate Events.

c. The Village by James Newton Howard – gorgeous!

d. Doctor Who Series 5 by Murray Gold. I love all of the Doctor Who soundtracks, but I’ve found that series 5 has some of the best songs. Murray Gold tends to repeat his themes too often and I think this soundtrack does a better job of keeping that tendency at bay.

e. Skyrim: Elder Scrolls V by Jeremy Soule. Beautiful score spanning four CDs. The CDs themselves are expensive, but you can find playlists featuring most of the songs on youtube.

f. The Chronicles of Narnia by Harry Gregson-Williams – both The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian have breathtaking music. Give it a whirl, you’ll feel like you’re in another world. =)

g. The Eagle by Atli Orvarsson – Celtic, tribal, haunting, epic. =D

h. How to Train Your Dragon by John Powell will forever be one of my favorites, but I have to be writing a battle scene or something intense like that, otherwise it’s a little rambunctious and tends to make me dance instead of write. =)

i. Lord of the Rings, any of the three soundtracks by Howard Shore – always a good choice.

I have many more I could recommend, but I will stop there before I overload you.

5. Use paper.

As I’ve said in previous posts, I’m an old-fashioned girl. I write all of my stories in notebooks and then type up/edit them later. There was a time when I briefly transitioned to only typing stories when I was in school, but I found that I’m more likely to get distracted and look at everything but my story if I’m on the computer. If you find that you’re easily distracted, try writing on paper.

6. Take a break.

I always take Sunday off from everything. God knew what He was doing when He instituted a day of rest and I have often felt rejuvenated after taking a day completely off to go to church, worship, and refrain from doing anything that feels like work on that day. Even if you don’t go to church, taking a day off from writing will give your brain a much-needed break. Taking a step back and evaluating each week’s work will often help me get new insight on things I could improve on and helps me work on my problems with a fresh perspective at the beginning of the week.

There you have it. This list is by no means exhaustive and I may add to it in the future, but for now, I’ll end with a follow-up question: What do you do when you don’t want to write?