I was updating my Goodreads’ author page recently and stumbled upon some advice that hit a little too close to home.

The question a reader asked was “How do you get inspired to write?”

And here’s what I said…

“So many things inspire my writing—new places I’ve visited on vacation, a movie I got lost in, a phenomenal restaurant meal, a new recipe I whipped up in my home kitchen, a conversation I overheard at a coffee shop, the witty dialogue of my favorite TV show.

As many writers will tell you—and I’m no exception—sometimes the last thing you want to do is actually WRITE. Even though it’s the thing you love to do. Sometimes you just have to plop your rear in the chair (paraphrasing Anne Lamott here) and write something. It may be a couple of sentences, a paragraph, maybe even a lousy chapter or two. The important thing is that you write. Regularly. And after doing this for a while, you’ll have a first draft.”

Spoiler alert: This is all still true. Every word. But am I really struggling to do this myself in 2025?

Yes I am.

Even when you love to write, sometimes you go through a season where getting the words down is really tough. You know you need to step away to get some clarity. But a barrage of bad news recently—cue the doomscrolling—has made it difficult to edge back in.

Something a friend of mine posted recently helped eventually rescue me from my writing doldrums. She reminded writers that every word we write is a step closer to having an impact on someone’s life. I know so many stories that have done this for me, so that realization does help me keep going.Now how about you, fellow writers. What do you do when you get stuck?