Writing can let you be at wit’s end. Although there will always be those moments when you are too thrilled to write, there will also be those times when you simply would like to get on a couch and start on Netflix. The Write Practice shares to us some reasons why writing can be hard at times:

The biggest reason writing an essay is so hard is because we mostly focus on those external rewards like getting a passing grade or our teacher’s approval. The problem is that when you focus on external approval it not only makes writing much less fun, it also makes it significantly harder.

Why?

Because when you focus on external approval, you shut down your subconscious, and the subconscious is the source of your creativity. What this means practically is that when you’re trying to write that perfect, A-plus-worthy sentence, you’re turning off most of your best resources.

To help you out, here are some ways to enjoy writing:

Write what’s on your mind.

This is something that every writer should do. You can write about a topic that you like, let the words flow freely. You can write about anything: your dream, your life, your problems…anything! It is okay to write in any style you like, you can write in whole sentences or just phrases. This is a good exercise to allow words to start flowing. You do not need to worry that someone might be able to read what you just wrote because it is fine to actually delete it or throw the piece of paper in a trash. The idea here is to let your creative juice flow so you can go back to writing the topic that is asked of you.

Take some rest, sleep if you may.

This may sound simple but there are actually a lot of writers who would push themselves to the limit just to be able to finish just one more manuscript or just one more page. If you feel sleepy, then sleep. There is no point pushing yourself to the limit and finding later on that you did poorly on your work. Even when you have a pile of work to do, you should always be mindful of your sleep schedule. You can even make use of a sleep tracker app to allow you to monitor the amount of shut-eye that you have in a day.

Create an outline to write easier.

Instead of trying to fill up a blank page, you can create an outline that will guide you throughout the whole work. The outline shouldn’t be made in depth rather you simply need to have a framework as a guide. Here are more tips from  Cheryl Sloan Wray of the Writing World:

I believe, then, that an outline is necessary to create a well-written article. Whatever type of writer you are — whether you are a highly-organized one who writes formal, A-B-C-1-2-3 outlines or a let-me-do-my-work-in-my-pajamas writer who utilizes very informal outlines — an outline will make you better prepared for the task of writing your article.

Should you use an outline, then? Yes, because: (1) they keep you organized, (2) they encourage thematic unity, and (3) they can inspire you.

Do not give too much attention to your first draft.

It is normal for writers to have an awful first draft. Even the best writers in the world do not get to have a great first draft; after all, the initial draft is normally just to get your ideas on paper. So do not worry about the mistake at first, just continue writing and go back to see grammar and spelling mistakes during the second draft. Never censor yourself when writing or you’ll lose your creativity. To convince you more, here is the first draft of Dickens’ “Great Expectations”.