Why Writing Feels So Hard (And Why It’s Not Your Fault)

Let’s be real—writing is hard. And not just in the “ugh, I don’t feel like it today” way, but in the “why does this feel like pulling my own teeth while blindfolded” kind of way. If you’ve ever sat down to write only to suddenly remember an urgent need to reorganize your entire spice cabinet, you’re not alone. Writing anxiety is real, and it has more to do with how our brains are wired than any personal failing.

And that’s the good news—because if the problem isn’t you, then that means it’s something you can work with.

Your Brain is Not Trying to Help You (Sorry, But It Thinks It Is)

Writing, especially creative writing, requires deep focus, vulnerability, and a willingness to make mistakes. Unfortunately, your brain hates all of those things.

From an evolutionary perspective, survival meant sticking with the pack, avoiding unnecessary risks, and not drawing too much attention to yourself. But writing? Writing is the opposite of that. You’re putting your thoughts into the world, opening yourself up to potential criticism, and engaging in an activity with no immediate, guaranteed reward. Your brain sees that and goes: Yeah, no thanks.

Instead, it redirects you toward “safer” tasks—like scrolling social media, doom-cleaning your desk, or suddenly needing to research medieval shipbuilding techniques for that one sentence in your novel.

Writing Anxiety = A Brain in Survival Mode

That creeping dread you feel when you sit down to write? That’s your brain misinterpreting creative work as a high-stakes situation. Enter: the fight-or-flight response.

Your brain perceives writing as risky and starts throwing up roadblocks:

• Procrastination (“I’ll feel more inspired tomorrow.”)

• Perfectionism (“I can’t write this sentence until I know it’s the best sentence ever written.”)

• Imposter syndrome (“Who do I think I am, trying to write this?”)

• Total creative paralysis ([insert endless staring at the blinking cursor here])

And that’s how you end up doom-scrolling, stress-baking, or suddenly convinced you need to rewatch every episode of your favorite show before you can possibly work on your novel.

This isn’t a personal flaw—it’s your nervous system doing what it was designed to do: avoid discomfort. But since avoiding discomfort doesn’t actually help you finish your book, let’s talk about how to work around it.

Rewiring Your Brain for Writing (Without Fighting It)

Since your brain thinks writing is dangerous, the goal isn’t to force yourself through panic mode—it’s to make writing feel safe and doable. Here’s how:

1. Lower the Stakes (Yes, Even Lower Than That)

The more pressure you put on yourself to write something amazing, the harder your brain will resist. Instead of saying, “I must write a brilliant chapter,” try:

✅ I’m just writing notes right now.

✅ I’ll write a terrible first draft on purpose.

✅ This doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to exist.

Your brain won’t freak out as much if you convince it that writing isn’t a big deal. (Even though we both know it totally is, but it doesn’t have to feel that way.)

Try This: Write one sentence. That’s it. If you want to stop, you can. But most of the time, getting started is the hardest part—and once you do, momentum takes over.

2. Get Past the “I Don’t Feel Like It” Phase

Writing rarely feels easy at first. But if you can get through the first 5-10 minutes of discomfort, something interesting happens—your brain shifts gears, and suddenly, writing doesn’t feel so bad.

Try This: Set a timer for five minutes. Tell yourself you can stop after that if you want. Chances are, you’ll want to keep going.

3. Make Resistance Work for You

If your brain insists on fighting you, use that energy to your advantage.

• Feeling perfectionist? Challenge yourself to write the worst sentence possible.

• Feeling self-doubt? Write a letter from Future You, who already finished the book. What would they tell you?

• Feeling blocked? Write about why you’re blocked. (Annoyingly, this usually unblocks you.)

4. Change the Medium

If typing feels impossible, try:

📝 Handwriting in a notebook

🎙️ Recording a voice memo

💬 Talking through your scene with a friend

Sometimes, the format itself is the roadblock. Switch things up and see if your brain plays along.

5. Separate “Writer You” from “Editor You”

Drafting and editing are two different skill sets, but when you let your inner editor critique every word as you type, it’s like trying to drive with the brakes on.

Give yourself permission to write a “bad” first draft. Not just “bad” but “horrible”, “garbage”. Name your file “Garbage Draft”. The real magic happens in revision—but you can’t revise what doesn’t exist.

Try This: Write a page with the goal of making it as messy as possible. No deleting. No backspacing. Just pure, unfiltered thoughts. You’ll be surprised what sneaks through.

Further Reading: Books That Get It

If you’re looking for more reassurance that you’re not alone in this struggle, here are some excellent reads:

📖 The War of Art by Steven Pressfield – On creative resistance and how to push through it.

📖 Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert – A warm, encouraging look at creativity and fear.

📖 Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott – On writing, perfectionism, and why it’s okay to write “shitty first drafts.”

Now It’s Your Turn: A Tiny Writing Challenge

Since we’re all about lowering the stakes, here’s a micro-challenge for you:

👉 Write one sentence. Doesn’t matter what it is. Doesn’t matter if it’s good. Just get one sentence down.

Then, come back and tell me how it went in the comments. (Or let me know what part of writing anxiety you’d like me to cover next!)

Writing is hard—but not because you’re bad at it. Your brain is just trying to protect you. The trick is learning to outsmart it, one imperfect, messy sentence at a time.