📖 The Process of Writing a Book ✨

📝The Writing Struggle No One Talks About

You sit down to work on the book you’re 70% done with… and instead, your brain decides now is the perfect time to dream up an entirely new story. 😩

Welcome to the chaotic yet beautiful reality of writing.

If you’ve ever struggled between sticking to the plan and following unexpected inspiration, you’re not alone. Writing is an art, but it’s also an act of discipline. Balancing creativity with commitment is something I wrestle with daily.

🎨 Creativity Has a Mind of Its Own

I start every writing session with intention—knowing exactly what I want to work on. But often times, my brain has other ideas.

💡 A random character pops into my head.
💡 A vivid scene unfolds like a movie.
💡 A new book idea starts forming with way too much detail to ignore.

And suddenly… I’m writing something completely different than I planned.

While this is exciting and inspiring, it’s also frustrating when I’m trying to finish a book that’s so close to being done. Why can’t I just focus on what I started?! 😵‍💫

🖋️ The Writing Process Isn’t Linear

The truth is, writing isn’t a straight path. It’s a winding, unpredictable journey that looks something like this:

✏️ Set out to work on Book A → Book B suddenly demands my attention
✏️ Try to resist → New book idea won’t leave me alone
✏️ Give in & write notes → Feel guilty for not finishing Book A
✏️ Get inspired again → Remember Book A still needs me
✏️ Repeat forever 😅

For a long time, I fought this process. But here’s what I’ve learned: Creativity doesn’t work on a schedule. And honestly, it’s not supposed to.

📌 My Approach to Balancing Creativity & Discipline

To keep myself moving forward while honoring new inspiration, I’ve found a system that helps:

✔ Set clear intentions: I decide in advance what book I want to work on.
✔ Allow space for unexpected inspiration: If a new idea hits, I write it down in a designated notebook (but I don’t dive into writing the whole thing—yet).
✔ Take intentional action: Whether it’s 500 words or just 10 minutes, I make sure I’m actively progressing in my current book.
✔ Let go of guilt: Inspiration is a gift, not a distraction. As long as I keep moving forward, it all contributes to my journey as an author.

Although these are some tips that I use to help, again this is not a perfect system. There are lots of times I spend a majority of my writing time on ideas other that what I intended for my current focus and my 500 words or 10 minutes I spent doing some light editing or reading and improving what I already wrote. And that’s okay!

💬 Let’s Talk: How Do You Handle Creative Distractions?

If you’re a writer, creator, or dreamer, you’ve probably experienced this too. How do you handle it when your brain wants to jump to a new idea before finishing the one you’re working on?

Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear how you navigate the wild ride of creativity! ✨