Lessons from My Writing Journey

Writing “Moonlit Awakening” at Expresso House Lyngby, Denmark.

Writing has been a part of my life for the last three years. Over these years, I have learned so much about the writing, the discipline, and the joy that comes with putting words on a page.

Whether you are a fan of romantasy genre or the slow burn of enemies to lovers stories, the writing process can be both challenging and also very rewarding.

I would like to share some lessons from my writing journey that might inspire you in your own creativity.

Finding Writing Inspiration

One of the biggest challenges I faced when I just started writing was finding inspiration. It’s easy to get stuck, especially when the ideas don’t flow as freely as you want. What helped me was creating a routine that increased creativity and kept me motivated.

• Set a specific time for writing: I found that writing at the same time every day helped my brain get into "writing mode." In my case, I wrote while breastfeeding or at night when kids were sleeping. It was the only time when I could write. During the day I would think about the scene and note in Google docs, so that in the evening when I was ready to write, I knew exactly what needed to be done.

  
  

• Create a cozy writing space: A quiet corner with good lighting helped inspire me. Most of the time, I would turn on fantasy background music to enhance my creativity. Since I wrote my book on a stationary computer, I used my laptop to display a background. I would search Google for beautiful fantasy world images, create a slideshow, and play it. This created a wonderful writing space.

  
  

• Read widely: Reading books in my favorite genres, like fantasy and romance, gave me fresh ideas and showed me different ways to tell a story. I try to read atleast four books a month. You should try it too.

  
  

Sometimes, inspiration comes from unexpected places. A walk in nature, a song, a movie or even a conversation can trigger a new plot twist or character idea.

The key is to stay open and curious.

My writing space to inspire creativity

The Importance of Discipline in Writing

Inspiration alone is not enough. Discipline is what turns ideas into finished chapters. I learned this the hard way when I tried to write only when I felt "inspired." The result? Long gaps with no progress and many years of writing.

Here are some tips that helped me build discipline:

1. Set small, achievable goals: Instead of aiming to write a whole chapter, I focused on writing 500 words a day.

   
   

2. Use timers: Writing in short bursts of 25 minutes with 5-minute breaks (Pomodoro technique) kept me focused. Believe me it works. So put away your phone and start writing.

   
   

3. Track your progress: Seeing how many words I wrote each day motivated me to keep going. Reedsy is a perfect platform to track your writing progress.

   
   

Discipline doesn’t mean you have to write every day without fail. It means showing up regularly and making writing a habit. This steady effort adds up over time.

Tracking writing goals.

What are the 5 C's of Creative Writing?

Understanding the basics of creative writing helped me improve my storytelling skills. The 5 C's are a simple way to remember key elements every writer should focus on:

• Character:

  Create believable and interesting characters that readers care about.

  
  

• Conflict: Introduce challenges or problems that drive the story forward.

  
  

• Climax: Build up to a turning point where the tension reaches its peak.

  
  

• Conclusion: Wrap up the story in a satisfying way.

  
  

• Consistency: Keep the story’s tone, style, and facts steady throughout.

  
  

For example, in enemies to lovers books, the conflict between characters is crucial. It creates tension and makes the romance more rewarding. Paying attention to these 5 C's helped me write chapters that keep readers hooked.

Planning a story using the 5 C's of creative writing

Embracing Mistakes and Learning from Feedback

No writer gets it perfect on the first try. I made plenty of mistakes along the way, from weak dialogue to confusing plots. But each mistake was a chance to learn and grow.

Here’s how I turned feedback into a positive experience:

• Seek honest opinions: I shared my work with trusted friends and writing groups.

  
  

• Be open to criticism: Instead of feeling discouraged, I looked for ways to improve.

  
  

• Revise patiently: Editing is where the magic happens. I learned to love rewriting.

  
  

Remember, every writer’s path is unique. What worked for me might not work exactly the same for you, but the willingness to learn and adapt is universal.

Staying Motivated Through Challenges

Writing a book is a long journey. There were times when I felt stuck or doubted myself. What kept me going was remembering why I started in the first place.

• Visualize your goal: I imagined readers enjoying my book and connecting with my characters.

  
  

• Celebrate small wins: Finishing a chapter or getting positive feedback felt like milestones and always treated myself with a piece of chocolate!

  
  

• Take breaks when needed: Sometimes stepping away for a day or two refreshed my creativity. Someones I would not write for a month and it was totally fine to do that.

  
  

If you want to explore more about my writing journey, you can check out my last blog post.

Writing is a beautiful adventure. It takes patience, passion, and persistence. But the joy of creating worlds and characters that others love makes it all worthwhile. Keep writing, keep dreaming, and let your books shine.