How to Trick Your Brain Into Writing Even When You Don’t Feel Like It

Let’s be honest—there are days when writing feels like the last thing I want to do. Even after publishing ten books, running a newsletter, and coaching other writers, I still have moments when my brain resists. The excuses pile up:

“I’m too tired.”

“I’ll write later.”

“Maybe I need more research.”

Sound familiar?

But here’s the truth: waiting until you feel like writing is the fastest way to never finish a book. The secret? You have to trick your brain into writing, even when motivation is nowhere to be found.

Over the years, I’ve developed sneaky ways to outsmart my own resistance. These tricks have helped me—and they’ll help you too.

1. Start with “I’ll just write one sentence.”

The hardest part of writing isn’t the actual writing—it’s starting. Our brains love to procrastinate on big, daunting tasks. But if you tell yourself, “I’ll just write one sentence,” your brain relaxes.

More often than not, that one sentence turns into a paragraph. Then a page. Then a full writing session. But even if it doesn’t, you still wrote something—and that’s progress.

I’ve finished entire books using this trick. On days when I didn’t want to write, I told myself, Just one sentence, Neera. And before I knew it, I was in the flow.

2. Write badly on purpose.

Perfectionism is the enemy of progress. When we expect our first draft to be brilliant, we freeze. The trick? Give yourself permission to write badly.

Sometimes, I set a timer and challenge myself to write the worst paragraph possible. No structure, no logic—just words. This lowers the stakes and silences my inner critic. Ironically, these “bad” writing sessions often lead to great ideas.

Try it. Tell yourself, Today, I am going to write absolute nonsense for 10 minutes. You’ll be surprised how much easier writing becomes when you let go of perfection.

3. Create a “trigger” for writing.

Your brain loves habits. If you train it to associate certain actions with writing, it will become second nature—just like brushing your teeth.

For me, it’s writing my manifesto. I have created a manifesto for myself that I rewrite by hand on a notebook or on a piece of paper (whatever is handy). It reminds me of why I am writing and my commitment to writing and puts me in the right frame of mind.

My manifesto is:

• I shall write every day.

• I shall not compare myself with other writers.

• I shall improve with very new book and article.

• I shall have fun with my writing.

Some writers light a candle, play a specific playlist, or wear a “writing sweater.” The key is to create a ritual that signals your brain to switch into writing mode.

Find your trigger. Use it every day. Before you know it, your brain will get the memo: this is writing time.

4. Use the ‘two-minute’ rule.

Writing a book can feel like climbing a mountain. That’s why I love the two-minute rule: commit to writing for just two minutes. That’s it.

Most of the time, I find that once I start writing, I keep going. The hardest part is overcoming the mental resistance. If I tell myself I only need to write for two minutes, it tricks my brain into starting. And once I’ve started, it’s much easier to continue.

The trick is momentum. Don’t worry about writing a lot—just focus on writing something.

5. Leave yourself a cliffhanger.

One of my favorite tricks is stopping in the middle of a sentence. Instead of finishing a thought, I end my writing session mid-sentence, so when I come back the next day, I know exactly where to pick up.

It sounds silly, but it works. Starting with a half-finished thought is much easier than staring at a blank page.

Ernest Hemingway swore by this method, and if it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for me.

6. Use timed writing sprints.

I love the Pomodoro method—writing in short bursts with breaks in between. Set a timer for 25 minutes and write non-stop until it dings. Even if you don’t feel like writing, tell yourself: I only have to do this for 25 minutes.

If 25 minutes are too much, set the timer for 15 minutes. That’s what I do. I write in 15-minute sprints.

No checking your phone, no overthinking. Just words on the page. When the timer goes off, take a break. Most of the time, you’ll find yourself wanting to keep going. And even if you don’t, at least you’ve made progress.

7. Make it a game.

Our brains love rewards. So, why not turn writing into a game?

I give myself small incentives—like a piece of chocolate after finishing a chapter. I’ve also played a game where I “compete” against myself to see if I can beat my previous word count. Set up your own mini-challenges and reward yourself when you hit them.

8. Write a letter to a friend.

Sometimes, formal writing feels overwhelming. Instead of trying to write “properly,” I imagine I’m writing a letter or email to a close friend.

I start by writing “Hey [Friend’s Name], you won’t believe this story…” and then just talk to them on the page.

When you write like you’re telling a story to a friend, your words flow naturally. And once I’ve written that casual first draft, I can always go back and refine it.

9. Lower your expectations (yes, really).

One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that progress matters more than perfection.

It’s okay if today’s writing isn’t your best. It’s okay if you only manage 100 words instead of 1,000. What matters is that you wrote something. A book is not built in a day, but word by word, it will come together.

So the next time you don’t feel like writing, try one of these tricks. Because here’s the thing—writing isn’t about how you feel in the moment. It’s about showing up, even on the hard days. It’s about finishing your book, one trick at a time.

Are you having trouble staying motivated? Try one of these tricks today, and let me know how it goes!

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On Wednesday, I am going in depth about "Email Marketing—Your Most Powerful Book Selling Tool." Don’t miss it.

That’s all from me today.

As always, thanks for reading.