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Creative writing gives many different benefits and pleasures to many different people.

We don’t all write for the same reasons, we each have our deeper values and motives for why we write.

However, there ARE common motivations that all of us who write creatively share. One of these is simply because it’s enjoyable.

It helps us feel good to write, to create words, sentences, scenes, characters and WORLDS that weren’t there before.

The problem is, when we go through more challenging and difficult times with our writing – those times when we find ourselves stuck, blocked, out of ideas – “fun” and “enjoyable” are some of the last words that come to mind to describe what we’re experiencing.

During our creatively barren times, “anguish”, “torture” and “despair” are words that are more likely to spring to mind.

We feel like a lost rabid animal in the desert, desperately scavenging for food and water, yet withering steadily under the fierce relentless sun.

So what happens? Why does it all go wrong? And where does all the fun in writing go?

Here are 5 of the most common reasons why we lose the sense of fun and enjoyment in our creative writing, and how to start to get them back.

1. We expect too much too quickly. Maybe it’s been a while since you wrote much creatively and you’re just finding your way back into it. If you expect to write a novel by the end of the week, you’re likely to be very disappointed.

Set yourself small writing projects, and write little and often. This way you’ll write more freely without the expectation of having to produce a large volume of words in a short time hanging over you.

2. We always start in the same place. Often, set routines and patterns of working can be very beneficial and help us write prolifically. But if your aim is to have more fun with your writing, it’s important to mix it up and experiment.

Try writing from the middle of a piece and work outwards. Or start at the end with the final line of a short story. Then work backwards and uncover the details of how the story reached that point.

3. We always write to produce an “end product”. If we have an end point in mind the whole time, we can get too wrapped up in how we’re going to get there, and forget to make the bit in between interesting.

Sometimes it’s more fun just handing the reins over to the story itself. Concentrate on the richness of your descriptions, and just write and see where the writing takes you, without worrying about the plot structure or development.

4. We get stuck writing the same way over and over. Even if we start in different places, we can soon fall into a familiar groove and write in a predictable way every time.

If we’re going for volume this reliability is just what we need. But if you want to write for fun and the enjoyment, then try writing in as many radically different ways as you can. Make up a new language even if you want to!

5. We’re afraid of messing up. This is one of the biggest creativity killers there is, whatever you create. You’re so scared of making a mistake or doing something wrong you keep it super safe. Or worse, you don’t write at all.

Let go of the concept of “messing up”. In creative writing, there is no messing up. You can write how you want, about whatever you want, using whichever words you want. Use this freedom and let your imagination and creativity loose!

These are 5 of the most common reasons we lose the sense of fun and enjoyment in our creative writing.

Which do you most relate to in your creative writing experiences? Which are you going to take steps to improve today?

Ready to find out how more about how to unlock your creative writing potential? Head over to http://www.YouAreACreativeWriter.com right away to get your FREE 5 part creative writing ecourse.

Creativity Coach and keen creative writer Dan Goodwin helps people who are frustrated they’re not using their creative talents as well as they could be. See more at his website: http://www.CoachCreative.com