Finding Your Way Back to Writing After a Disruption

You were writing regularly. The words were flowing. Or maybe they weren’t, but you were showing up, doing the work. And then something happened.

Life, as it does, intervened. A family emergency. A move. A wildfire. A flu that knocked you flat. Suddenly your routine was gone, and writing took a backseat to getting by.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Finding your way back to writing after a disruption can be harder than it seems. Not because you’ve lost your skills, but because you’re carrying more now, including fatigue, guilt, maybe even a little fear that you’ve “lost it.”

The good news? You haven’t. You’re still a writer. And you can come back to the work any time.

First, Acknowledge That It Happened

Sometimes life derails the writing routine.

There might be a crisis, an illness, a stretch of exhaustion where the words just won’t come. You sit down to write and realize you can’t focus. You’re just trying to keep your head above water.

When something big hits, the first step isn’t to power through. It’s to pause and name it.

You’re not lazy. You’re not failing. You’re just human.

Writing takes energy. And sometimes, that energy has to go somewhere else for a while.

Next, Give Yourself Permission to Restart Slowly

Rather than jumping back into 1,000-word days, try starting small. Maybe it’s 15 minutes with a notebook. No pressure. No word count. Just a gentle reconnection.

Go ahead and set goals, but know that it can take a while for intentions to translate into actual work. 

When I was working on my new book (Sit Write Here – coming out from St. Martin’s Press in July!) the holidays rolled around, my coaching business got busy, and my writing time started slipping off the calendar. I didn’t mean to take a break, but by mid-December I realized I hadn’t written in two weeks. Rather than beat myself up, I scrolled forward a few weeks and blocked out time in January. Twelve hours a week. That was the plan.

But life had other plans. Doctor appointments. School visits. Helping my mom move. Then a wildfire forced us to evacuate our home in the middle of the night. We were out for two weeks. January came and went in a blur. It was March before I managed a full 12-hour writing week again. Three months. That’s how long it took to reset.

I share this because I want you to know the truth: writing routines take time to build, and they will get disrupted. That’s not failure. That’s life. Be gentle with yourself. Instead of aiming for perfection, aim for presence. Notice what’s real. Adjust when needed. Keep resetting. And most of all, keep writing.

You Don’t Have to “Catch Up”

One of the sneakiest things that keeps writers stuck is the belief that they have to make up for lost time, that they need to hurry now, to prove they’re still serious.

But creativity doesn’t work like that. Writing isn’t a race.

You don’t have to catch up. You just have to begin again.

Sometimes, after a long break, the manuscript looks different. There’s a sense of distance, and that can be a good thing. From a distance you can get a clear view. It becomes easier to see what no longer fits and where the story actually wants to go.

Time away can offer clarity. Trust that.

Surround Yourself with Gentle Support

Getting back into writing is easier when you’re not doing it alone.

Whether it’s a writing group, a trusted friend, or just showing up to a quiet writing session once a week, community helps. Not for accountability (though that’s a bonus), but for permission to show up messy, tired, hopeful, and real.

Just opening the laptop in the presence of others is enough.

Sometimes that’s all it takes.

You’re Still on the Path

You’re not behind. You didn’t miss your window. You didn’t ruin anything. You’re still on the path, even if it’s a little overgrown. The moment you return to the page, even for ten quiet minutes, you’re back in relationship with your work. 

And if you’re currently dealing with a lot of uncertainty about how to move forward, I can help. Next week, I’m hosting a free webinar called How to Turn Your Half-Finished Novel Into a Completed Manuscript, where I’ll guide you step by step through finishing what you started, without rushing, forcing, or suffering your way through it. If you’re ready to come home to your book, I’d love to walk with you.