How to Ease Back Into Writing After a Life Shift (Without Burning Out)

There’s this quiet truth about creativity that we don’t talk about enough: sometimes it goes still.

Not because we’re unmotivated.
Not because we’ve lost the passion.
Not because the story is gone.

But because life changes—drastically, suddenly, or simply—and the part of our brain that used to carry story magic now has to carry something else for a while.

Maybe that shift is a new baby (like it is for me!) Maybe it’s exhaustion, burnout, a move, a demanding season at work, grief, healing, or even a stretch of unexpected chaos.

Whatever it is, returning to the page can feel like trying to grab hold of something moving just a little too fast. You want to write. You miss writing. But the energy, time, or mental space you once had just isn’t the same.

I’ve been living in that tension lately. I want to return to my worlds, my characters, and my stories, but I realized I need a new way of getting there. A gentler way. A way that honors the reality of my life right now.

So here are three soft, sustainable ways I’m easing myself back into writing without pressure, guilt, or the need to immediately produce at the level I once did.

1. Embrace Tiny Scenes Over Big Goals

There’s a lot of messaging in the writing community about “writing every day,” hitting certain word counts, or tackling full chapters at a time.

But sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is simply capture a moment. A single line of dialogue. A description that popped into your mind while washing dishes. A piece of character emotion you don’t want to lose. A line that arrived out of nowhere at 3am.

Tiny things. Manageable things. Things that don’t require a two-hour window or a silent room. Every great story is built out of small pieces. And every comeback starts with one tiny spark.

If you’re coming back from a life shift, let yourself write small. The momentum grows from there.

2. Reconnect With Your “Why”

Sometimes, the block isn’t actually writing itself. It’s disconnection.

When you’ve stepped away for a while, it’s easy to forget the feeling that made you fall in love with storytelling in the first place. Your brain switches into productivity mode (“I need to get back,” “I’m behind,” “everyone else is writing but me”), and that pressure suffocates the joy.

So instead of forcing creativity, I’ve been letting myself simply rediscover it by: 

• Rereading a favorite book.

• Flipping through my old notes.

• Looking at art that reminds me of my characters.

• Listening to the playlist that once sparked an entire plotline.

These things aren’t procrastination, they’re reconnection. Creativity needs fuel, not force. Your story didn’t disappear while you were gone. It’s still there, waiting for you to remember why you loved it.

3. Create One Moment of Magic Each Day

Notice I didn’t say “write every day.” Right now, that’s not realistic for me and maybe it isn’t for you either. Instead, I’ve made a different commitment:

One moment of creativity a day.

That’s it. Five minutes of journaling. A few lines of a scene. A brainstorm about character motivations. A new name for a location. Even staring at my character aesthetics while sipping coffee. It all counts.

This keeps the creative embers warm without setting yourself on fire. And those tiny moments add up faster than you think.

If You're Returning to Creativity in a Hard Season, You're Not Behind

Maybe you’re writing slower than you used to. Maybe life changed and now creativity fits into smaller pockets. Maybe motivation feels like something you have to coax gently back from the shadows.

That doesn’t mean you’re disappearing as a writer. It doesn’t mean the story is slipping away. And it absolutely doesn’t mean your creative life is over.

It just means you’re human. And you’re allowed to rebuild at the pace your life requires.

When you’re ready, your stories will be too.