by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

A writer’s life is one filled with ups and downs. Some days the words flow and it seems that you have a pipeline from Heaven to the computer screen. The words swirl and dance with a life of their own.

At other times the sentences start and stop, stuttering in an ugly disjointed rhythm. You can’t seem to connect the words into coherent thoughts, and the voices in your head are no longer kinds ones brimming with inspiration. Instead they scream at you to stop. Give up the dream, and quit kidding yourself. The secret to success on those frustrating days is to keep writing—sometimes you have to go through the junk to get to the gems.

I know it’s true because I’ve been there . . . more than once.

I’ve even given heed to those naysayers that sometimes take up residence in my head, walking away and trying to quit. But I always come back. For me, writing is as necessary as breathing.

So how do I find the drive to keep writing when everything on the page is worse than junk? I’ve got a few tips that I’d like to share.

1. I give myself permission to write junk. Some days I have to dig a little deeper to get to the good stuff. And for me, that means writing through the junk.

2. I set a timer. For me, fifteen minutes is the magic number. I set an old-fashioned egg timer for fifteen minutes and make myself write.

3. I promise myself I can delete anything I want after twenty-four hours. I don’t delete it right away, because everything looks different after a few hours away.

4. I give myself a reward. Usually it’s chocolate. If I write those tortuous fifteen minutes, I reward myself. The key here is to know that you can be bought and discovering what your price is.

5. I remind myself that words on the page are fixable—blank pages aren’t. I love to edit. But I’ve never had success with editing a page with no words.

6. I call a friend. Let me clarify—I call a WRITING friend. I have one particular writing buddy who is a genius at talking me off the ledge. She should be. She’s had to do it often enough.

7. I remember why I write. Even a bad writing day is better than a day not writing at all. To paraphrase the famous quote from missionary Eric Liddle (Chariots of Fire). When I write, I feel the pleasure of God.

So what about you? I won’t ask IF you have those days. If you’re a writer, I already know the answer. But I am curious how you deal with them. Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Edie Melson is a woman of faith with ink-stained fingers observing life through the lens of her camera. No matter whether she’s talking to writers, entrepreneurs, or readers, her first advice is always “Find your voice, live your story.” As an author, blogger, and speaker she’s encouraged and challenged audiences across the country and around the world. Her numerous books reflect her passion to help others develop the strength of their God-given gifts and apply them to their lives. Connect with her on her website, through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.