If you’ve ever googled “how to write more as a writer,” chances are you were hoping to find some magical secret, like a special app, foolproof time-blocking method, or productivity hack that would finally unlock the floodgates.
I used to hope for something like that too, or better yet, an extra 3-5 hours a week to just write!
But after 25+ years of writing professionally, I’ve realized that writing more almost never comes down to time alone. It comes down to something much more important: your mindset.
Don’t believe me? Keep reading. I’ll prove it to you!
How to Write More: Why Time Isn’t the Real Problem
Most writers believe they’d be more productive if they could just “find more time.” But this is problematic for two reasons. One, most of us are terribly busy and it’s near impossible to wrangle more time out of the day without putting our health at risk.
Two, even if you did manage to carve out another 30 minutes a day, it probably wouldn’t matter much because if you come to that extra 30 minutes with the same mindset—one potentially filled with self-doubt, distraction, uncertainty, or lack of follow-through—that 30 minutes will probably come and go without adding much to your stack of pages.
So let’s flip the question. Instead of asking, How do I find more time? ask:
How do I use the time I already have in a way that actually works for me?
That’s where mindset comes in.
What Does “Mindset” Really Mean?
When we talk about mindset for writers, we’re not talking about vague affirmations or telling yourself to “just believe.”
We’re talking about the mental stance you bring to your writing time. You can think of it as the story you already believe—often without realizing it—about your creativity, your process, and your ability to follow through.
Your mindset determines:
- Whether you start or stall.
- Whether you stick with it or get distracted.
- Whether you’re productive and pile up the words or you spin around and around without making much progress.
- Whether you return the next day or drift for weeks.
Mindset is like the quiet control room in your brain. It doesn’t just influence how you feel, but it affects what you actually produce.
How to Write More: Mindset Shapes Creative Output
Let’s look at why this matters so much, because the research backs it up.
One strong 2024 peer-reviewed recent study explored what’s called growth creative mindset vs. fixed creative mindset.
- A growth creative mindset is the belief that your creativity can develop and improve with effort and practice.
- A fixed creative mindset is the belief that creativity is something you’re just born with, and it doesn’t change much.
The researchers found a direct link between having a growth creative mindset and producing more and better creative work.
The results showed that:
- Having a growth creative mindset was positively linked to creative thinking (i.e. better performance in creative tasks).
- Believing you can grow your creativity increases your motivation, and that increased motivation helped produce more creative output.
- The effect worked both ways: a fixed mindset tended to lower motivation and hurt performance, though not always completely.
What about time management? It can help a little, but not as much as you may think. A 2021 study found only moderate improvement in performance and well-being after time management interventions.
So while planning your week matters, it’s not the main thing. Your mindset is the engine. Time is just the road.
How to Write More as a Writer (By Knowing Your Mindset Type)
Over time, I’ve noticed that writers tend to fall into one of seven mindset types. Each type has built-in strengths, but also blind spots that can quietly drain your writing time.
Here’s how to write more as a writer by working with your brain, not against it:
1. The Seer – Too Many Ideas, Not Enough Finishing
You’re full of visions and ideas—so full, in fact, that you bounce between projects and rarely finish anything.
Mindset fix: Stop chasing new ideas mid-session. Pick one project that’s tugging at you the most, park the others in a “later” file, and focus your energy there until it’s done.
2. The Storywright – Planning Forever, Writing… Later
You love outlines, charts, and color-coded spreadsheets. But you keep tweaking them instead of actually writing the story.
Mindset fix: Give yourself a short planning window, then start writing before you feel ready. Let your draft and your plan work together, each shaping the other, rather than waiting for the plan to be “perfect” before you draft.
3. The Firestarter – Burn Bright, Then Crash
You write in powerful bursts when inspired, but once the blaze burns out, you ghost your project for weeks.
Mindset fix: Build in a cool-down ritual after a hot streak (like a walk, a reset activity, or physical movement). Then keep a fire-starting kit—music, images, favorite quotes—on hand to help reignite your spark sooner.
4. The Bastion – Steady… but Stalled
You’re consistent, which is amazing. But you might forget to stop and check whether your consistency is actually moving the needle.
Mindset fix: Track your wins and progress visibly. Then check in weekly: “Is the work I’m doing getting me closer to my goals?” If not, adjust the direction.
5. The Pathbreaker – Rules? What Rules?
You hate structure. The more someone tells you what to do, the more you resist, even if it’s you telling yourself.
Mindset fix: Use flexible checkpoints. Don’t plan every detail—just mark loose trail posts like “Finish chapter four by Sunday.” Then get there however you want.
6. The Sparklink – Craving Connection
You write better when you’re in sync with others. But when you’re alone, you stall and scroll.
Mindset fix: Build accountability into your routine. Create your own writing group or online support group. Post your progress or head out to weekly write-together sessions. Try collaborative projects. The smallest connection can flip your switch.
7. The Heartsmith – All the Feelings
Your emotional depth makes your writing resonate, but it can also feel heavy to you sometimes. You may overthink, freeze, or get overwhelmed before the first sentence.
Mindset fix: Lower the pressure. Start with a throwaway warm-up: a letter you’ll never send, a journal blurb, or a note to your character. Then pivot into your draft when you’re already be in motion.
How to Write More: The Most Powerful Shift of All
This might sound simple, but one of the best ways I’ve found to write more is simply to decide to write more!
Years ago, I hit a point where I had no time, a full plate, and a dozen writing goals that felt impossible. I decided to run an experiment: What if I just tried to write more?
I didn’t clear my calendar. I changed my mindset and told myself for the next few weeks, I’d give it a try.
And guess what? It worked. Even now, I still write more than I used to, all because I built the habit of believing I could.
How to Write More: Run Your Own Experiment
Ask yourself: “What would it look like if I believed I could write more, starting today?”
You might carve out a short burst like a 10-15-minute writing session. Or create a mindset reset ritual. You might stop switching projects so often. Whatever it is, treat this as your experiment.
If you want help figuring out your mindset type, take my free Master Writer Mindset Quiz. You’ll get targeted strategies tailored to how your brain works, so you can start writing more as soon as you’re ready.
And if you’re ready to go deeper, the Master Writer Mindset Playbook gives you session-by-session tools to help you write more with the minutes you already have.
How many words will you write this week? I challenge you—try to write more and see what happens!