How to Write When You’re Emotionally Drained

By J.E. Nickerson | Wise Thinkers Help Desk

For some people, writing is the highlight of their day. It brings joy, restoration, and emotional grounding. But there will be days—maybe even whole seasons—when your emotional tank is empty. You’re not uninspired. You’re not undisciplined. You’re just tired in a deeper way.

And yet… you still feel called to write.

So what do you do when your heart is heavy but the words are still knocking?

1. Be Honest About Where You Are

You don’t have to fake strength to write. In fact, some of the most powerful writing flows from honesty, not energy. You can say: “This is what I have today, and I’m offering it anyway.”

I’ve experienced this many times in the past few months. Even on the days I woke up excited to write, I was still emotionally drained—still carrying the weight of family issues and heartache that hadn’t yet settled.

Balancing emotional fatigue with a call to write isn’t easy. But you shouldn’t feel guilty for struggling. We don’t always write from a polished place. Sometimes, we write when it’s hard. Sometimes, we write through tears.

If your emotions are raw, acknowledge that. If you’re weary, name it. That kind of honesty brings relief—to you, and to your reader.

2. Lower the Bar (and That’s Not a Bad Thing)

You’re not writing to win an award today. You’re writing to stay connected—to your calling, to your process, to the voice inside you that still has something to say.

So lower the bar.

Give yourself permission to write a paragraph instead of a page. A thought instead of a thesis. A prayer instead of a plan. Maybe just a single line instead of a chapter.

The point isn’t to perform—it’s to stay present. Write what is real. Write what you feel, not what you wish you felt. That’s more than enough.

3. Write What Needs to Be Written (Not What You Think You Should Write)

When you’re emotionally drained, forcing yourself to write something that doesn’t resonate will only deepen the fatigue. Instead of pushing through a topic that feels stale, go where your heart is tender.

You might need to write about grief. Or joy. Or confusion. Or faith.

Let the page carry what you’re truly holding. That’s where clarity begins to return.

This kind of writing will deepen your connection with your audience. It shows them your writing is genuine—that even when life is heavy, your voice still matters. It reminds them that writers are human too. We aren’t immune to the struggles of life—we just choose to keep showing up anyway.

4. Use Writing as Healing, Not Just Output

Writing doesn’t have to be productive to be powerful. When life feels heavy, it can be a quiet form of healing.

Journaling and expressing the weight of our emotions through words can become a kind of therapy. When King David could no longer carry the burden of what he was going through, he wrote. The book of Psalms is more than worship—it’s David’s personal account of his struggles, heartbreak, and hope. It became a lifeline for generations.

You may not write like David, and you may never bare your heart publicly in that same way—but writing can still be the place where you lay it all down. A place to wrestle with pain, to process what hurts, and to meet God right in the middle of the mess—not after it’s all cleaned up.

Try journaling a prayer. Try free-writing with no pressure. Write something no one else will ever read. Just let it flow.

5. Stop Before You’re Empty

You don’t need to write for hours. In fact, it’s better if you don’t. Touch the page, speak what you can, and then rest.

Keep the channel open—but protect your reserves.

Even a few honest lines can tether you to purpose in a season when everything else feels loose.

When you’re running low, your creative voice doesn’t need pressure—it needs gentleness.

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You’re Not Broken—You’re Human

Emotional exhaustion doesn’t mean you’ve failed as a writer. It means you’re alive. It means you’re carrying real things that matter.

So don’t quit. And don’t try to outpace your soul.

Write gently. Write slowly. Write as an act of trust.

God knows how to meet you there.

Looking for more inspiration when you feel drained and still want to write? Read the article One More Sentence…Knowing When to Stop and Rest Resting is part of the journey of writing. Sometimes you need to give yourself time to heal and recover. 

📚 And if you’re new here, I’m J.E. Nickerson — faith based author and inspirational storyteller. You can check out my books here or follow me on YouTube for more inspiration and encouragement on this writing life.

Resources

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