how to get into essay writing mood

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6 Tips on How to Get Into the Writing Mood

Sometimes we don’t feel like sitting in front of the screen, pouring our heart and thoughts into our writing. And when we force ourselves to write anyways, we just stare at a blank page while the clock ticks away relentlessly. Welcome to the world of writer’s block!

I suffer from writer’s block regularly—I don’t seem to be made to write with the same productivity and motivation every day. And that’s often quite okay.

But when the deadline is breathing down your neck, you don’t have the luxury to cut yourself some slack—so what to do? I’ve compiled a list of the top six things that can help you get into the writing mood—or flow, zone, matrix, or whatever you like calling it.

I last updated this article on April 6, 2023.

1. Start off easy

The thing is, once you are writing, things will often happen on their own accord: Sentences emerge, paragraphs form and witty puns weave themselves into context. But it isn’t always easy to shift into this trance-like state.

Yet, when you begin your writing session with the most challenging part, you probably won’t get much done. So instead, try to find something simple or something you could write about quickly.

For example, the hardest part for some to come up with is the beginning of a text, the introduction. You could start somewhere in the middle, where you feel confident enough to develop some decent paragraphs and start typing. Then, at the very end, you write your introduction part, which will then be much easier! It doesn’t matter how you do it—the reader won’t know how you wrote, and I’m sure nobody even cares if you write your articles from bottom to top or in mirror writing.

Be kind to yourself and let it flow

Another possibility is to jot down your ideas in keywords and sentence fragments. Type what comes to your mind, try to let it flow, and don’t set yourself any boundaries; in this early stage of writing, everything is allowed! Be bold, exaggerate, make a few jokes, and add lots of grammar mistakes. Bye-bye, bad writing mood!

Once you’ve poured everything you want to say out of your brain and onto your screen, you can start getting everything into reasonable shape: Create sentences, correct your mistakes, make your jokes smoother, etc.

2. Create your ideal writing space

Surround yourself with things that inspire you or let you feel calm. You may even change your environment: Maybe you need absolute silence, or maybe you concentrate best while sitting in a cafe, sipping a cappuccino, and hearing peoples’ chatter.

If you’re the type of person who can’t concentrate while the waste bin next to them is starting to resemble the Leaning Tower of Pisa, take the time to clean up! Remove all unnecessary clutter from your workspace; while you’re cleaning up, you may get into a calmer state of mind.

3. Listen to music or embrace the silence

While it is said that we can concentrate best while listening to music without singing, this can be entirely different for you. Here, you have to experiment to know what works for you.

I like listening to game soundtracks—they’re usually very symphonic and make me relax. While writing, I generally try to avoid listening to music I listen to in my free time for two reasons:

• Sooner or later, my head would start bobbing, and I’d sing along. Bye-bye concentration!
• You can imagine how hard it would be to concentrate while some metal dude screams into your ears that he wants to drag some virgins into purgatory.

It could also be worth trying to work without music. Maybe you’ll discover that this is the best solution for you. Like I said: experiment!

4. Set yourself writing goals and reward yourself for accomplishing them

When your writing project is big enough, try to split the process into manageable steps . These could be finding ideas, researching , creating a draft version, finding good headlines, editing your text , etc. Every time you accomplish an objective, you may reward yourself with chocolate or an episode of your favorite TV series.

Additionally, plan when you want to finish each task. Doing this is extremely helpful in understanding how to spend your time wisely. Write your to-dos into your calendar or to-do list to keep track of your progress and appreciate your journey!

5. Recall your mission

Many of us can’t do things when we don’t know why we’re doing them.

Why are you writing ? For whom are you writing? Was it your idea to write, or did somebody set you up? Do you want to help people understand your favorite topics?

Sometimes we forget our mission and must remember it to get motivated again. You could write your ‘Why’ on a Post-it and stick it on your monitor or any other place where you’ll see it regularly.

If you can’t find motivation from within you, you have to get it from the outside: Are there readers waiting for your articles? Have you promised your team to write the documentation?

Knowing what motivates you is vital in many aspects of your life. If you can’t commit to doing stuff for yourself, you need to find external motivators to push you ahead and lead you back into a good writing mood.

6. Supply yourself with inspiration

Go ahead, open a new browser window, and visit your favorite blogs, newspapers, magazines, or documentation. Read stuff written by others; if you want to write a tutorial , look up tutorials from people you like and see what they’re doing and how they’re doing it. Are you writing documentation for your API? Look up documentation from companies you think did a good job. Then, again, see how they explain things and why it’s so helpful.

At some point, those writers had to sit at their desks and start typing just like you do now. They’re also suffering from writer’s block from time to time. Plus, it doesn’t matter if you think you’re not as good at writing as them. Just do it; you’ll get better over time.

By doing this, you’ll hopefully remember why you want to write (see Tip number 5). Seeing other people’s work may inspire you and bring you back into a productive writing mood.

Not in the writing mood or just making excuses?

Sometimes we just feel like not doing something. And sometimes, this is a feeling we can’t get rid of. I think we don’t have to force ourselves every time to do stuff nevertheless and instead invest this time to explore our sub-conscience to answer the question: What is holding me back right now? I believe you’re well aware when you’re not able to hustle and when it’s just some excuse. And when it’s just an excuse not to write today because you’d rather spend time with your PS5, I hope those six tips on how to get into the writing mood help you bring your butt back on track.

What are your tips on getting into the writing mood? Got any secrets you may want to share? wink

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6 responses.

Hello! I just wanted to say that I really appreciate this. I’ve been having so many issues with motivation and writer’s block when it comes to my stories and this really helped me get into the right mindset!

Hi May, thanks for your lovely comment. I’m glad my article could help you – I wish you all the best in writing your stories!

thank you so much I’m not really a writer but more of a student and this was helpful because i had to finish some essays – but I’ll be sure to apply these tips!

Thanks, Miriam! I hope you were able to finish your essays quickly 🙂

Hello Sarah,

I hope you and your family are well.

My name is Frederico Ferreira. I’m from Portugal. I’ve 35, I work as a cabin crew at Ryanair and I live in Maia, Oporto district.

I just wanted to say that I loved your article. I want to leave a comment because I know how frustrating it is to write an article such as this. That you’ve put all your love and care and then no-one comments. I also had blogs that I ended up eliminating because I had no followers or comments.

For a long time, I want to become a writer. I love to read so I figure I wanted to become a writer as well. I started to write at a young aged. But I never had any support so I never actually finished a story. My first obstacle was to choose a genre. I remember one of my first stories that I’ve written was like a horror story, then I thought I wanted to write science-fiction. Then, by the time of the success of GOT, I decided that I wanted to write fantasy. But what I ended up realizing was that what I really love is a good story of crime and whodunnit. Last year I gather like 170 A4 pages, about 50 000 words, far from the 90 000 words that the publishers like. These 170 pages are like a big collage of the stories I’ve written over the years. So I had to link them in some way. Then to have more words I had to create more characters, so I started to base my story on the tv show Desperate Housewives and in Duncan Whitehead’s The Gordonston Ladies Dog Walking Club. Now I’m trying to write a mix between “cozy” crime whodunnit and police procedurals. I have already had the victim, the murderer, the possible suspects, the red hearing in my head, but now every time I try to write on the computer I freeze. It’s like I don’t any motivation in me. Anyway, I liked your article and maybe your tips will help me. Well, at least you’ve put me in the writing mode. After this, you’ve got me thinking. Should I write my story in English. It should be more challenging and therefore more motivating.

Thank you very much.

Kind regards,

Hi Frederico, Thank you for your comment and for sharing your writing story with me! Unfortunately, I don’t know much about creative writing and the processes involved, but I wish you all the best with your project and hope you achieve your goal. In any case, it sounds exciting! Whether you should write in English or your native language – if you think the added challenge is motivating, why not? It’s not something to commit to either, is it?

Thank you again and take care!

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I’m Sarah, technical content writer and former web developer. On my blog, I share share my writing and marketing knowledge with developers like you and hopefully help. Want me to do the writing instead? Shoot me a note 🙂

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• EXPLORE Random Article

How to Set the Mood to Write

Last Updated: October 11, 2022 References

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. This article has been viewed 17,210 times.

If you're a writer, you know how it feels to sit down to write and be completely unable to get in the mood! Every writer has different needs, but there are some basic guidelines that can help you set the mood for writing. Setting up a comfortable writing environment, getting into a routine, and planning out your writing will help you be the best writer you can be!

Setting Up Your Writing Area

• If you don't have a space in your home where you feel comfortable writing, try a cozy shared space like a coffee shop or a by-the-hour co-work space.

Setting a Routine

• If you're struggling to develop a routine of your own, look at some of the established workflows for writers. The Pomodoro technique, for example, advocates 25-minute blocks of uninterrupted writing, followed by a short 2-3 minute break. After 4 Pomodoros, take a longer 10-20 minute break. [7] X Research source

Preparing to Write

Expert Q&A

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• ↑ https://sites.psu.edu/siowfa15/2015/12/04/listening-to-classical-music-vs-music-with-lyrics-vs-complete-silence-while-studying/
• ↑ http://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/preparingtowrite
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Six Ways To Get In The Mood To Write

Share, Pin or Retweet If You Love Writing!

More specifically, I don’t believe in that mythical, wraithlike ogre that sucks the life and soul from a writer, rendering him impotent, unable to put words down on paper or screen. Yes, I still have challenges; I just don’t believe that true writer’s block exists.

The reason is simple: I can talk.

After all, writing is nothing more — and nothing less — than the written record of a conversation, whether it’s a speech or a dialog, spoken or unspoken. If you can talk, you can write.

I believe that what some folks call writer’s block is simply the result of a lack of confidence or a lack of motivation. Here are six proven tips I use to get into the “write” mood.

1. If You’re a Writer, Call Yourself a Writer Go back right now and reread the first paragraph of this post. Go ahead, I’ll wait for you.

Ah, you’re back. Did you see the answer to the confidence problem? It’s in the first five words of the very first sentence: I am a freelance writer. A ton of material has been written about speaking things into existence. It’s powerful. The concept of visualization is often used in sports to improve athletic skills.

Writers are no different. If you’re going to be a writer, then call yourself a writer. Go ahead, say it out loud: I am a freelance writer!

New writers start out excited about making a living with their words. However, doubt sets in and confidence wanes, smashing their dreams to pieces.

I know. This is one hurdle I had to clear myself.

Start calling yourself a writer at every opportunity. Get some business cards that say so. When people ask you what you do, tell them you’re a writer. Hey, they won’t laugh; they—ll believe you. In fact, they—ll probably ask what you write. If you still have job, mention it last, if at all. The more you call yourself a writer, the easier it gets.

And you’ll begin believing it as well!

Having trouble staying disciplined and on track with your writing endeavours? Check into the  Get It Done Writer's Toolkit (click here!)   that helps you make sure you get your project done on schedule and in an inspired, lucrative way!  

2. Start by Writing Something Fun

Sometimes you’ll get up and tell yourself that you don’t feel like writing. What you probably mean is that you aren’t ready to get started on your paid writing gigs. No problem; start by writing something fun!

I’d recommend that every new writer start a blog on something they enjoy. I have blogs on gardening and computers, two of my passions. I get up every Monday morning, go out to the garden, take some veggie photos and then usually write a blog post. This gets my creative juices flowing, and viola:

I’m in the mood for words, simply because they’re near me! Funny, but when they’re near me, I’m in the mood for words.

(Sorry about that; I’m an old song buff too.)

Sometimes, I’ll get really sneaky. I pull up several documents that need written, and then I’ll open up my browser in front of them. I write the blog post and when I close the browser the articles are there, waiting for me.

For new writers, there’s an added benefit in having a blog. I post on one or the other of my blogs once a week. That comes out to 52 articles a year. If you don’t have clips yet, use these posts. In fact, the back of my business card says this:

Take a break and visit these sites for some of Steve’s writing samples.

The computer site and gardening site addresses are listed so the reader can go there and check out my writing.

3. Don Your Writer’s Clothes

Business coaches tell you to dress for success. This carries over into freelance writing as well. I enjoy working from home because I can work in my, uh, pajamas. That doesn’t mean I should, though.

I have four nice shirts and a pair of penny loafers that constitute my writing wardrobe, along with a pair of nice jeans, of course. When I wear them, I’m magically transformed into Super Writer-Man. Try it yourself. Sounds corny, but it works.

(Cape not included.)

4. Create a Place for Your Writing

Create an office for your writing. It could be a spare room in your house, or as simple as a corner of the living room. Teach yourself, and your family, that when you’re in your “office,” it’s writing time.

We converted our carport into offices several years ago. My office holds my computers, books and other writing paraphernalia. Mary’s is a combination sewing/laundry room for her seamstress business. When I’m off to write, I let her know that I’m going to “the office.”

Remember the part about visualization, speaking something into existence? Even if it’s just a corner of a room, start calling it your office. Make it hallowed, sacred ground: “Creativity lives here.”

Before long you’ll have a real office, if you want it.

5. Set a Time for Your Writing

Having an established time (or times) for your writing helps, but keep some flexibility. In fact, you might find that you’ll break up your schedule into movable blocks of writing time. You can’t do that with a job, but you can with your writing.

My first block usually starts around 4:30 in the morning. I’m an early riser, so I write while the rest of the household is still asleep. Around 6:00, Mary wakes up and starts getting her child care brood. I take a break, eat a little breakfast, play with the kids, maybe take a shower and then get back to writing.

The rest of the day sometimes varies with the activities we have planned. If I’m in the zone, I might be researching and typing all day. Sometimes the evening works out better for writing. I’ve often taken my laptop out under the stars to our picnic table and written deep into the night. By the way, a fire-pit adds terrific ambience. I know; I’m a little weird.

Maybe you just need a primer in how to become a successful freelancer.  Even experienced writers lose track of their business or need to revamp it every now and then. Writers Life has come up with a product that can help you realize your career dreams and get paid!  You can learn about how to make a living as a writer by taking our  How to Make a Living as A Writer Course (CLICK HERE!)

That brings us to the last tip.

6. Change Your Location to Change Your Mood

Sometimes you can get out of a writing slump by changing your setting. Like I said, the picnic table in the yard is my outdoor office. However, I’ve traveled to other exotic locations as well: various McDonald’s diners, the Village Inn restaurant across town and the Fayetteville Public Library.

All right, they all have free Internet access, but there are other reasons too.

A change of scenery often sparks creativity. Watching people going about their daily activities gives you a different perspective than sitting in your office all day. In fact, it just might give you some ideas for spec articles.

For example, we were traveling back home from Indiana last week and stopped at a diner in Missouri. I had my laptop out to check email and do some writing. A guy in the booth across from us had his computer out too. We chatted about computers, and soon I asked him if he was from around there.

It turns out that he’s a professional griller, commissioned by a major food brand. He was on his way to cook for a charity event. Hmm, article idea there? Not only that, but it turned into an impromptu interview and I got the contact information for the company. People love to talk about themselves, so start asking questions!

Delicious; a burger with a side order of ideas!

The Writers Life creative team has put together a product called  The Get It Done, Writer's Toolkit .  This is an ebook/CD combo set that can teach you how to overcome writer's block and procrastination. You will learn how to stop stalling and

Steve Maurer is the author of this blog that appeared with the title 6 Proven Tips For Getting In The Write Mood at http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2012/07/19/7-proven-tips-for-getting-into-the-write-mood/

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Writer Fuel: How to Get in the Writing Mood

May 21, 2024 by Gabriela Pereira published in Writing

Sometimes we lose our writing mojo and, try as we might, we struggle with building momentum around our writing. No matter what we do, we can’t seem to get in a writing mood. This state of creative paralysis can happen for any number of reasons, including:

• You hit a point of burnout and your creativity fizzles
• Your non-writing life is full-to-the-brim and your writing gets squeezed out
• You are multi-passionate and have a hard time focusing on one project
• A looming deadline has got you stuck and shaking in your boots
• Something with your health (or mental health) is impeding your writing
• You’re just not “in the mood”

In the last Writer Fuel , I talked about creative burnout, which is the first item on the above list. While the techniques I’m about to share may not help with all the creative struggles mentioned above, they can help with creative burnout, when we’ve lost that “writing feeling” and we’re just not in the mood to put pen to page. These are all techniques that I’ve used at various points in my writing career, and while no one technique is a cure-all, using a few of them in concert can help get you out of a writing rut and get you back in the writing mood.

1) Create Writing Rituals

Perhaps one of the best ways to get yourself in that writing mood is to create a ritual around it. I know writers who light a scented candle before they begin a writing session. Others might have a special hat or accessory they wear when they’re writing. Some folks might even listen to a special writing playlist. 

Right now, my own writing ritual is that I like to brew a pot of tea and bring it to my desk so I can sip while I write. I’m especially loving the Literary Tea Collection from Simpson and Vail, with my favorite varieties being Jane Austen (obviously), William Shakespeare (of course!), and Edgar Allan Poe (why not?). These teas make me feel like I’m channeling my inner Austen, Shakespeare, or Poe and give me that extra kick of inspiration.

The point of writing rituals is that they need to be simple and quick to complete. If your ritual is too complex or takes too long, then that will only get in the way of your writing. Instead, you want it to be something fairly easy that you can build into your writing routine and do without thinking too hard.

It’s even better when these rituals tap into one or more of the five senses. This is because sensory cues create a visceral, almost automated response in us. They tell us: “Pay attention, writer! It’s time to get to work.” For me, the tea ritual fulfills all five senses. Taste, smell, and touch are obvious, but the teapot also serves as a visual cue and when my cup clinks against the saucer, it gives me a little auditory reminder that it’s time to work.

2) Use Classical Conditioning

The reason writing rituals work so well is because they can sometimes act as a form of classical conditioning. Let me explain. Remember Pavlov’s dogs? Pavlov, an experimental neurologist and physiologist, discovered that when he rang a bell and simultaneously fed his dogs, eventually the dogs would begin to salivate at the sound of the bell alone.

We can create a similar effect in ourselves as writers. If we pair a certain sensory cue with our writing practice, eventually just the presence of that cue will snap our brains into “writing mode.” The key to classical conditioning is pairing the sensory cue with the desired behavior enough times that the link between the two becomes automatic.

Also, you want to avoid using that same sensory cue for other behaviors aside from writing. For example, if you wear a special writing hat, you want to avoid wearing that same hat in other contexts. This creates a stronger association between writing and the hat.

Not all of your writing rituals will serve as a form of classical conditioning. My tea ritual, for example, doesn’t pass muster because I can’t just reserve tea-drinking for writing time alone. I must have my tea at all hours of the day! I can’t help myself. For this reason, my tea drinking is a ritual but it doesn’t create classical conditioning.

Instead, for classical conditioning I have used a writing playlist. When I was writing the DIY MFA book, I had a special playlist that I listened to every time I sat down to write. Seriously. Every. Single. Time. That playlist started with the song “Everything Is Awesome” from the Lego Movie and after a few weeks of listening to that music, as soon as that song would start to play, my brain would snap into writing mode and I’d find the words starting to flow.

3) Think Beyond Routine

When I’ve spent long periods of time writing, routine has been my best friend. When I wrote the DIY MFA book, I had a toddler and a baby at home, so I needed a routine to help me stay organized and motivated. I got into the rhythm of walking my son, Little Man, to preschool, then going to a coffee shop around the corner from his school. Then I would write, write, write until the time came to go pick him up. (I’ll admit, there were times when I got on such a roll with my writing that I had to sprint to get to pick-up on time!) That routine saw me through six or seven months of solid writing and it helped me get that book done.

That said, sometimes routine can get you into a rut. In those moments, the best thing you can do is break out of that routine altogether. So if you usually write at home, try writing in a coffee shop or library. If you listen to music when you write, try working in silence. Even something as simple as turning your writing chair so it faces a different direction can help rev up your creativity and give you a new perspective.

Keep in mind that rituals and routines are not mutually exclusive. You can still incorporate writing rituals while breaking out of routine. For example, one writer I know does a three-minute meditation before she starts writing. That meditation practice is 100% portable, so she can take it with her whether she’s writing at home, at the library, or somewhere else altogether. As you come up with your writing rituals, try to come up with something that you can take with you across different writing contexts or environments. This way, you can tap into the benefits of having a writing ritual while also being able to shake up your regular routine.

4) Clock in the Time

Sometimes the best tool in our arsenal is a good, old-fashioned clock. There are days when my writing mojo is completely gone, but I know I need to get some writing done. When that happens, I sit myself down at my desk and set a timer for 10 minutes. I don’t necessarily have to write during that time, but also I’m not allowed to do anything else. I can sit at my desk and stare into space, or I can start writing. Usually, I start writing out of sheer boredom.

Another way to use a clock to boost our writing is with the Pomodoro Technique. With this technique, you do one—and only one—task for 25 minutes, then take a five minute break. The key to making this technique work is training yourself not to do anything else during those 25 minutes. (I won’t even let myself get up to go to the bathroom! It’s just 25 minutes after all.) During the five minute break you can do whatever you want. Then when the timer rings, you go back into another 25-minute sprint.

A clock or timer can be a powerful tool, and these are just a couple of ways to use it with your writing. You can go old-school with a kitchen timer, or you can use the timer on your phone or mobile device. And if you want to try Pomodoro, there are some great mobile apps out there as well. My personal favorite is an app called “Focus Time.” Not only is it great for writing, but it’s also super-helpful in helping my kids practice their instruments.

5) Engage in Stealth Writing

My favorite thing to do to rev up my writing is to do it when I’m supposed to be doing something else. I call this “stealth writing” because I’m sneaking it in when I’m really meant to be working on something entirely different.

I first developed this habit in college, when I had to juggle a lot of different writing assignments for my various courses. I realized that if I worked on the assignment that was due next, I always found myself getting stuck. But if I worked on another project due later on, suddenly the words started flowing. The original assignment that was due sooner always seemed to get done somehow (it’s amazing how motivating last-minute panic can be!) but the benefit of this productive procrastination is that I would make headway on a later assignment, so when the time came to work on that , I already had some momentum.

As I write this newsletter, I’m actually supposed to be working on something else. I have a series of documents that need review and I have back-to-back meetings filling up my day. But, I’ve decided to sneak in some writing before reviewing those documents and also squeeze it in the downtime between meetings. Between all this stealth writing in fits and spurts, I’ve already eked out about 1,600 words. Not bad for a day when I thought I wouldn’t get any writing done.

Make Your Own “Best Practice”

One of our catch-phrases at DIY MFA is “There’s no such thing as a ‘best practice,’ just what works best for you.” Writing advice is not one-size-fits all. What works for one writer might not work for another. You have to try out the advice and determine whether it works for you.

This is true for all advice, including the techniques I’ve shared here today. Some of these tools will work for you, some might not, and that’s okay. What matters is that you find the right advice and put it into action. You can understand the techniques, but that knowledge is academic if you don’t apply it. Tools are meant to be used. They are meaningless if they stay stored up in the toolbox. So, choose the advice that’s useful to you, and implement it.

Most of the techniques I’ve shared here today focus on external factors, like when/where/how you write. But, it’s also important to consider internal conditions—your mindset, your emotional state, or other factors that are unique to you. Sure, external factors can give you the tools to unlock your writing potential, but the way you will make lasting change to your process is by internalizing these techniques and making them part of your regular repertoire.

Remember: there is no such thing as the “right mood” to write. You create that mood. So get going and create something awesome!

Until next time, keep writing and keep being awesome!

P.S. For more info on Gabriela Pereira, the founder and instigator of DIY MFA, check out her profile page .

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Content Writers

How To Get Into a Writing Mood – 9 Tips To Get Going

If you’re not feeling the writing bug at the moment, that’s okay. It’s normal for writers to go days or even weeks with little to no output. Getting in the right writing mood can sometimes be tough. When writer’s block does hit, it can be really hard to motivate yourself back into action — especially if you’re without a deadline.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways that’ll help you get back into writing mode without having to work through your issue entirely. Here are 9 tips that’ll help you get writing again, even if you’re not sure where to start.

1. Make a list of ideas to get started

If you suddenly have no idea what to write, your first instinct may be to try and force yourself into the writing headspace. But before you do that, make a list of ideas that can be the starting points for your book or story. This can help give you a little shove in the right direction without having to worry about actually writing anything yet.

2. Even if you don’t feel like writing, open your text editor and type for a few minutes

If you can’t bring yourself to start writing, open up your text editor and type out a few words anyway. It may not seem like it’s getting you anywhere, but it’ll help get the words flowing again. And at least if you’re typing away, you’re already way ahead of where you could have been: sitting there wondering where to start.

3. Don’t worry about editing yourself

If you’ve already got the words down, don’t stop to edit yourself right away. The best way to break back into writing is to type and type until you can’t take it anymore. Give yourself permission to suck — and just keep going from there. Your edits can come later; let the initial burst of creative energy flow for now.

4. Find a writing prompt or start a freewrite

If you’re not sure how to get going on your story, try heading to a site like 750words.com for a writing prompt or just pick some words out of the dictionary at wordnik.com. Then, just let those words inspire you and write down whatever comes next! Alternatively, you could start typing without any prompt at all and see where it takes you. This process is called “free writing” and it’s a great way to help jump-start creativity.

5. Hit the road and go on a walk or drive

Writing outdoors has several benefits, from getting you working in a productive place to clearing your head or adding some extra scenery to your story. If the weather’s not cooperating, you can also try getting out by driving around — see what interesting sights you spot while writing!

6. Take notes and collect ideas

Whether you use a notebook or not, take some notes as soon as you can. Collecting ideas is key to becoming a better writer, whether it’s by typing them down in a notebook or just jotting them down on your phone while on the go. For inspiration, look over your quick notes when you’re offline and see what topics stand out for you: maybe there are some characters who need more love, or perhaps the character’s motivations are all over the place. These are good starting points for your own story.

7. Go back and read what you wrote earlier that day

Unless you completed the first draft of a piece of writing, it’s probably helpful to go back and read what you’ve already written. This gives you an opportunity to see if your current ideas are still relevant or if they’ve shifted in some way. This is a great way to get back in the habit of writing, as we tend to forget the earlier drafts of our own stories.

8. Consider posting a piece on a forum or social media site

It’s said that you should write what you know, so if you don’t know much about your idea — or anybody else’s — consider sharing it with others! Posting a link to your piece on an online forum can give it some extra exposure and feedback that may trigger new ideas. Or, even better, responding to others’ comments to that same piece can spark some new inspiration.

9. Do something else for a little while

If you’ve tried all of the suggestions above and you’re still not feeling motivated, take a break from writing for a while. Read something else for a little while; see how that makes you feel. Try some different methods of relaxation or just listen to music. Then, come back to the task of writing and try again.

It’s important to remember that you are not alone as a writer. Even famous and popular writers experience times when they just can’t seem to get going with their books or stories. Every author has their ups and downs, but just keep going!

Other writers may have some helpful suggestions for you, too: if it seems like you’re struggling more than normal, ask your writer friends for some help. You can also check out some resources on our blog which will get you goin.

Whatever you do, remember that it’s not all on you to keep going; the process can be full of trial and error, but there is always a solution, even if you’re not quite sure what it is just yet!

Get your hands on our Content Writing Guide for beginners .

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7 Psychological tips for getting in the writing zone

These days most entrepreneurs are blogging (if not, why not?) and all business owners regularly have to write other significant *stuff*. Just the other day, I helped a client write a job advertisement (using psychological tricks) to attract super-awesome candidates, for example.

Writing is important. It’s one of the most significant and common “acts of business” we have to perform. We all have varying levels of skill as writers, but we can learn better strategies at any point.

Despite the importance of writing and despite the ease of up-skilling, hardly anyone knows how to get in the zone to produce top quality written material. This is about having the state of creativity (or productivity, or whatever is relevant) on tap … ready to go, when ever you need it.

Sound like a skill you’d like to master? Use these 7 Psychological tips to flip the switch and turn on top-notch writing at will:

1. Find your ritual

Everyone has a ritual, like a set of emotional anchors, for accessing the perfect writing state (where things just flow ). All good athletes have a ritual for getting in the zone – sometimes as simple as a quick bounce of the tennis ball, for good luck. Everyone who writes has a ritual for writing performance, but most people are not aware of them.

Have a think about last time you wrote in that perfect way… and remember the little things you did (environmentally and behaviorally) right before you got started. Find your ritual.

2. Have a clear outcome

So many people start of writing projects (especially the more creative ones, like blogging) without a clear outcome in mind. Then, they start deleting whole paragraphs saying “what rubbish!”.

The question is, how are you measuring what “good writing” looks like? What is your intention behind writing this piece? What would it look like, when finished? How would the reader respond?

These are all questions that clarify your outcome . It’s much easier to write successfully, when you know where you’re headed.

3. Find a creative environment

This one is simple and probably eye-rolling obvious. Thing is, few people understand the significance of the psychological implications of a bad writing environment.

If you tried to get good writing done at, say, a nightclub… imagine your mental state! Your unconscious mind anchors certain states and behaviors to specific environments. Therefor, having a special, reserved “creative space” is useful… and, attempting writing in regular, everyday environments will tend to focus you on everyday, distracts thoughts.

4. Get inspired by awesomeness

Want a shortcut to getting in that hyper-effective state? Go read something written by a genius.

Chances are they were in that “zone” when they wrote it and that’ll come through, between the lines. Your brain will pay attention and vicariously feed off the creativity of others.

5. Clear your head

Don’t try and transition from filing your taxes (or hanging out on twitter) direct to working on some creative project. Take a 4 minute break to just sit and be. Clear your head and then bring a decent game-face (and mind) to your writing.

6. Write at the right time

Inspiration, creativity and motivation tend to naturally ebb and flow. For me, it probably has more to do with my blood sugar than I’d like to admit.

Seize the day and write when your brain wants you to write. Disclaimer: Don’t write and drive.

7. Create your state

Above all, recognise that great writing isn’t dependent on some mysterious, external force. Your state, above all else, is what will determine the quality of your writing. We’re talking emotional state-of-mind. Your state is yours and yours alone. It is up to you to maintain it. After all, who else would you want to be responsible for your state?

When you own your state, great writing can happen whenever you want it to.

What do you think? How do you get in the zone for writing?

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I was just working on a post about a very similar topic. I think the point about top athletes and getting a zone is a very interesting one. I’m an avid surfer and usually all my best ideas come when I’m in the water or just gotten out. The strange thing is I’m not consciously thinking of an idea for a post, but usually in a flash when i’m riding a wave something will come to me that turns into an idea for a blog post. The state of mind I”m in after lends itself well to writing.

Hey Srinivas!

That’s really funny – I was talking with a client about the difficulty of recording great ideas in the car… surfing would be a whole other story!

This took me two days to process. Good stuff.

I am easily frustrated by the fact that incredible ideas cross my mind while I’m driving. I tend to do a lot of driving and find that it is a glorious time to let my mind wander, but I don’t yet have the perfect solution to capturing ideas. I’ve tried a million and none seem to work well enough to take hold. It’ll happen.

My most creative writing is done long-hand. I think because it forces my mind to slow down and process on the words I use rather than just spewing ideas through a keyboard (I type very fast). If I’m lazy and don’t take the notebook in which I’m working with me from place to place, I find that as ideas and thoughts about the project hit me, I lose them because I’ve sabotaged myself by not being able to review what has come before … so, in my frustration, I just don’t write. That was an easy fix. Bought a bag that holds the notebook.

There’s a delicate balance for me between necessary and unnecessary distractions. When my mind fills up with words and they are exploding to get out, sometimes I have to completely distract myself so that I can tamp them down enough to let them flow. A few minutes of reading anything else will give my mind time to sort through what’s trying to happen up there and then I can focus. But, it’s really easy for me to go too far with those distractions.

To be honest, ‘awesome’ writers intimidate the heck out of me because I know that I can never compare myself to them. Wow, I can be hard on myself.

And lastly – I’ve been waiting to see what types of colloquialisms you would share. “Have a think” is not a part of America speech, so that was fun for me!!! 🙂

Thanks for this post – and though it looks like I’m going to miss you for time while you restructure the site, thanks for all of your writing!

Thanks for the great comment and for sharing. I love typing (I too type fast) but I do a lot of self editing while I type… I’ll have to experiment with long hand to see how that works.

I think, just like for Srinivas, recording those ideas are critical. It’s those little lightbulbs that make writing easy!

“Have a think” isn’t part of the American dialect? Maybe it should be – introspection is a wonderful thing 😛

• Pingback: 7 Psychological tips for getting in the writing zone | Amazing WWWorld

Thank you so much for this post! This applies to so much more than blogs, and I find it very helpful for my creative writing. I do seem to have an issue with “finding a creative environment.” I usually turn on my music, that way my environment disappears. It no longer becomes relevant to my creativity. However, the issue is that I’m not always able to listen to my music, as I don’t have a headset or headphones available. (I play my music very loud and I don’t wish to annoy others) Would you be able to suggest a few other ways I could go about things?

• Pingback: The Zone and Flow – Leigh's Notes

I am a Sir, I watch anime and I really enjoyed this article, it really inspired me to get in tune with myself and watch some more anime. I just want to thank you Peter for getting myself on the right track.

thanks for the information

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How To Create Atmosphere & Mood In Your Writing To Engage Your Readers

• What Are Atmosphere And Mood?
• Why Atmosphere And Mood Matter

By Ashley Austrew

Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood so for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone … — The Haunting of Hill House (1959), Shirley Jackson

After reading that opening, we bet you’re wondering what happens next. The best authors and writers always find a way to draw their readers in, get them invested in the work, and leave them desperate to read the next sentence, the next paragraph, the next page.

How do they do this?

Writers have many tools in their toolboxes to make their work compelling, but a huge part of what draws us into stories is atmosphere and mood . Authors like Shirley Jackson use language, descriptions, and other devices to pull readers into a different world. Through atmosphere and mood, authors establish a tone for their work, create ambience , and evoke emotions. Keep reading to learn how the pros establish atmosphere and mood in their work, and to get some tried and true strategies for creating this magic in your own writing.

What are atmosphere and mood ?

Atmosphere is “the dominant mood or emotional tone of a work of art, as of a play or novel.” If you think of your story, essay or other writing as a room, what does your reader feel upon walking into that room? That’s an easy way to consider the overall atmosphere of your piece. While the importance of atmosphere is commonly associated with poetry and fiction, it is also vital to adding depth to personal essays and other types of nonfiction writing as well.

Mood is a part and parcel of atmosphere, but they aren’t necessarily the same thing or always in lock step. Mood describes “a state or quality of feeling at a particular time,” and the mood of a story, poem, or essay can shift depending on the events, characters, setting, or changing information.

Atmosphere and mood work together, but they aren’t always in agreement. A story may have a suffocating or foreboding atmosphere, but within that atmosphere, readers can still experience feelings of joy, wonder, sadness, or hope.

The ultimate mood setter in writing used to be “It was a dark and stormy night.” Learn the history of the phrase.

Examples of atmosphere and mood

Now that you understand the basics of what mood and atmosphere are, let’s look at a few examples to see how atmosphere and mood work in action.

1. “ The Raven ” by Edgar Allen Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore – While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door …

Why it works

In just a few lines, Poe creates an atmosphere of suspense for the reader. It’s late at night, there’s a strange knocking at the door, and it’s reasonable to suspect something mysterious or even dangerous is waiting on the other side. In this example, the atmosphere is created not only by the setting, but also by the language used. Words like dreary , weary , curious , and lore help to create an atmosphere that feels spooky and mystical. And the rhythm of the poetry also gives the lines an intriguing musicality. The end result is the reader wants to know who is knocking just as much as the main character does.

2. “Shipping Out” by David Foster Wallace

“I have now seen sucrose beaches and water a very bright blue. I have seen an all-red leisure suit with flared lapels. I have smelled suntan lotion spread over 2,100 pounds of hot flesh. I have been addressed as ‘Mon’ in three different nations. I have seen 500 upscale Americans dance Electric Slide. I have seen sunsets that looked computer-enhanced. I have (very briefly) joined a conga line.”

In this non-fiction travelogue , David Foster Wallace is talking about his experiences on luxury cruises. He opens by placing the reader directly onto a cruise ship. In the span of a paragraph, the reader experiences awe, curiosity, amusement, disgust, wonder, and excitement. Yet Wallace uses formal language (“I have seen”) and repetition ( there’s that anaphora for you ) to ironic effect. This creates an interesting juxtaposition of the elements of a tall tale with a bit of anthropological distance. This example, in particular, shows how mood can function independently from the atmosphere, and how both can change abruptly with the use of language.

Why atmosphere and mood matter

Atmosphere and mood are important because crafting an engaging story or essay involves more than just retelling events or facts in order. In order to draw readers in and get them invested in your writing, your work needs dimension. Atmosphere and mood work together to create that by:

• Communicating important details that place the reader in a scene.
• Making characters feel more real.
• Reinforcing themes and tone.
• Communicating genre elements.
• Solidifying world-building , or the fictional universe in which a story or poem takes place.

And, perhaps most important, atmosphere and mood are both tools for getting readers invested in the plot or details of a piece of writing. Mood helps them identify with characters in fiction, and atmosphere helps them become immersed in the narrative or information. Both are essential to writing something people want to read.

Tips for establishing and creating atmosphere in your writing

When you sit down to write, here are some important things to consider to help you easily add mood and atmosphere to your piece.

Choose your words carefully.

Think about how you want readers to feel when they read your work. What language and descriptions can you include to evoke those emotions? While you’re in the process of examining your language, try your best to avoid clichés. “It was a dark and stormy night” has been used so many times that it won’t do much to draw your reader into a scene. In fact, cliché phrases can sometimes even pull the reader out of the work and distract them. That’s not what you want!

Deploy strong imagery.

“Show, don’t tell” is probably among the most repeated pieces of writing advice, but that’s because it works. If you just say a house looks old, that may not pull the reader into the house. Instead, talk about the mossy, rotting floorboards and the peeling wallpaper . Use imagery to build a world around the person reading.

Be detailed.

If you’re writing a story or poem, offer specific details about the setting and time period. Drop careful hints about what is coming to build tension and anticipation. If you’re working on an essay, make sure each detail is thorough and succinct. Most importantly, make sure any main component of your story or argument is thoroughly fleshed out to paint the clearest picture possible for the reader.

Incorporate literary devices.

Similes, metaphors , alliteration , hyperbole , and other literary devices can be especially helpful in developing atmosphere and mood. Of course, if you’re writing a more formal essay, you should use your judgment as to whether or not literary devices are a good fit for the piece, but a well-placed metaphor can go far in helping you make an important point.

Introduce yourself to even more poetic and literary devices right here!

Make use of your characters and dialogue.

Atmosphere and mood aren’t only created in descriptions of the setting. You can also use character descriptions, their words, and their actions to add to the mood or atmosphere you’re trying to create. For example, if you’re writing a horror story, you might describe your character’s shaky dialogue and uneven breathing. Perhaps they’re even pale with fright or have wide eyes. Readers can easily experience the atmosphere through characters.

Make Your Writing Shine!

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Ashley Austrew is a freelance journalist and writer from Omaha, Nebraska. Her work has been published at  Cosmopolitan ,  Scary Mommy ,  Scholastic , and other outlets.  For more by Ashley, read:  “Teacher” vs. “Tutor”: Why Most Kids Need Both  | Your Student Can Take Middle School By Storm With The Right Vocabulary  |  Make Your Writing The Star Of National Grammar Day With These Tips | How To Plan Out And Plan Ahead For Your Final Project | How To Write A Great Hook That Grabs Your Audience Hook, Line, And Sinker!

We have more writing tips ready, starting with this look at writing a superb hook!

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How to get in the mood to write daily: 9 tips

Writing a novel from start to finish requires writing consistently. Learning how to get in the mood to write even when motivation is low will ensure you finish. Try these 9 tips:

• Post author By Bridget McNulty
• 8 Comments on How to get in the mood to write daily: 9 tips

Writing a novel from start to finish requires writing consistently. Learning how to get in the mood to write even when motivation is low will ensure you finish. Try these 9 tips:

1: Spend ten minutes freewriting daily

Freewriting is a powerful tool for getting yourself into a productive frame of mind. It also helps you develop an essential skill for drafting – switching off your internal editor .

Sit for ten minutes at the start of every writing session and write anything that comes into your head. Write it down, no matter how trivial or ridiculous it seems. Give yourself this freedom to just write because it will help you avoid being so concerned over the quality of your draft that you get stuck.

It’s helpful to start with a specific topic when you freewrite. If the story you’re working on currently focuses on a theme (such as ‘family’, for example), decide that this will be the subject for your freewriting session. In the process, you might find sentences or even paragraphs you can use verbatim.

2: Create an inspiring writing space

Ideally, as committed writers, we can write anywhere. If you can, though, create a dedicated writing space too. A nook that is reserved for your creative play, one that is inviting and contains inspiring quotes and objects (or one that gives you a minimalist, distraction-free environment) will help you get into the writing mood when you feel unmotivated or stuck.

3: Dip into a journal of favourite writing quotes

If you don’t do this already, start now. Every time you read a book, if you read a sentence that makes you say to yourself ‘this is so true’ or ‘that’s beautiful’, write it down.

Finding pearls in your reading as you go helps you become a more active reader. You will notice more and more the craft of other writers. Copying out their most brilliant sentences helps you learn how to create similar effects in your own work.

Keep your quotes journal in your writing space. Page through for inspiration whenever you feel as though you aren’t in the mood to write.

4: Block your writing time for the week

Learning how to get into the mood to write daily is almost impossible if you never make time to write .

Each week, block your writing time on a blank calendar. On Harlequin romance publishers’ blog , they recommend using different colours for scheduling different aspects of writing – drafting, revising or self-promotion.

Dividing up your available time to write this way is making a conscious commitment to your craft. If you consistently set aside time you’ll have fewer days where writing feels like an option you can leave for next week.

5: Get in the mood to write by setting yourself playful exercises or constraints

Bringing an element of play into your writing practice is a great way to get into the writing mood. Try making fun exercises out of writing scenes. One way to do this is by creating constraints. For example, you could write a scene and set yourself the requirement that it takes place entirely in an elevator.

Creating rules for a scene can be paradoxically liberating. You’re forced to find creative alternatives to any disallowed crutches, for one. This was the principle behind the experimental French writing collective OuLiPo. The group devised constraints as a way to unlock creativity. Placing constraints on setting, word use and other elements forces the writer to find interesting alternatives.

In Italo Calvino’s The Baron in the Trees ( 1957), for example, the author decided as a starting rule for setting the story would explore the life of a boy who climbs into treetops and never comes down for the remainder of the story.

6: Get constructive writing feedback

When you have constructive feedback to anticipate, it’s easier to get into a writing frame of mind. Even on days where you don’t feel like writing, its easier to sit down and produce when you are accountable to others who are rooting for you to continue your story.

On Now Novel, you can get helpful feedback as you go that will help you to stay in the mood to write. Inbetween writing sessions, critiquing others’ work also helps you understand more what you like and dislike and why some pieces of writing just work while others are gruelling.

7: Leave and resume mid-sentence

Another strategy to ensure that you are always in the mood to write is to leave off and resume your draft mid-sentence. Resist the urge to complete a section and leave off at a point of intrigue or suspense. It will make you eager to return and continue forging onwards.

Ernest Hemingway offered similar writing advice when he said that you should always leave off and return while you still know where the story is heading.

8: Set small, attainable writing goals

Aspiring authors sometimes email us, saying they haven’t been in the mood to write. Unrealistic expectations of the writing process can play a part in this. If you find that you’re putting off writing a lot, it could be that you’ve set yourself goals that feel impossible.

It’s easier to get into the mood to write, even on uninspired days, when you have a smaller immediate goal that is almost tangible. Writing one scene (as opposed to an entire chapter) is something you can achieve in a single sitting.

Break up your novel into manageable tasks and you’ll find the writing mood will stay more constant.

9: Reward yourself for reaching milestones

It’s easier to stay in the mood to write and make progress when you’re acknowledging the actual progress you make on a regular basis. Reward yourself for reaching important milestones, such as finishing a chapter. Your reward doesn’t need to be lavish or involve money. It could be half an hour’s walk somewhere serene or a catchup with friends.

Jennifer Blanchard (founder of the Procrastinating Writers blog) puts it thus :

‘If you know writing 500 words comes with a reward, but watching TV for an hour doesn’t, which activity are you more likely to choose?’

Commit now to write 500 words per day and reward yourself when you meet your target. After, you can submit your extract for helpful critique from Now Novel’s writing commmunity.

Do you have tips or tricks to share on how to get into the mood to write when feeling uninspired? Share them in the comments.

Related Posts:

• Creating the mood of a story: 6 tips for strong atmosphere
• Boost motivation to write daily: 10 practices
• Creating mood like Haruki Murakami
• Tags motivation , writing inspiration , writing process

By Bridget McNulty

Bridget McNulty is a published author, content strategist, writer, editor and speaker. She is the co-founder of two non-profits: Sweet Life Diabetes Community, South Africa's largest online diabetes community, and the Diabetes Alliance, a coalition of all the organisations working in diabetes in South Africa. She is also the co-founder of Now Novel: an online novel-writing course where she coaches aspiring writers to start - and finish! - their novels. Bridget believes in the power of storytelling to create meaningful change.

8 replies on “How to get in the mood to write daily: 9 tips”

Wow! Now I feel ok! I write short business articles – purely because it’s part of my vocation. My desire is to write a series of novels…but…I always thought that because I felt so flat when trying to put the story together that I am not cut out for this. I honestly didn’t realise that writers have the need to ‘get into the mood’

This article has given me hope that I am not trying to do something that I’m not cut out for but rather that it is something I have reprograme mybody and mind to do.

Great stuff, Vicky! That’s what Now Novel is here for 🙂

Odd that this should turn up in my inbox when I have found myself lagging behind on a novel writing course, some great tips here

Thanks Sue, glad it was timely! All the best for your course.

Personally, I reward myself with chocolate chips. When I finish a paragraph, I get one. And stopping mid-sentence? Genius! I need to try that.

Thanks, J. That sounds like a fun way to develop a disciplined routine.

I listen to music of films in a similar genre. Eg I’m writing a fantasy novel so I listen to the Soundtracks of Lord of the Rings, Hunger Games, Skyrim, Beyond, etc. Listen to this while you get any admin tasks out the way that might distract you (facebook, emails etc), then write a to do list of the things you need to do that day to get them out of your head. You could also read back on your last chapter/your favourite chapter with music playing.

Pick any scene you’ve previously planned that sounds fun/interesting to write and have a go. You can delete it if its rubbish…but it may get you going. Another thing: you don’t have to write your novel in chapter order. Don’t always pick the funnest chapters…otherwise you’ll be left with a whole chunk of difficult ones to write and you’ll never finish it.

My trouble is tapping into the character when I’m not in the writing mood. I end up creating an entirely new character or writing a character that is really bland. I have character block. So reading back on my previous work really helps me.

Great advice, Maddy. Thanks for sharing your process. ‘Character block’ is an interesting way of putting it.

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Setting the Mood: Creating Atmosphere in Your Story

Every writer aims to create an immersive experience that resonates with their reader. A crucial aspect of that is establishing the right mood or atmosphere. Mood can help create the setting of your story and give it a depth that makes it feel more alive. So, what exactly is mood and how do you build it?

Understanding Mood and Atmosphere

Mood, or atmosphere, is the feeling a writer wants to convey – joy, anxiety, contentment, annoyance. It breathes life into the characters, strengthens the setting, and reinforces a story’s theme. Mood often acts as a lens through which the reader interprets events and actions. 

This is separate from the tone, which is the attitude of the narrator. A story can have different moods and tones. For example, a book could have a serious or even scary mood but have a funny tone. 

Experimenting with moods and tones can add a new dimension to a novel. It can heighten tension, give a comedic edge, or create mystery.

Building Atmosphere

Use sensory details.

To tap into the reader’s emotions, try to create a scene that engages all their senses. When looking at a scene, identify which of the five senses – sight, sound, touch, smell, taste – is most important in it. Focus on that sense when describing what’s happening to evoke the mood you want. Talk about the rustling of leaves, the startling rush of cold water in a hot bath, or the sour taste of a rotten grape. Paint pictures of experiences using tiny details.

Hold On To Inspiration

While writing, find inspiration for the mood you want to convey and hold onto it. Think of a word or image and keep it in your mind. You can also leave notes about mood and return to them while you’re in that mood (ex: writing while you’re angry to make a character believably angry) or recreate a scene or memory in real-life to feel it while writing.

Platforms like Pinterest or Spotify allow you to create mood boards and playlists to look at and listen to while you write. These can be a constant source of inspiration for different moods, which you can easily edit or save for another time.

Focus On Language, But Limit Imagery

Carefully consider word choice. For each scene, as yourself if the words you’re using match the mood you’re trying to set. If you’re writing a chase scene, use short and abrupt words with harsh sounds. If you’re writing a dark mood, use negative words.

Small details using the senses can add to this. Use words to describe the texture of furniture, the feeling of a piece of fabric, the sound of something in the distance or closeby. 

While you do this, experience with sentence, paragraph, and chapter lengths. These affect the atmosphere and pacing of the story. For example, sentence fragments can help create a quick pace and tense mood for an action sequence while longer, flowing sentences can create a sense of peace.

Be careful not to overdo it. Write about necessary details and refrain from too many metaphors. They can be redundant, complex, and distracting. Choose one to three themes to use as metaphors and refer to them subtly throughout the story.

The Importance of Setting

Setting is a powerful tool you can use to establish a mood. A sunny day can mean happiness while a rainy day sorrow or depression. But don’t limit your setting to just that. How you detail it can shape the mood it creates.

A forest can be whimsical in the morning light but frightening at night. A happy, sunny day can easily become foreboding if you describe the burning touch of the sun’s rays, cracked land, and shriveled plants. 

Characters and Dialogue

Don’t forget your characters. How you describe them can help shape what the reader feels, as long as an emotional connection has been established. Are they shaky? Jumpy? Have they stopped to think about something or are they running to tell someone happy news?  How they feel and act in a situation can add more layers to the mood already created through setting. 

Tackle It Later

Don’t get overwhelmed. Establishing mood can be really hard . First drafts aren’t about perfection; they’re about potential. If capturing the exact mood feels too diffcult, let the story flow and add in details about mood in the revisions stage.

Crafting the perfect atmosphere or mood in a story is an art that requires thoughtful consideration of various elements. By understanding what mood and atmosphere are, utilizing sensory details, focusing on language, considering setting and tone, and reflecting mood through characters and dialogue, writers can create a rich and resonant emotional landscape.

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What is Mood in Writing? Examples, Definitions, and How to Create Them

M ood is the overall atmosphere or feeling of a piece of writing , which is influenced by diction , detail , and tone . It can range from sad and som ber to light hearted and humorous . The overall mood of a story is often determined by the author — so don ’ t forget to have fun with it !

Some famous examples of modern movies that do an amazing job conve ying mood include “ The Shining ” ( cre ep y ), “ The Note book ” ( rom antic ), and “ The Hang over ” ( h ilar ious ).

Understanding Mood in Writing: The Secret Sauce

Think of mood as the secret sauce of writing. It’s that invisible ingredient that adds flavor to the words, making them unforgettable. The secret to creating a distinct mood is to carefully choose words and details that evoke specific emotions. Just as a chef knows the right blend of spices for the perfect dish, a writer must find the perfect combination of elements to create the desired mood.

The Role of Diction in Setting the Mood

Details make the writing come alive, and they also have a strong impact on the mood. By using vivid and descriptive language, the writer can draw the reader into the scene and make them feel a part of it. For example, a description of a haunted house might include details like “the floorboards creaked with each step, and a chill breeze slipped through the cracked windows.” This description creates an eerie and spooky mood, which is perfect for a horror story.

Tone is the attitude of the writer towards the subject or the audience. It is conveyed through the writer’s word choice, sentence structure, and use of literary devices. A sarcastic tone, for example, creates a mood of irony and humor, while a serious tone can create a mood of tension or solemnity. By adjusting the tone, a writer can fine-tune the mood of their story to suit their intended message.

Mood in Action: Examples of Different Moods in Writing

Now that the ingredients of mood have been explained, let’s explore some examples to see how they work together. Each example will demonstrate a different mood using diction, detail, and tone.

A Joyful Mood

The sun beamed brightly, casting a golden glow over the park. Laughter bubbled from children as they chased each other through the soft, green grass. A warm breeze carried the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and the cheerful chirping of birds filled the air.

A Mysterious Mood

The thick fog rolled in, shrouding the town in a veil of gray. Shadows danced on the walls, and whispers seemed to echo through the dimly lit streets. Doors creaked on their hinges, and footsteps echoed softly in the distance, leaving a lingering sense of unease.

In this example, a mysterious and eerie mood is created by using diction that evokes uncertainty (e.g., “shrouding,” “whispers,” “echoed”), atmospheric details (e.g., “thick fog,” “dimly lit streets”), and a suspenseful tone.

A Melancholic Mood

The rain drizzled down, casting a dreary pallor over the city. People huddled beneath their umbrellas, their footsteps slow and heavy. The world seemed to be painted in shades of gray, and the constant patter of raindrops offered a somber soundtrack.

This passage creates a melancholic mood through the use of negative diction (e.g., “dreary,” “slow,” “heavy”), descriptive details (e.g., “rain drizzled down,” “shades of gray”), and a somber tone.

A Tense Mood

Sweat dripped down his brow as he gripped the steering wheel, knuckles turning white. The engine roared like a wild beast, and the tires screeched on the asphalt. Time seemed to slow down, each second feeling like an eternity, as the car raced towards the finish line.

Here, a tense and suspenseful mood is created through the use of intense diction (e.g., “gripped,” “roared,” “screeched”), vivid details (e.g., “sweat dripped down,” “knuckles turning white”), and a fast-paced tone.

Tips for Creating the Perfect Mood in Your Writing

In conclusion, mood is a vital element of writing that helps to create an emotional connection with the reader. By carefully selecting diction, incorporating vivid details, and adjusting the tone, writers can create powerful moods that will leave a lasting impression on their audience.

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Related posts, what is an anaphora in writing examples, definitions, and how to create them, powerful action verbs to resurrect new life into your writing, the best ways to start a sentence (with examples), leave a comment cancel reply.

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How can I get into the mindset to write?

Depending on the weather, the days events, and other factors, I find myself with a different emotion everyday when I write which I'm afraid is making my novel a little bit choppy. For example, one chapter might be portrayed in a light mood, while the very next, for no literary reason, is written much darker because I received a bad phone call while I was writing. What I've tried to do is to abstain from writing until I'm in the appropriate mood with which I had started off the piece, but this is stopping me from writing on it a regular basis and slowing down the whole process significantly. I'm afraid that keeping the same personality is becoming more difficult as I stretch the length of time which which I'm writing it as I'm becoming a different person. So how do experienced writers help get into a specific "writing mood" for the piece they are working on?

• psychology-of-writing

• 1 I am in the same situation! I don't have suggestion, but I can share my problems. I feel it's like gym or yoga. You need a good amount of warm-up before start. So sit down, breathe, relax, and then jump into the thing. –  FraEnrico Commented Nov 13, 2017 at 13:24
• Like any pipe, when you turn it off, you won't like what first comes out when you turn it back on after a while. Just accept the first few minutes of produce out of the pipe are sludge. Then think of writing like a pipe. –  corsiKa Commented Nov 13, 2017 at 19:23
• Also, never feel bad that you experience different emotions and that it influences with your writing. That is a feature, not a bug. –  corsiKa Commented Nov 13, 2017 at 19:25
• I like to think it's okay to write a first draft even in a terrible mood - the more important thing is to edit in a calm mood, since your edits will have more impact on your writing. –  Akshat Mahajan Commented Nov 14, 2017 at 16:27
• For some people, it's best to compose it in your head and revise it several times over a period of several days before you ever sit down at a keyboard. –  Michael Kay Commented Nov 14, 2017 at 23:24

14 Answers 14

I read somewhere, don't ask where because I forgot, that if you wait for the right mood to write, you won't get anything done.

So, I think if you just try to sit in front of your computer/paper, relax for a few minutes and delve into your character's mind, it would be better than to just not write until your mood gets better. It's hard, I know because I struggle with it too, but maybe in time it gets easier. Try to write at least a 100 words. It'd be better than nothing. Also, music might help. Putting a song in the background, very low if you don't like to hear music while you write, that goes with the tone of the scene, could help you keep the scene consistent.

• 3 I can attest to this. I never feel like writing generally, with a family and busy work schedule, so when I have time to is when I sit down and just start. I get sucked in within minutes of putting words on the page. As Yeats once said: "Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking." –  Martin-Brennan Commented Nov 14, 2017 at 1:28

One solution that usually works is to write when you wake up, when nothing has happened in the day. I write for two hours every morning. My alarm is set for 4:30 AM, I am at the keyboard by 5:00 AM, and I write until 7:00 AM. Nobody calls, the only interruptions are the dog asking to go outside and refilling my coffee cup.

This might fail if a multi-day disaster befell me, like a death in the family, or a car accident. But typically, at least for me, irritations and foul moods dissipate over a night of sleep and don't bother me in the morning.

If you don't have time every morning, you can solve it by doing the same on one of your days off, perhaps like a Sunday after a Saturday so your mood is more predictably stable.

If you aren't a morning person, try writing after an afternoon nap.

Finally, you can do the same thing after you finish the novel and go through an edit for a second draft. Find a way to write with a stable attitude, and even out the tone then to make it consistent.

• 9 Your dog refills your coffee cup? (Sorry - couldn't resist). It's good advice - something of a morning writer myself. –  ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere Commented Nov 13, 2017 at 8:25
• 9 @ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere :-) Sure, that's why it is such an interruption. He's just trying to be helpful, but in the end it would probably be easier if I just did it myself! –  Amadeus Commented Nov 13, 2017 at 11:03
• Amadeus...curious, when keeping this schedule, what time do you go to bed? –  elrobis Commented Nov 15, 2017 at 17:46
• 1 @elrobis I get ready to sleep at 10:00 PM, and I am asleep by 10:30, I sleep six hours per night. If for some reason I can't get to bed that early, I stay up and go to bed 90 minutes later. I usually wake up five minutes before my alarm goes off; it went off once about two weeks ago, that was due to somebody having an epileptic seizure near bedtime, and providing care caused me to get to bed later. Like nearly everybody else, my sleep cycle is 90 minutes long, so I arrange to sleep in multiples of 90 minutes, even if I have to reset my alarm to do it. I started 40 years ago. It has benefits. –  Amadeus Commented Nov 15, 2017 at 18:07
• Cool. Thanks for elaborating on that. :) –  elrobis Commented Nov 15, 2017 at 19:46

How I do it is, sit down with a laptop, start with a journal first, write down your thoughts, feelings, and what's been going on. Switch over to the document holding the story. Then start thinking about your idea while looking at the page on your screen, when you feel the idea, then write!

• That's great advice. Get whatever's bothering you out of your head via journaling, to clear your head for fiction writing. Awesome advice! I'll give this a shot myself! –  Josh Commented Nov 13, 2017 at 18:58

Keep in mind that you may need to go through many revisions regardless after you have a complete draft. So, some kerfuffles at this point may be OK, unavoidable, and/or lead to interesting plot points later. Also, keep in mind that most readers do not want an absolutely monotone story, and that your characters are probably supposed to have emotions, too.

If this were me, I'd probably do one of two things.

Work on a chapter that is meant to be darker, when I feel dark. Or,

Write other stuff when I am not in the right mood. I like writing background for my characters as side exercises - How people met, what their worst fight ever was, etc. Usually, creating those experiences in a concrete way ultimately influences my story directly - I have a solid, consistent event I can draw from to make chance comments or even a minor thread through the narrative.

I find writing to be therapeutic. This is not uncommon. It may be that the act of writing will get you there. In a sense, this is like the comment under your question that compares the practice to going to the gym - even on the days you don't want to go, if you go by the end of the workout you'll be in that familiar post-workout place, and feeling pretty good.

Something I saw somewhere on this site as an answer that I think really has helped me, and might help you is to write based on your mood! YEP, if you are mad, skip a few chapters to write the angry scene you have later planned, if you are sad, write the depressing scene you have planned, and so on! I have found that after doign this, the parts that are intended to be emotionally charged feel that much more real and authentic because you were feeling that emotion when writing it. Nothing says you have to write your book completely front to back, just make sure you tie the pieces in when you are able to :)

Simply write. Only you can say when works best for you, but write daily even if only for fifteen minutes. Remember this is writing. You can always come back later and rewrite, add, remove. Nice thing is it is not permanent. Just finish the first draft and then you can come back with a clearer eye and edit. Never delete anything. Set up a secondary doc with your removals in case on their third rewrite you decide to put it back.

As a person who struggles with depression, I have the same problem you do. My mood greatly impacts my ability to write, and what comes out when I do.

I can say emphatically when I feel darkest, nothing helps. I just have to be okay with not writing that day, or until my mood or emotional state changes. But there are other times when I can still act like a professional writer (I'm not), "cowboy up," and do the job (it's not my job) of writing.

To get to that point. one thing that helps me is to read over what I wrote the previous day. Or, go back to the beginning of the chapter or scene or whatever logical unit in the book you have to retreat to. Go backward in the manuscript. Read forward, putting the story back into your head.

Let your imagination crawl back into the world you've created, the characters, and let THEIR moods and action dictate the story. It may not always work, but for me, it helps a lot to get out of my own headspace and into the characters' headspace(s). Being there, watching it in my mind's eye as a movie, I can transcribe without allowing my mood, my emotion of the moment, impact what I'm writing.

And +1 to those answers about using mood-adjusting tools like music, or writing a scene from the manuscript suitable to your mood, if you can't step around it.

Consider lighting in your writing space, too. Or you can, as A N M provided, journaling to clear your head of the things affecting you might be of great benefit. Get the things holding you back out of your mind, onto paper, and be rid of them.

I hope this offers a bit of help. I know it's a tough row to hoe, but I have learned emotions make great servants, but lousy masters.

I know it's not much, but I often listen to music before writing.

When I started, I created a playlist of things I like and have the right mood, then listen to it for a bit if I'm not in a good mindset for the book.

Simple, but very useful if you spend some time picking appropriate music.

Listening to music can be good, as others have mentioned. Another technique you might find useful is to meditate for ten to fifteen minutes. Headspace has some good resources for this, they have an app which I use occasionally.

Aside from that, if it's a first draft, I wouldn't worry too much. If you're getting the story down that's all you really need. Tone problems can be sorted out in editing.

The first and foremost requirement for a writing mindset is the desire to tell a story, or prove your point. Without that, writing becomes sheer torture. Before writing, think on why you want to write, whom are you targeting and how will it impact readers.

The next thing to do is to start writing ....

As mentioned in some answers above, the only way to get into a writing mindset is to start writing and keep at it ... no matter what.

Writing is like exercising, programming, art ... whatever. Even if you do possess talent and imagination, you will not do good by not writing. You need to just write, write and write.

When you're writing ... it's only you and your notepad / laptop and your imagination at work. Take some time off the day, not necessarily early morning, but could be late at night or anytime when you're sure you won't be distubed. It would help if you did not have any distractions next to you (as you mentioned .... one bad phone call can alter your mood).

But don't overdo it and stretch yourself. Too much thinking might alter your writing as well and might hamper creativity. Like all things, start small and keep going as you grow in confidence.

Writing is a stupid waste of time. It will make you lonely, but it won't make you rich. I can think of only two legitimate reasons to write:

A profound and unshakable regret for not having written.

A publishing contract with a deadline attached.

It follows that the only reasons to write are to shake off the melancholy of not having written or to meet your contractual obligations. Neither of these are a mindset that you should need to get yourself into. The issues is not getting yourself into the mindset. The issue is that writing is hard work, mentally and emotionally exhausting. Actually getting to it requires the same discipline as starting on any other exhausting task. Get on with it because if you don't you are going to be poor and/or miserable.

And if that is not the case, don't bother, because writing is a stupid waste of time.

I find that in order to write best, uninterrupted, is to start really early in the morning. Train yourself to get up when no-one else is up, making sure that you are not too cold, get a drink. Sit, and write. Keep on writing until you hear others waking. Stop. Works every time. Interruptions are the devil's idea of fun. Write from the heart. Music for me is a waste of time. Just another interruption. I have written 49 pages before my son even gets out of bed. Job done.

• “Keep on writing until you hear others waking.” — so, till eternity? –  celtschk Commented Sep 25, 2019 at 16:15

Could you outline the entire book first, and then write whatever section matches your current mood?

I'm assuming you don't want the entire book to all have the same mood and tone, so if your mood affects the writing, that could actually be a good thing, assuming you deploy it wisely.

"Waiting for the mood to strike you" is bad practice. Your writing muscle, like any other, needs to be exercised every day, if you can, or at least as often as you have time. (Some of us have jobs and whatnot, writing every day might not be possible.)

If you have the time to write, there are several tricks that can help you find the right mood.

First, sometimes the troubles of the day can be weighing on you. You need to clear your mind, find that space for creativity. @Lauraducky suggests music and meditation. I have found both useful. Keep it brief. Find what helps you focus, and do that. With time, focusing will become easier. It's a form of mental exercise - everything that isn't your writing - you're not thinking of it right now.

Then, read the last few paragraphs you've written. There's a flow to a story. Reading the last passage should help you get back into the flow.

If there's a particular mood you're trying to evoke, a chord you can't quite seem to strike, it can be very helpful to find a piece of literature, film, or music that evokes that emotion. Read/watch/listen to it once or twice to immerse yourself in what you're looking for. Don't let yourself read/watch on to other bits, get carried away - that's procrastinating. Keep the break brief.

Finally, if nothing works, write anyway. Write something, even if it isn't coming out the way you'd like it to. When you come back to editing it, it will be easier to change things, draw the text closer to what you want it to be. It's easier to find what needs to be improved, and how to improve it, then working from a blank page.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged technique psychology-of-writing or ask your own question .

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Novel writing ,

Mood in writing: what it is and how to create it.

By Emma-Claire Wilson

Readers often choose a book they want to read based on what ‘mood’ they are in – and, in turn, how that book will make them feel.

There are so many different ways a book can make you feel – you may want to read something that puts you in an eerie mood, a cheerful mood, whimsical mood, or a romantic mood.

In this article, we will be looking at mood examples and how the right mood words can create emotional responses in your readers. I will explain the difference between mood and tone, and how to utilise both effectively to engage the reader and leave them feeling the exact emotion you intended.

Discover how to become a better writer and get people’s emotions evoked through your writing.

What Is Mood?

Mood refers to how a reader feels as a result of an author’s tone used to evoke more than one mood.

Mood and tone are sometimes confused.

Tone in writing often refers to the author/protagonist’s feelings and how they’re expressed on the page, whereas mood is how the reader feels as the result of the tone used by the author to affect mood.

For example, the tone an author has used may be described as ‘immersive’, ‘dark’, ‘compelling’. The tone of how the author portrays a character on the page helps you identify the mood of a book. But don’t get tone, or mood, confused with ‘author voice’.

If you are writing a thriller, for instance, you want the reader to feel unnerved. Maybe you want them to feel mistrusting of your main character.

For instance, if you were to start the book with ‘it was a dark and stormy night’ and use short sentences, the mood (feeling for the reader) is immediately one of unease and apprehension .

When writing your first draft make a note of how you want your reader to feel , then look at the different ways you can achieve that.

Why Is Creating Mood Important?

It doesn’t matter if you’re writing a hilarious rom com, or a spooky gothic thriller, your end goal is the same – you are creating mood.

But why is that important?

Because if you can evoke emotion, your reader is more likely to remember your story long after they turn the final page. The reader experiences different moods in different genres, which is a huge part of their experience.

Examples Of Mood In A Story

The mood of a story is determined by using different words, imagery, and tone. Let’s study different moods in writing with the following examples:

Example One:

Agatha Christie is one of my favourite authors because she truly makes me feel something.

The others went upstairs, a slow unwilling procession. If this had been an old house, with creaking wood, and dark shadows, and heavily panelled walls, there might have been an eerie feeling. But this house was the essence of modernity. There were no dark corners – no possible sliding panels – it was flooded with electric light – everything was new and bright and shining. There was nothing hidden in this house, nothing concealed. It had no atmosphere about it. Somehow, that was the most frightening thing of all. They exchanged good-nights on the upper landing. Each of them went into his or her own room, and each of them automatically, almost without conscious thought, locked the door… And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

What Christie has done here is incredibly clever. Her setting and atmosphere deliberately do not match the mood she is creating. The modern, open and safe atmosphere of the house should be a non-threatening location; but readers are left feeling uneasy. Christie is deliberately creating a mood of unease by way of subverting expectations (but more on this later).

The reader is left with a sense of foreboding and fear, despite the setting being typically welcoming. The clever placement of the characters automatically ‘locking the door’ makes the reader feel fear.

Example Two:

Alice in Wonderland is glorious in so many ways, but in this case, Carroll is also an expert when it comes to creating mood on the page. It’s done in such a subtle manner that as children, we can’t immediately see why it makes us feel a certain way.

“It was much pleasanter at home,” thought poor Alice, “when one wasn’t always growing larger and smaller, and being ordered about by mice and rabbits. I almost wish I hadn’t gone down that rabbit-hole—and yet—and yet—it’s rather curious, you know, this sort of life!” Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Carroll uses whimsical settings and descriptions to create an extravagant world. We already know this world is fantastical, but what is it about the writing that evokes a feeling of childhood innocence and wonder in the reader?

Take a look at this second example:

She stretched herself up on tiptoe, and peeped over the edge of the mushroom, and her eyes immediately met those of a large caterpillar, that was sitting on the top with its arms folded, quietly smoking a long hookah, and taking not the smallest notice of her or of anything else. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

We know, from the description, that Alice could and should evoke a sense of danger; a new world she doesn’t recognise and a life she doesn’t know or understand. Instead, we are left feeling excited.

Example Three:

Trying to create a mood of sorrow, despair and grief on the page can be incredibly difficult.

So, here’s how it went in God’s Heart: The six or seven or ten of us walked/wheeled in, grazed at a decrepit selection of cookies and lemonade, sat down in the Circle of Trust, and listened to Patrick recount for the thousandth time his depressingly miserable life story… The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

This excerpt is the perfect example of how a few words can help create a deliberate mood on the page.

The placement of ‘walked/wheeled’ evokes sadness within the reader. The use of the word ‘decrepit’, not describing the lives that inhabit the room, but the cookies, is so powerful. Even more so because these are descriptions through the eyes of a teenager.

How To Establish Your Story’s Mood

There are many ways to establish and create mood in fiction. For me, I follow the rule of four.

Here’s how you can establish mood.

Using Setting

The setting of a book and how you use all three different aspects of immersive setting can heavily influence the story’s mood. Be it that you juxtapose a calm setting to evoke a sense of fear or foreboding, or lean into a setting to expose emotions such as innocence or love. Setting can be your best friend. It’s also the perfect way to ‘show don’t tell’ and allow your reader to truly feel .

Mood and Tone are two different techniques and can easily be confused. However, once you have understood the difference, tweaking the tone in your writing can very quickly establish the mood of your novel.

Using Theme s

Establishing a theme for your book is one of the fundamentals of plotting, but solidifying your theme will help describe the mood.

If you are writing a coming-of-age novel, the overall mood of the book may be hopeful, romantic, innocent even. If you are writing about grief, the overall mood of the book will lean more towards the ‘sad’ end of the spectrum.

Making sure you nail down your theme will go a long way to helping you ensure there is mood on the page.

Using Language

As you can see from the example with John Green, language matters . The words we use matter. We spend our lives trying to twist the same twenty-six letters into words that will elicit an emotional response, so the words we choose matter.

Tips For Creating A Particular Mood

Knowing how to create mood is one thing, but how do you go about doing that in practical terms?

Mood Boards

Creating a mood board during your planning and plotting stages will keep you on track. Use pictures, words and images that create a particular mood you want your readers to experience. Keep it close at hand and refer back to it throughout each draft. (Pinterest is great for this).

Brainstorm Mood Related Words

Draw a ‘spider diagram’ and put the mood you want your reader to experience at the centre. Explore all the words, emotions and settings you associate with that mood.

Subvert Expectations

Subverting expectations is a way to break the ‘traditional’ rules or expectations in writing to create something new and fresh.

It might be easy to always go with the expected, but as writers, we hate the expected. So why not think about shaking things up a bit? Think outside the box.

Instead of having your love story set in a romantic location, why not create a creepy mood, or flip that ghost story with a nod towards humour or a happy mood. Twist your narrative and create a scene that no one is expecting.

Having a great plot, twists and shocks and even deep characterisation means nothing at all if you don’t leave the reader feeling something.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are moods in literature.

Mood in literature is when an author uses tone in their writing in such a way that it leaves the reader experiencing certain emotions at the end of the novel.

What Is An Example Of Mood In Literature?

One of the best ways to determine the mood of a piece is to ask yourself how it makes you feel as you read it. For example, do you want those reading your story to feel:

• Joyful                                  
• Melancholic                             
• Peaceful                     
• Pessimistic                 
• Reflective                   

What Is Used To Identify Mood In Writing?

Generally, tone, setting, theme and language, used together can help set the mood in fiction. A combination of these, used effectively, will help generate a strong sense of mood on the page .

Feelings Matter

All in all, how you write your story determines the feelings the person reading it will experience.

You can evoke several moods all at once, or twist up each scene to take your readers through a rollercoaster of emotions. The mood created by your choice of words, sentence length, tone, syntax, juxtaposition, voice, and setting will make your work more memorable and enjoyable.

About the author

Emma-Claire Wilson is an author of book club fiction. Born in Scotland, she travelled the world as the child of military parents. Finally, she settled in Southern Spain with her husband, daughters, and rescue dog, Pip. Emma-Claire works as a journalist for English language magazines and newspapers in Spain and in 2015 launched The Glass House Online Magazine. When not writing emotional book club fiction, you can find her by the sea dreaming up new stories, or wrapped in a blanket with a book in her hand. See more on her author website or Twitter .

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Emotions in Writing: The Author’s Guide to Stirring Up Big Feels

If you know how to convey emotions in writing, you know how to draw your reader in, hold them captive, and make them remember you forever.

And if you think that sounds manipulative, my brother/writing partner once referred to this skill as the art of “jerking people’s emotions around.”

But he’s right, and we writers might as well own it. The only reason anyone picks up a novel is because they want to feel something.

Thrilled. Terrified. Soothed. Devastated. Anxious. Intoxicated.

Sure, fiction makes us smarter and more insightful. But let’s be real: the only reason it succeeds in making us think is because it first succeeds in making us feel . 

So how do you become an all-powerful emotion wizard?

It’s all right here. You’re about to learn how to plot a story built for emotional resonance and draft scenes that speak to your reader’s soul. So… big stuff.

Let’s start feeling those feels.

Lay the Emotional Groundwork

The first rule of emotions in writing:

Set up your story to elicit big feels.

New writers especially tend to think building emotion is a matter of heartbreaking dialogue or shocking cliffhangers. And sure, that’s part of it. 

But the fact is, it won’t matter how well you nail those micro details if the story itself doesn’t feel authentic and resonate with your reader.

So before we dive into the matter of bringing out emotions in your writing, let’s lay the groundwork for a powerful story.

Know How You Want Your Readers to Feel

What specific emotional experience are you trying to create for your readers?

Or to put it another way:

If you were going to read a book in your chosen genre, what would you want to feel?

Be specific, because specificity is your mightiest tool when it comes to conveying emotions in writing.

For example, you’d probably want the romantic subplot in an adventure novel to charm and delight you. Maybe even dizzy you up a bit. 

But if you pick up a romance , you’re looking for a full-on swoon. Those love scenes had better make your heart race, make you breathless, make you believe in love again no matter what broken dreams lie in your past.

Revisit some of the books that made you want to write in your genre in the first place. Make notes about how you feel, when you feel it, and what the author did to spark those emotions. 

Then, as you draft each new scene, go into it knowing exactly what you want your readers to feel so you can make it happen.

Establish Relatability

How are you going to get your reader to emotionally invest in your protagonist?

You’ve got to offer at least a glimmer of relatability, and you’ve got to do it early. 

Fortunately, this is way easier than you might think. Your reader doesn’t need to see their actual life reflected in your story. They also don’t even need to see their personality reflected in your character. All they really need in order to relate is a glimpse of vulnerability. That’s it.

In White Ivy , Ivy Lin is a young Chinese immigrant trying to carve out a path to status and power in a cold new world. She’s a protagonist with a shockingly negative character arc , and I definitely do not recognize my life in hers.

But on page one, I learn two important pieces of information.

She feels invisible and she wishes she could trade her face for someone else’s.

These are near-universal vulnerabilities. Even though Ivy’s feelings are connected to the very specific experience of being an Asian immigrant in the U.S.—an experience I couldn’t claim to understand intimately—I can at least say there have been times in my life when I’ve felt invisible and unappealing.

This is why literature is such a powerful tool for empathy. Great books start with an emotional entry point. They show a character’s insecurities, fears, failings, or wounds, inviting the reader to say, “Oof. Yeah, I know that one.” Suddenly, the unfamiliar becomes the understandable. 

Flesh Out Characters

Once you’ve hooked your reader’s heart by dropping some relatable vulnerabilities, follow through by making sure your characters are multi-dimensional creations.

This includes side characters and antagonists . You want your players to feel human (even if they’re not). This means they’ve got to have:

• Compelling motivation

Also remember that your characters do not exist in a vacuum. They’re influenced by their upbringing, culture, economic class, race, gender, sexuality, ability, physical and mental health , and about a million other things. Let your reader see how your characters’ influences shape who they are.

On that note, backstory helps a lot as you build emotion into your story. What has your character been through? How has it shaped their perception of the world? What old wounds are they carrying? 

This stuff can get pretty dense, but it’s worth putting in the work. I recommend checking out these two Dabble articles to get started:

• How to Write Compelling Characters From the Inside Out
• No Pain, No Gain: Giving Your Characters a Compelling (and Traumatic) Backstory

Get Readers Invested in the Outcome

So how does the actual plot factor into the process of jerking people’s emotions around?

The good news is that you’ve already done a lot of the heavy lifting in your character development. If your readers care about your protagonist, they’ll care what happens to your protagonist.

But you still need a plot that supports all your hard character work. This means:

‍ Your major characters should face both external conflicts and internal conflicts. As the external conflict intensifies, it should heighten the internal conflict (and vice versa). You can learn more about how to do this here .

‍ You continuously raise the stakes for your protagonist. With each new twist and turn, your hero(ine) has even more to lose.

‍ The protagonist’s choices drive the plot. Don’t make your main character a constant victim of their circumstances. At best, a passive character will only elicit pity, which is the most boring of all emotions. Allow your very human protagonist to make choices that make the conflict worse.

‍ It all makes sense. Logic has an important role to play when it comes to emotions in writing. A gaping plot hole or unsupported character decision will break the spell you’ve worked so hard to cast. For a great guide to plotting an airtight story, download our free ebook , Let’s Write a Book .

Now that you’ve designed your story to stir the soul, let’s get down to the details.

How to Convey Character Emotions in Writing

You’ve laid your foundation. Time to wipe the sweat off your brow and get into the nitty gritty.

Here’s how to bring your character’s emotions to life when you actually get down to drafting.

Use Sensory Details to Set the Mood

Conveying character emotions in your writing isn't just about telling the reader what your character feels.

It’s also about reflecting those feelings in the scene itself. This is especially true when it comes to your point-of-view (POV) character . 

See, even if you write in third person, you still write through the lens of your character’s perception.

You might write in third-person limited , where you only show one character’s perspective at a time. Or you might write in third-person omniscient , which allows you to hop from one character’s POV to another’s. Either way, the character’s emotional state should be reflected in the scene you set.

For example:

“I just can’t marry you,” Daniel had said in the suffocating heat of his car.

So simple, right? One quick scene detail—”suffocating heat”—immediately puts us in Ivy’s shoes. We know what kind of hurt this break-up brings: the kind that makes it hard to think, hard to breathe, hard to stay calm. It's a hot, suffocating kind of heartbreak.

Now, the reason “suffocating heat” works so well to establish an emotional experience is because it’s a sensory detail. It’s concrete. Believe it or not, that’s the key to sliding your reader’s feet into your character’s emotional shoes.

We tend to think of “feelings” as abstract, but when it really comes down to it, we experience everything through physical bodies. We’ve built associations between what we feel in our hearts and what we see, hear, taste, smell, and feel on our skin.

That’s why, if you want to give your reader the heebie-jeebies, your best bet is not to tell them it was really scary in the alleyway, but to show them the long shadow of the broken fire escape ladder. The old advice “show, don’t tell” is really about giving your audience all the feels.

Get Into Your Own Body

Here’s another reason why sensory details are so essential to communicating emotions in writing:

We experience emotions physically. We know what we feel because our body tells us what we feel.

If you’ve never thought about this before, now is the time to start noticing.

What physical sensations arise when you feel angry? Anxious? Amorous? Try to notice. Write it down. Remember it when you’re trying to convey your character’s emotions.

This is honestly one of my favorite things about being a writer—the phenomenon of feeling and observing at the exact same time. I’ve had full-blown panic attacks where my inner writer was still there watching and murmuring, “Oh, interesting.” as she scribbled in her little notebook.

In addition to observing yourself, you can find great examples of how to convey the physical experience of emotion in any book that’s successfully sparked emotion in you . 

But if you want the masterclass, check out The Sign for Home . Part of this novel is told through the POV of Arlo, a young DeafBlind man who experiences the world through physical sensation. The result is a lot of passages like these:

‍ Electricity ignites all over your brain, causing the hair follicles on your arms and the back of your neck to vibrate. 

‍ You had never met the principal before, but his power was legendary. Your face felt hot. Your stomach tightened. You wanted to pee.

When our brains read passages like this, they register these physical experiences as if they were our own. We feel the vibration and, therefore, the excitement. We don’t put ourselves in the character’s shoes as easily when all we know is that the character was “psyched.” 

Master the Art of Subtext

This is another skill that takes some real-world observation and a lot of novel-reading to master.

You probably know you can’t have your characters running around saying exactly what they feel all the time unless it’s an actual character trait. Real people don’t do that, so if your characters do it, your reader’s going to remember that this is all make-believe. 

Pssheww! That’s the sound of your reader’s emotional connection exploding.

So then how do you help your readers hear what your characters aren’t saying?

One helpful fact about human beings is that we’ve developed a sort of subtext shorthand. We already have phrases that we know will signal our feelings without requiring us to do the dirty business of actually stating those feelings outright. 

For example, here’s a line of dialogue from Seven Days in June with zero context.

‍ “Fine. Go explain to Audre why you’re scared to try new things.”

You don’t need me to tell you anything about the scene in order to understand that the speaker is tired of the listener’s crap. Right?

So, as a writer, all you have to do is start noticing our universal shorthand for “I’m pissed” and “I’m jealous.”

You can also use the descriptions between lines of dialogue to clarify your characters’ states of mind. Here’s another passage from the same novel:

‍ “What’s he like?” Shane knew he was going too far.

‍ “Travis Scott?”

‍ “Audre’s dad.”

‍ Eva sat back in the booth, hard. She grimaced and massaged a temple with her knuckles. “He’s stable .”

‍ Shane went further. “Where is he?”

‍ “You tell me. Where do men go when they’re done?”

You can feel the tension, right? To create it, the author taps into Shane’s thoughts (as he’s the POV character in this scene) and Eva’s actions. (Not to mention that stinging line at the end.)

It also helps that the author has written vivid characters. By this point in the story, we know these people well enough to understand how they’re likely to feel in this conversation. 

Incorporate Body Language

In the last example, Eva’s body language served as a clue that there were big feelings bubbling behind her measured words.

But body language and facial expressions aren’t just a subtext tool. They provide a window into a character’s state of mind in any given moment. Here’s Eva just standing around at a prestigious event right after unexpectedly running into Shane:

‍ [The dress] had gotten tighter somehow, sucking at her like Saran Wrap. She kept shifting it around her hips.

In other words, she can’t get comfortable… physically or emotionally.

Now, there’s one big challenge when it comes to using body language to convey emotions in writing. Most of us end up falling back on the same all-too-obvious body language cues.

‍ She wiped away a tear. He grinned. They shrugged.

My first drafts are positively riddled with shrugs and quiet smiles. A big part of polishing later drafts is going back over these boring descriptions and coming up with more specific, less repetitive details.

‍ The Emotion Thesaurus is an extremely helpful tool for this. So is good ol’ fashioned real-life observation.

Banish Clichés

As long as you’re searching that first draft for overused body language and facial expressions, you might as well look for clichés , too.

Because when we’re trying to get the reader to experience an emotion, we start loading up the clichés. 

‍ A single tear fell from his eye. She glared daggers. Their heart shattered into a million pieces.

These phrases are so common they’re almost meaningless. We’re numb to them. Unfortunately, their prevalence also makes them the first thing that comes to mind when we’re trying to describe emotions in writing.

Keep pushing past the first thought. Maybe even the second and third, too. Play with metaphor and (once again) use the physical to make the emotional come alive. 

When you do that, you can replace “They were meant to be” with passages more like:

‍ With him, she was at ease: her skin felt as though it were her right size.

(That’s from Americanah , by the way.)

Trust Your Reader

Finally, be aware that it is possible to overdo emotions in writing. 

Sometimes writers are so eager to make sure the reader connects with the character’s experience that they overload every page with feelings.

Emotional manipulation requires light touch. When a reader sees a lot of feelings talk, they stop seeing the story and start seeing the author frantically trying to tug at their heart.

Trust them to be smart enough to follow your subtext and the emotional logic of your story. When in doubt, invite your beta readers to tell you about their emotional experience of your novel.

Also allow your genre to inform how thick you want to lay it on. A noir mystery novel will probably take on a more cold and objective tone that only stirs curiosity and the occasional chill. 

Romances, on the other hand, tend to do a lot of emotional check-ins.

Know your readers. This is all for them, after all.

Let Dabble Help You Become a Master Manipulator

Now you know how to build a story that resonates and bring it home with powerful prose.

You’ve probably also figured out that this can be a messy process. Dabble can help.

Dabble’s Plot Grid allows you to plan, review, and edit your entire plot in one glimpse so you can see your characters’ emotional journey clearly. Plus, handy features like Comments and Stickies help you stay on top of pesky clichés and excessive shrugging.

The best part? You can try all these features and more for free for fourteen days. No credit card required. How does that make you feel? Click here to get started.

Abi Wurdeman is the author of Cross-Section of a Human Heart: A Memoir of Early Adulthood, as well as the novella, Holiday Gifts for Insufferable People. She also writes for film and television with her brother and writing partner, Phil Wurdeman. On occasion, Abi pretends to be a poet. One of her poems is (legally) stamped into a sidewalk in Santa Clarita, California. When she’s not writing, Abi is most likely hiking, reading, or texting her mother pictures of her houseplants to ask why they look like that.

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How to Motivate Yourself and Get in the Mood for Studying

Last Updated: June 5, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Jai Flicker and by wikiHow staff writer, Annabelle Reyes . Jai Flicker is an Academic Tutor and the CEO and Founder of Lifeworks Learning Center, a San Francisco Bay Area-based business focused on providing tutoring, parental support, test preparation, college essay writing help, and psychoeducational evaluations to help students transform their attitude toward learning. Jai has over 20 years of experience in the education management industry. He holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of California, San Diego. There are 22 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 2,614,917 times.

When you have mountains of homework and studying ahead, getting started can seem like an impossible task. We’ll teach you how to get into the right frame of mind before you start studying and shake yourself out of a motivation slump. Read on to learn how to stop procrastinating, focus even when you're tired, and get into the mood for a great study session!

Start with your easiest task to get the ball rolling.

• Once you’ve decided what order to complete your tasks in, try writing them down somewhere. You can use an academic planner , or just jot them down on a spare piece of paper or sticky note.
• Having this to-do list will lower the effort of making decisions, and you’ll find it easier to shift from one task to the next.

Try the Pomodoro Technique.

• Each 25-minute block is called a Pomodoro. These study sessions go by quickly, and as you complete each one, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment, which can motivate you to keep going.
• You’ll also feel like you’re getting a fresh start with each new session, and research suggests that this can help you overcome a lack of motivation. [3] X Research source
• For maximum effectiveness, do something productive during the 5-minute breaks between each Pomodoro, rather than scrolling on your phone or zoning out. Instead, try taking a walk, stretching, or making a nutritious snack. [4] X Research source

Break down your work into smaller pieces.

• Instead of trying to read a whole book for English class at once, set small daily goals. For instance, you could plan to read 1-2 chapters per day until you finish the book. [6] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Business Review Online and print journal covering topics related to business management practices Go to source
• When prepping for a test or final exam , start by reviewing your lecture notes from just the first week of the semester. Then, for your next study session, focus on your notes from the second week, and so on. This will help you dive into each specific topic without getting too overwhelmed.

Schedule your study sessions for the times you’re most productive

• Think back to past study sessions to assess which factors help and hinder your progress.
• For example, you might realize that your morning study sessions are always the most productive, while your evening study sessions are less fruitful because you’re groggier.
• The more specific and intentional you can be about scheduling out your study tasks, the more success you’ll have with your studies and improve your time management .

Tidy up your workspace.

• Consider making your home study space warm and inviting, so you look forward to spending time there.
• Decorate the walls with photos of you and your friends, place a cheerful house plant on your desk, and choose a comfy chair to sit in.

Silence or shut off your cell phone.

Reward yourself when you complete a task.

• If you decide to reward yourself with a quick break from studying, remember that you will eventually have to get back to work.
• Set a reasonable time limit for your break, and don't listen to the voice in your head pleading for "just a few more minutes."

Take a break to move around.

• These activities will give you a burst of energy and boost your mood. Plus, they’ll help get your brain into a receptive state, which will make your studying more effective. [13] X Research source

Stay hydrated and keep a snack on hand.

• Although it’s important to eat energizing snacks, avoid studying right after a big meal; you’ll just feel drowsy and will want to relax.
• Try to avoid overly sugary snacks—these foods will give you a short energy rush that quickly turns into sleepiness.

Look up podcasts or videos on the topics you're studying.

• For example, if you’re having a hard time with your math homework, try searching for an explanatory video on YouTube. You’ll likely be able to find several videos that break down example problems step-by-step.
• Or, say that you’re writing an essay about a historical period, and you want to take a deep dive into the era. There are likely a ton of podcasts on the topics you’re interested in—check them out for some fascinating info!

Crank up your favorite study tunes.

• If you find songs with lyrics to be a bit too distracting, try listening to classical music, instrumental movie scores, piano covers of your favorite songs, or music ina. foreign language.
• You can also try playing nature sounds or ambient noise if music is too distracting in general. [17] X Research source
• This livestream shows an animated girl working on something at her desk, and it plays ambient music in the background.

Work with your friends or a tutor.

• In a study group, each person can volunteer to tackle a different sub-topic, and then you can all share your study materials with each other. This saves everyone time and promotes teamwork! [19] X Research source
• You can also reserve a study room, bring snacks, or gamify your studying to make the work more enjoyable.
• If you’re hoping to find a tutor, try asking around at school or consulting a private tutoring agency.

Create visual aids for a fun, efficient study tool.

• For example, rather than re-reading vocab words from your textbook, try making a handwritten, color-coded study sheet with the words and their definitions.
• Writing the information down in your own handwriting will help you retain the information better, and you’ll also have a great, visually appealing study sheet to review in the future.

Use classic study tricks to memorize facts.

• For example, you may be familiar with the acronym PEMDAS, or the expression “Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally.”
• These mnemonic devices represent the order of operations in math (parentheses, exponents, multiply, divide, add, and subtract). [23] X Research source
• If you’re having trouble coming up with your own mnemonic devices, try searching “how to remember [subject]” online for some inspiration.

Motivate yourself by making a personal connection to your work.

• If you’re hoping to attend college or earn a scholarship, think about how each small study session will get you one step closer to your dreams.

Try freewriting or journaling to identify why you procrastinate.

• Once you’ve gotten these stressors out of your system, take a deep breath and tell yourself it’s time to shift your frame of mind and get to work. You got this!

Be kind to yourself about your procrastination habits.

• Avoid comparing yourself to other classmates who seem to be doing well. Everyone learns and works differently, so focus on your own needs and capabilities!
• Instead of thinking, “I can’t believe I procrastinated so much. I’m the worst student ever,” try reframing this in a more positive way.
• For example, you could think: “I have a lot to do, but I’ll persevere until I finish it all. I’m doing the best I can, and I should be proud of that.”

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• Make an effort to take good notes during class and keep them in an organized notebook or binder. Use these to help you with homework, projects, and upcoming exams. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
• Sometimes it can be about changing your perspective—try framing your thoughts as you get to study, rather than you have to study. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask your teacher or professor. Visit during their office hours or ask if you can set up a time to speak with them about the subject. Make sure you ask questions in class, too. If you ask questions, it will show that you’re motivated and want to do well in their class. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

• Sometimes, motivation can come after you've already started studying. If you don't feel like studying, just try doing it for five minutes, and check in with how you're feeling after that.
• Be sure to get a good night's sleep to help you retain the information you’ve studied. Aim to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night.

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• ↑ https://graduate.rice.edu/news/six-strategies-staying-motivated-during-covid-19-pandemic
• ↑ https://www.asundergrad.pitt.edu/study-lab/study-skills-tools-resources/pomodoro-technique
• ↑ https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/abs/10.1287/mnsc.2014.1901
• ↑ https://help.open.ac.uk/study-goals
• ↑ ​​ https://hbr.org/2020/08/your-to-do-list-is-in-fact-too-long
• ↑ Jai Flicker. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
• ↑ https://hbr.org/2019/03/the-case-for-finally-cleaning-your-desk
• ↑ https://www.edology.com/blog/study-and-careers-advice/effective-study-space/
• ↑ https://cps.unh.edu/blog/2018/10/self-care-tips-increase-your-student-bandwidth
• ↑ https://health.cornell.edu/about/news/study-breaks-stress-busters
• ↑ https://healthybrains.org/pillar-physical/
• ↑ https://share.upmc.com/2019/08/healthy-snacks-to-power-studying/
• ↑ https://www.oxford-royale.com/articles/tips-studying-motivation.html
• ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21508527/
• ↑ https://www.vaughn.edu/blog/best-study-music-and-benefits/
• ↑ https://www.imc.edu.au/news-archive/8-benefits-of-studying-with-friends
• ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5256450/
• ↑ https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02522/full
• ↑ https://opentextbc.ca/studentsuccess/chapter/memory-techniques/
• ↑ https://psychcentral.com/lib/memory-and-mnemonic-devices#examples
• ↑ https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/why-wait-the-science-behind-procrastination
• ↑ https://psychcentral.com/blog/psychology-rewarding-yourself-with-treats

About This Article

If you’re having trouble getting motivated to study, find a quiet place where you won’t be distracted, and turn your phone on silent or place it out of sight so you won’t be tempted to look at it. Set concrete goals for each study session, like learning how to solve a specific math problem or reading and comprehending a complete chapter in your textbook. Reward yourself with a snack or a break when you meet your goal. For tips on making a study schedule, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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