3 Writing Myths That Are Wasting Your Time (And What to Do Instead)
So, you want to write a book. Or a blog. Or that spicy little romance novella that’s been dancing around your head for months 👀
But every time you sit down, something gets in the way.
If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a blinking cursor wondering “Why is this so hard?”, there’s a good chance you’ve been duped by one of these very popular (and very unhelpful) writing myths.
Let’s bust them together!
Myth #1: “Writing should feel effortless”
Ohhh love. If only.
There’s this wild idea floating around that real writers just sit down, open a Google Doc, and out spills a masterpiece. No stress, no sweat, no weird snacks at midnight.
Reality check: writing is work. Beautiful, soul-stretching, satisfying work—but work nonetheless 💪
Writers rewrite. We rephrase. We delete entire paragraphs (or entire chapters, in my case) and cry a little. Sometimes we write 500 words and hate them all. And that’s okay.
Why it holds you back:
You assume the struggle means you’re not “meant” to be a writer, so you quit too soon. Spoiler: the struggle is the process.
Truth bomb: Effort doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means you’re showing up. And showing up is where the magic begins.
Myth #2: “Writers are born, not made”
Babe. No.
Nobody popped out of the womb holding a quill and quoting Shakespeare. Writing is not a talent lottery—it’s a skill you develop.
Every author you admire? They started with awkward sentences, messy metaphors, and cringe-worthy dialogue. We all did.
Why it holds you back:
You think “I’m not good enough” before you’ve even given yourself a chance to grow. And then you avoid doing the one thing that would help: practising ✍️
Let’s reframe:
You’re not “behind.” You’re becoming. And that’s a powerful place to be.
Myth #3: “You have to wait for inspiration”
Ah yes. The muse. That fickle little fairy who only visits when your kitchen’s clean, your inbox is empty, and Mercury’s in retrograde.
Look, waiting for inspiration is just procrastination in a tiara. Cute, but not helpful.
Why it holds you back:
You spend weeks “waiting for the mood to strike” instead of building a writing habit that doesn’t rely on vibes alone.
Here’s the tea:
Inspiration often shows up after you do. One sentence leads to two. Ten minutes turns into an hour. Suddenly, you’re in a flow state and wondering why you ever waited.
So… what do we do instead?
Here’s how we actually build a writing life that works (and one that doesn’t leave us feeling guilty every time we open Notes):
Make it tiny: Set a timer. 10 minutes. Just start.
Show up messy: Your first draft doesn’t need to be poetic. It just needs to exist.
Find your people: Accountability buddies, writing groups, DMs with fellow writers—community matters.
Celebrate every win: Finished a paragraph? You legend. Wrote 100 words? Pop the bubbly (or at least the kettle).
A little reminder from me to you
Breaking out of these myths hasn’t just helped my writing—it’s saved it. I still have to remind myself (often):
✨ You don’t need to feel inspired—you just need to begin
✨ You’re not behind—you’re blooming
✨ You’re not bad at writing—you’re just doing it, and that matters
You’re doing better than you think, writer friend. Keep going. I’ll be cheering you on from the other side of the screen 🥰📚
Quick Updates
I wanted to share a few exciting updates with you all!
📚 Order The Path to Self-Love: It’s up to 40% off on Amazon and available worldwide! Thank you so much for your incredible support. If you haven’t picked up your copy yet, you can order it here. I hope it inspires you on your journey to self-love!
✨ Subscribe to my YouTube channel: I’ve got new videos coming your way this year, and if you missed the latest ones, catch up here!
🎧 Listen to my podcast: New episodes will be out soon! If you haven’t listened to one yet, check them out here. Your thoughts on the episodes are always welcome!
🎤 Watch my TEDx talk: We’ve hit 12k views—thank you for all the love! If you haven’t watched it yet, check it out here. Please like, share, and comment—your support means the world!
Thank you for being here and for all your continued love and support! 💖
Love,
Ruby Dhal xxx
Love xx
🙌🙌🙌🙌