Blog 103 - Frustration

Blog 103 - Frustration

January 2026

Let’s cut to the chase: being a writer isn’t all mochas, inspirational quotes, and people mistaking your crooked fingers as a sign of arthritis. Oh, no. If you think the life of a writer is just a pretty ribbon of creativity and joy, you’ve clearly never seen me at 3am, staring at a blinking cursor like it owes me rent. Frustration doesn’t fully describe the writer’s life, but it comes damn close. Mind you, I think most writers would agree that if frustration had a sidekick, it would be caffeine addiction, or the occasional sob that echoes through the void.

The best way I can describe being a writer is that it is like constantly playing a game of Whack-A-Mole with Your Brain, or even better still, it's like trying to catch a cloud. At least that’s what hunting for the perfect word or phrase feels like. You’re crafting a sentence, everything’s going smoothly, and then...Blank. That word you want to use, the one that’s sitting on the tip of your tongue, the one you just can't seem to find. You’ve searched every thesaurus from Co-pilot to Google Translate, and still, the word remains elusive, like it’s on a permanent vacation. Meanwhile, your brain’s inner toddler is throwing a tea party with the words you almost want to use. “No,” you hiss, “the adjective isn’t pretty! It’s… lovely? No! Chic? No, it’s… ugh!” This dance is exhausting, and honestly, you’d settle for “nice” if it didn't wreck the nuance of the sentence.

Okay, let's move on, say you've finally written a sentence or paragraph that actually makes sense. Great! But is it good enough? Now it’s the turn of every writer's nemesis, it's time to edit. Editing is the literary version of cleaning a campsite you didn’t plan. You tweak a line here, delete a paragraph there, then realize you need to rearrange the whole plot because your main character’s motivations are now based on whether or not they own a spoon. I kid you not, once, I spent 20 minutes deleting a paragraph I loved just to add it back in three hours later. Editing is a love-hate relationship. You adore the idea of making your work perfect, but you’re also 70% certain you’re overcomplicating things in a misguided attempt to sound profound.

Then there's the Loneliness. Writers are solo operators. No team huddle, no group chat, just you, your thoughts, and that nagging feeling that your cat is judging your productivity from a strategically placed pillow on a high perch overlooking your desk. And don’t even get me started on writer’s block—the ghost that haunts you when every time you even think of trying to write something. You start off with good intentions, "I'll write two Blogs and a chapter or two of my novel today". Then you make yourself a cup of writer's ruin (Coffee) sit down wherever you won't be in the way and...Bam! Writer's Block. Twenty minutes later you make yourself another coffee to try and dull the inner monologue of doubt and self-loathing. “I’m stuck,” you say. “I need to rewrite this.” “Why don’t you just… google how to not be stuck?” your mind replies, helpfully adding, “Hey, did you know there's a new cat video doing the rounds online?” And there goes the afternoon.

But wait, let's not get too pessimistic here, let's say you finally get inspiration from somewhere and have actually completed a story, edited it and are sitting there with something you are proud of, something you feel should be read. You've poured your heart and soul into this story, and all you need now is someone to help get it out there. So, you research the publishing world and find the agent/publisher of your dreams, click “submit,” and then… crickets. Or worse, a polite email that says, “Thank you for your work, but it isn’t the right fit at this time.” The worst part? It could be the greatest novel since Shakespeare wrote his shopping list and you'd still get; no, but thanks anyway. Rejection's a bitch. But somehow, we keep going. Why? Because rejection is just a numbers game. When and if that “Yes!” comes in, it will be like getting a text from your future bestselling self: “You did it, you glorious mad genius.” Writer's live for the dream, that's what keeps us going. Rejection, Pah, that’s just a Tuesday email check.

Sure, writing is frustrating. But here’s the secret: the frustration is part of the magic. Every word you wrestle into place, every draft that feels like climbing a mountain, sharpens your craft. And when the words do flow? When a sentence clicks into place like a puzzle piece made for your soul? That rush is worth all the coffee-stained drafts and questionable life choices. Besides, without the struggle, the triumph wouldn’t mean anything. Imagine a world where writing was easy—where stories spilled out without effort. Where’s the excitement in that? This way, when we do nail it, we get to whisper, “I earned this,” and maybe throw in a dramatic eye-roll for the journey.

So, here's my advice to anyone thinking, “Should I write?” ...With every fibre of my being I say yes, do it. Take the plunge. Frustration may be your constant companion, and you might occasionally sob into your coffee cup, but you get to ride beside creativity, wonder, and joy plus you might just get the chance to make people laugh, cry, or think. I guarantee that when you put words on a page and you finish whatever it is you set out to do, you will sit back and exclaim “Damn, that was good.” and before you know it you will have developed an insatiable desire for a cup of coffee and want to do it all over again.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with a thesaurus, a cup of coffee, and a paragraph that refuses to die. Happy writing, fellow humans. May your words be bold and your edits be kind.