I was coaching a client recently—let’s call him Joseph—who’s been working on a complex historical novel for several years. He’d just sent me some new pages, and we were settling into our session when I asked him what might seem like an odd question:
“How’s your battery?”
He paused. “What do you mean?”
“Your energy meter. Your drive to keep going on this project.”
It’s a question I ask all my long-term clients, and it reveals more about a writer’s relationship with their work than almost anything else.
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Why Your Writer’s Battery Matters
Most writing advice focuses on technique: plot structure, character development, prose style. All important. But there’s something that matters just as much, and it gets talked about far less:
Your emotional sustainability on the project.
I’ve seen too many writers burn out not because they lack skill, but because they haven’t been paying attention to their internal reserves. They push through frustration, ignore mounting impatience, and suddenly find themselves unable to open the document.
The writer’s battery isn’t just about motivation. It’s about your relationship with the work itself.
The Two Essential Questions
When I check in with writers, I ask two simple questions:
1. How’s your energy level?
This isn’t about whether you had enough coffee. It’s about your fundamental drive to engage with the project.
- Do you look forward to your writing time?
- When you think about the story, do you feel excited or exhausted?
- Are there days you avoid opening the file?
Joseph’s answer was immediate: “Very seldom does a day go by that I don’t work on it.” That’s a writer with a charged battery.
2. What’s your patience-to-impatience ratio?
This is where it gets interesting. Impatience isn’t always bad—sometimes it signals you’re ready to push harder or move faster. But the wrong kind of impatience will kill your progress.
Good impatience: “I can’t wait to see how this scene turns out” or “I’m excited to get to the next chapter”
Destructive impatience: “This should be finished by now” or “I should be further along” or “Why is this taking so long?”
Kerry told me he was getting more patient: “I stop, I take time to research. I take time to question instead of just writing.” That’s the kind of patience that leads to better work.
What Your Battery Level Tells You
High Energy + Good Patience = Green Light
This is the sweet spot. You’re engaged with the work, willing to do what it takes, and not fighting the process. Keep going.
High Energy + Bad Impatience = Yellow Light
You want to work, but you’re frustrated with pace or progress. This can lead to rushed decisions or abandoning projects that just need more time. Slow down and trust the process.
Low Energy + Good Patience = Yellow Light
You’re willing to do the work, but the spark is dimming. This often means you need to reconnect with why you started the project, or find a new angle that excites you.
Low Energy + Bad Impatience = Red Light
Stop. Step back. Figure out what’s wrong before you damage your relationship with the project permanently.
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How to Recharge Your Writer’s Battery
If your energy is low:
- Reconnect with your original vision for the story
- Read something in your genre that reminds you why you love it
- Take a short break to gain perspective
- Consider whether the project needs a structural change
If your patience is running thin:
- Remember that good writing takes time (Joseph mentioned he’d been at this for nearly a decade—that’s normal for complex projects)
- Focus on the process, not the outcome
- Celebrate small wins along the way
- Get feedback to confirm you’re on the right track
The Long Game
Joseph mentioned looking back at his early attempts from 2016 and thinking “what the hell was I doing?” But here’s the thing—those weren’t wasted years. They were part of the process. He had to learn to write before he could write well.
The writers who finish big projects aren’t necessarily the most talented. They’re the ones who learn to manage their energy and patience over years, not months.
Your Weekly Check-In
Make this part of your writing routine. Every week, ask yourself:
- How’s my battery this week?
- Am I being patient with the process or fighting it?
If you notice your energy dropping or your patience wearing thin, don’t ignore it. Those are warning signals that need attention.
Your relationship with your writing project is like any relationship—it needs maintenance, attention, and occasional recalibration.
Take care of it, and it will take care of you.
Feeling stuck or burned out on your project? This is exactly what coaching can help with—getting perspective on your process and finding sustainable ways forward. Check out my Show Don’t Tell course on Udemy for specific craft techniques, or consider joining one of my writing workshops for ongoing support and community.
