The Struggle of Long-Form Writing: How to Overcome Midway Meltdowns

Earlier this year, I found myself hitting a wall with my longer writing projects. I don’t mean my novels here, I’m referring to the longer short story, novelette territory. The same issue kept cropping up: I’d get to about 7,000 words, and then… poof. The excitement fizzled out, and my story would lose its spark. At that point, I’d hit a frustrating dead end. It was like I’d invested a good chunk of time and effort into something that I hoped would become my next big ‘non-flash’ story, only to realize it had lost all its appeal. Back to the drawing board.

Looking back, I think I’ve figured out part of the problem: time. Life and work have been intense this year, which means my writing time is more limited. The precious hours I do get to write don’t feel as productive as they used to. Here’s why:

1. Less time to think between writing sessions
   When I’m away from my writing, I usually have the luxury of thinking over my plot, brainstorming, and dreaming up the next exciting twist. But lately, with fewer breaks from my day-job, I’m not spending enough time letting the story breathe outside of the keyboard. I don’t have the mental space to “fix” plot holes or get excited about what’s coming next, which means I’m often just pushing through, rather than feeling the story as it unfolds.
2. Writing at a slower pace
   Without chunks of consecutive hours to immerse myself in my project, the process is slower and more disjointed. It becomes harder to maintain momentum, and by the time I reach the end, I’m often burnt out or simply uninterested. There’s a certain energy that comes with being fully immersed in a project, and when that energy is fragmented, so is the story.

But I think the biggest problem isn’t just the lack of time—it’s a lack of inspiration.

Normally, when I write, I’ve had time to daydream about the story and its world away from the computer. That’s what fuels my excitement when I finally sit down to write. By the time I’m typing, I’m already carrying the story in my mind in its third draft form—refined, evolving, and ready to be brought to life. But lately, I’ve found myself writing and thinking at the same time, which is a much slower, more torturous process for me. I realize hardcore pantser’s may do this all the time. But I don’t. This approach doesn’t work for me as instead of capturing my best ideas, I’m often stuck with the first idea that comes to mind—leading to a plot that feels, well, a little flat.

That’s when I hit the point where I realize: “This isn’t working.” And then, I lose interest. It’s not a lack of ability or creativity; it’s simply that I’m not allowing my mind the room it needs to be excited before I put pen to paper.

So, what’s the solution?

I don’t think it’s about someone else coming up with better ideas or fixing my plot holes ( i.e. this is not a moment for beta-readers or critique partners help). I think the key is recognizing this issue and adjusting my process. Even when I don’t have a lot of time, I need to find ways to give my brain more space to think before writing. Whether that means jotting down notes between work tasks, daydreaming during commutes, or carving out time for more deliberate planning, the goal is to stay connected to the heart of my story before I dive back in. Even if that means writing less as I’m using some of my dedicated writing time just to think.

It’s about shifting from writing as an immediate task to writing as an ongoing conversation with the story. If I can keep that connection alive, even during busy weeks, I think I can finally get past that 7,000-word barrier and bring my stories to life in a way that excites me again.

If you’re facing a similar mid-project burnout, maybe this process will help you too. We all need time to breathe life into our stories—and sometimes, a little patience can go a long way.

Do you face these challenges? How do you overcome them? As always, let me know your thoughts in the comments below!