Writing Is Like Going to the Gym: Why It Gets Harder, Not Easier—and What to Do About It

When you start going to the gym, it’s hard. Your muscles ache. You’re not in the habit, so every visit feels like a chore. But then—suddenly—it starts to click. You feel stronger. You might even look a little better in the mirror. The early “easy gains” roll in. You get hooked.

And then? It gets hard again.

You’ve passed the beginner gains, and to improve now, you have to lift more. Run further. Push harder. What used to be enough no longer moves the needle.

Writing is exactly like this.

Stage 1: Starting Out – Getting to the Gym

What it feels like:
It’s hard to begin. You want to write, but it feels awkward. The words don’t come easily. You second-guess everything. You’re not sure if you’re wasting time. Motivation flickers, and without a solid habit, the resistance wins more often than not.

Mindset to adopt:
Consistency beats brilliance. You’re not trying to write “well” yet—you’re trying to write at all. This is about creating a habit and lowering the emotional cost of starting.

What to measure:
Forget quality. Track inputs:

• Did I sit down and write today?
• How many days this week did I show up?
• Word count (optional, but useful as long as it doesn’t become a source of shame).

What helps:

• Low-stakes prompts
• Word sprints
• Public commitments (a blog, writing group, or even a calendar streak)
• Rewarding the process, not the result

Stage 2: The Middle – Catching the Bug

What it feels like:
Now you’re finishing stories. You’re writing regularly. You start to feel a rhythm, and maybe you’re even enjoying it. It’s easier to get started, and you might even feel euphoric about your progress.

This is the “honeymoon” phase—and it’s golden.

Mindset to adopt:
Use this momentum. Build range. Try different genres or forms. Start to pay a little more attention to feedback, revision, and structure—but don’t overthink it yet.

What to measure:

• Output (number of finished pieces)
• Feedback from others
• Time spent writing vs. procrastinating

What helps:

• Submitting work (for publication or critique)
• Writing challenges
• Reading more deeply in your genre
• Keeping a list of “what I’ve learned so far”

Stage 3: Advanced – Beyond Easy Gains

What it feels like:
Here’s the surprise: writing gets harder again. You’re better now, but that means you’re also more aware of what isn’t working. You spot your flaws more clearly. You know what a “good story” is—and how far away you still are. The gap feels wider than ever.

Worse, progress is slower. Writing 1,000 words might take twice as long now, because you’re choosing them more carefully. You’re trying to build muscle, not just get the reps in.

Mindset to adopt:
Precision over speed. Depth over volume. Focus on developing tools and systems to improve craft, rather than just output. You’re in the “deliberate practice” zone now—the space where mastery is forged.

What to measure:

• Quality of revision (are your edits making the story stronger?)
• Skill targets (e.g., improving dialogue, pacing, subtext)
• Satisfaction with finished pieces over time
• Resilience in the face of critique or rejection

What helps:

• Working with an editor or coach
• Reading craft books with surgical focus
• Rewriting stories from scratch
• Long-term projects (novels, series, collections)

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Final Thoughts

At every stage, the writing “workout” looks different. You lift different weights. You chase different goals. And like the gym, there’s no permanent plateau—just new kinds of strength to build.

Don’t be surprised if it gets harder. That’s not failure. That’s growth.

So show up. Track what matters for this stage. And remember: the people who “make it” in writing aren’t the ones with endless talent. They’re the ones who kept showing up, even after the easy gains were gone.

What stage are you in? How do you measure progress, set goals and keep going? Any tips? As always thoughts and feedback welcome in the comments below!