Motivation ,
8 Lessons Every Writer Learnt from Write That Draft Bootcamp
By Tanya Lewis
Eight workshops in one week – and a whole lot of breakthroughs along the way. The Write That Draft Bootcamp has recently wrapped up, and if you were there, you’ll know it was equal parts motivating, eye-opening, and (yes) occasionally tough. If you missed it, don’t worry – grab a coffee, and I’ll walk you through the highlights.
Writer’s block: not just laziness (who knew?)
We kicked off with Becca Day, who shared the science behind why writers so often get stuck. It’s not laziness – more often, it’s our brains reacting to fear, pressure, or self-doubt. Becca opened with a quiz to help us pinpoint the root of our own blocks – whether that’s perfectionism, fear of failure or judgement, burnout and overwhelm, decision fatigue, or simply lack of clarity.
Her tips were really helpful, diving into the core issues and what we actually need. She also spoke about somatic rest before you write – just a few minutes of breathing or stretching to calm your nervous system. Don’t use it as an excuse to procrastinate! Keep it short (set a timer) and make sure it works anywhere – for example, if you have writing time in the car while picking up the kids from club on Mondays, your somatic rest could be a quick walk around the car rather than two hours of yoga.
Build your writing “emergency kit”
Next up was Lindsey Alexander, who got us thinking about what we actually need when the words won’t come. She framed it as a personal survival kit – not just the physical stuff, but what works emotionally and functionally for you.
Some of her tips included:
- Make two lists: one for what you’re saying yes to (writing, feedback, creative time) and one for what you’re saying no to (endless scrolling, extra chores, things that drain your energy).
- Keep a writing log: track when you’re productive, when you struggle, and what patterns pop up – this helps you fix blocks before they grow.
- Schedule time and breaks: block out focused writing sessions, but also build in rest. Naps, walks, or even five minutes away from the screen count.
- Rituals matter: use sensory cues to signal “writing time” to your brain – music, a candle, or yes, that “serious writer jumper” – whatever works for you.
The key takeaway? Your kit should support you emotionally (so you feel ready to write) and functionally (so you actually get the words down). Once you’ve got this in place, you’re less likely to get derailed by distractions or doubt – and more likely to keep moving forward.
Habits that don’t make you want to cry
Adrienne Dines was next, and she was all about building routines that actually… stick. She had us ask the big questions (What’s your story about? Why does it happen?), then she went practical: set tiny daily goals, get rid of distractions (your phone will survive in another room, promise), and celebrate the wins.
She even suggested mapping where you’ve got to in your story if you hit a wall. Genius, right? It’s like holding up a map when you’ve been driving in circles muttering, “but I swear the petrol station was round here somewhere…”
The Enneagram and your writing routine
Then Becca was back with a bit of fun – discovering how our Enneagram types shape the way we write. Cue lots of “oh my god, that’s so me” moments in the chat. Honestly, who knew a personality quiz could reveal why I write in frenzied bursts while someone else is scheduling neat two-hour morning slots? Weirdly accurate.
Imposter syndrome: you’re not a fraud (promise)
Rosie Fiore hit us right in the feels with her talk on creative anxiety. That voice in your head that whispers “you’re rubbish”? She basically said: everybody has it. And also: stop waiting for a permission slip to call yourself a writer. You already are one. (Cue collective sniffles and a lot of nodding emojis.)
Fast drafting vs. burnout (the tag-team duo)
Philip Womack stormed in midweek with his rallying cry:
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By Tanya Lewis
About the author
Tanya is part of the Marketing team at Jericho Writers. With a bestselling author as an aunt, Tanya grew up surrounded by stories and studied Publishing Media at Oxford Brookes University. She has worked at various publishers, a reading charity, and even ran her own book subscription box. Tanya is also yoga teacher who runs creative classes at her local studio, as well as a book club. She hopes to one day finish writing her first book.