How to make writing feel fun?

Writing doesn't have to feel like a school assignment with a ticking clock and a red pen lurking. Whether you're drafting a keepsake letter to a grandchild, preparing a personal statement, or working on a blog post, writing can be enjoyable, even playful. The trick is shifting your mindset and making the process work for you, not against you.

Let’s look at a few realistic ways to make writing feel less like a chore and more like something you actually want to sit down and do.

Reclaim writing as play, not pressure

Remember when you were younger and writing stories felt exciting? No rules. No critics. Just imagination. That spark is still there, it’s just been buried under deadlines and expectations.

To get it back:

• Ditch the perfectionism at first draft stage

• Try freewriting: 10 minutes, no filter, no backspace

• Use prompts that make you laugh or think sideways

• Write as if nobody’s going to read it, at least at first

  
  

Related Insight: According to Psychology Today, engaging your “inner child” or allowing play in the writing process reduces resistance and boosts creativity.

Find your writing rhythm

Writing isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some people thrive with morning coffee and silence. Others hit their stride at 2am while eating cereal in pyjamas.

Experiment with:

• Time of day (when do ideas flow easiest?)

• Medium (typing, handwriting, dictation)

• Environment (music on or off? cluttered desk or clear space?)

  
  

Once you find a rhythm that feels good, writing becomes less about “discipline” and more about momentum.

Let your personality in

If you’re trying to sound like someone else, a posh headteacher or a LinkedIn bot, no wonder writing feels painful. Let your real voice have a say.

Try this:

• Use conversational language (yes, contractions are allowed)

• Throw in your actual thoughts, even the cheeky ones

• Imagine you’re writing to one person, not “everyone”

  
  

At LetterLab, even when we’re writing formal documents like a letter to a judge or a financial aid appeal letter, we make sure the client’s authentic voice comes through. It’s more honest and far more effective.

Mix up the formats

Not every bit of writing needs to be a perfectly structured essay. Try:

• Lists (bucket lists, goals, rants)

• Dialogue-only scenes

• Letters to fictional people

• Micro-stories (a complete tale in 100 words)

  
  

Give yourself permission to write something pointless, the kind of thing you’d never share but that makes you grin while writing it. It’s all part of keeping the wheels turning.

Use your favourite writers as fuel

Sometimes, fun comes from feeling inspired. Rereading a favourite book or author can reignite that spark. Take note of how they:

• Describe a scene

• Use humour or tension

• Break rules in clever ways

  
  

Even stealing (ethically), mimicking a writer’s style for a paragraph or two, can be a fun warm-up.

Source: BBC Arts encourages playful mimicry as a way to loosen up and learn.

Don’t write alone (unless you love it)

Writing doesn’t have to be a lonely task. Share a silly line with a friend. Join a casual online writing group. Challenge someone to a 5-minute story duel.

When writing becomes a social activity, even slightly, it brings accountability and a splash of competition or comedy that keeps it fresh.

Final thoughts

Fun writing isn’t about lowering the quality, it’s about making the process more enjoyable so the quality improves naturally. If it feels like pulling teeth, you won’t do it or at least not well.

At LetterLab, we believe good writing starts with a real voice and a bit of freedom. Whether you’re stuck on a cover letter, trying to write a character reference, or looking to send a heartfelt keepsake letter, we can help make the writing feel a little less painful and a lot more productive.

Need help with writing that doesn’t feel like punishment? Get in touch with LetterLab, your expert letter writing service, where we make words work and occasionally even… fun.