In this episode of Talk About Writing, we explore what it means to write when you’re feeling low, unmotivated, or simply uninspired.

Whether it’s due to lethargy, PMS, hormonal fluctuations, or just a dip in mental energy, many writers find that their productivity and the quality of their work suffer during such times. We discuss practical approaches to keep going when you’re not at your creative peak, as well as the importance of accepting that creativity naturally ebbs and flows. Touching briefly on writers like Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton—who navigated their own struggles with depression—we reflect on how mental health can influence the writing process, without defining it.

Ultimately, this episode is about the things you need to know when you're just not feeling inspired.

What makes a darkened street or a haunted house feel real in your story?

In this episode of Talk About Writing, we dig into the craft of building settings that are not just seen, but sensed, and how spaces carry mood and meaning. Drawing on writers like Dickens and Agatha Christie, as well as ideas from philosophers like Gernot Böhme and Henri Lefebvre, we’ll explore how settings shape emotions, reflect power dynamics, impact behaviours, shape relations, and even become characters themselves.

If you’ve ever wanted your reader to feel a place rather than just see it, this episode is for you. Follow these steps to understand how you should create the settings of your story in impactful and memorable way.

There is something peaceful and stimulating about writing in cafés.

In this episode, we talk about the timeless ritual of creating in coffeehouses. From the Ottoman Empire to Sigmund Freud’s Vienna, cafés represent the timeless ritual that blends solitude with crowds, which can be the perfect ground for writing.

Let's dive into how working in cafes help us write better (or at least, make us 'feel' like writers).

This bite-sized episode is all about coffee-fueled productivity, ambient noise psychology, and the curious joy of being alone among strangers.