When the Words Disappear: What a Frozen Screen Taught Me About Writing (and Resilience)

Last Monday, I sat down to write, and five minutes in, my computer froze.

Not the casual, “it’ll unfreeze soon” kind of freeze.
The full, gray-screen, no-cursor, “you didn’t hit save” kind.

I’d just finished a chapter I loved. And in one blink, it was gone.

I took a deep breath, made tea (because that’s always step one), and let myself feel frustrated for a moment.

But as I stood there, waiting for the kettle, I started thinking about how often this happens, not just to writers, but to all of us.

We lose our rhythm.
We hit walls.
We forget where the story, our story, was heading.

And the temptation is always the same: to shut the laptop and walk away.

The Real Lesson in Momentum

After seven books, I’ve learned this:
The story always comes back, when you give it space and community to breathe.

That night, instead of walking away, I logged into my Monday Writers Group.

Within minutes, I was smiling again.
Someone shared a breakthrough sentence.
Someone else read a paragraph that sparked a new idea.

And before I knew it, the “lost” scene came back, stronger and clearer than before.

Momentum doesn’t always look like hustle. Sometimes, it looks like connection.

The Power of Writing Together

Writing isn’t meant to be a solitary act.
It’s meant to be shared, nurtured, and witnessed.

The same is true for your business, your brand, and your creative goals.

You don’t always need a fresh start. Sometimes, you just need a gentle push from the right people, a reminder that what you’re creating still matters.

So if you’ve been staring at a blinking cursor or waiting for the perfect moment to begin again, this is your sign:

Take the next small step.
Join a supportive space.
Let your story find you again.

Momentum isn’t about perfection, it’s about staying in motion.

You don’t have to write alone.
You just have to show up.

👉 Click here to join the Monday Writers Group.

With tea, laughter, and clarity,
Ruth Klein
7x Bestselling Author | Thought Leadership Visibility Strategist
Host of The Book Club with Ruth Klein