Every morning, Resistance waits.
Napoleon Hill called it the Devil. Steven Pressfield calls it Resistance. I call it the voice that whispers, “Not today. You’re tired. This book isn’t good. You’re not enough.”
And behind that devil sits a frog. Not a charming, cursed frog prince—but a slimy, unappealing, difficult task. The actual writing. The scene that won’t come together. The edits that feel too big. The words that don’t think they matter. Even the newsletter that won’t send itself.
As a romance author, every day I must fight the devil and eat the frog, often before I’ve even finished my first cup of coffee, done a load of laundry, or taken a walk. So how do I do it? How do I–or anyone–keep showing up to create love on the page while wrestling fear and feeding discipline? I wish I had an easy answer for this question, but unfortunately I don’t. But I do have a few tips I can offer that can trick the devil and cook the frog so I can write a book that readers will love. Tips that help me work long before the frog and devil even notice I’m awake.
Six action steps to help you battle Resistance, eat the frog, and find joy in the process:
🐸 1. Shrink the Frog
Instead of ordering yourself to “Write Chapter Six,” try “Write the first kiss.” Instead of “Edit the whole draft,” tell yourself to “Fix one clunky scene” or “do a global change on a secondary character’s name”. Slimy frogs are easier to swallow in tiny bites. Resistance grows in vagueness—clarity shrinks it.
😈 2. Name the Devil Out Loud
That voice telling you your story is trash? Give it a ridiculous name. Mine is “Edith the Mean Meanie”. When she shows up, I say, “Hi Edith. You’re boring. I’m busy writing kissing scenes. They’re super hot and sexy and my readers are going to love it”. Since shame thrives in silence, naming fear steals its power.
💗 3. Romanticize the Process
Play your favorite writing playlist. Light a special candle. Wear a perfume that reminds you of your heroine. Keep a quote taped to your computer that reminds you of why you started writing in the first place. You’re not just writing—you’re weaving magic. Every word is proof that you’re winning the battle.
📅 4. Set a Tiny, Sacred Ritual
Create a five-minute ritual that signals to your brain: It’s writing time. Maybe it’s opening a specific notebook, putting on a playlist, or making tea in your favorite mug. Rituals bypass the devil and season the frog by turning writing into something sacred (and delicious!) instead of scary.
📚 5. Reconnect with the Romance
Reread a passage from a book you love—yours or someone else’s. Something that made your chest ache or your breath catch. Remind yourself that romance isn’t fluff—it’s fierce, healing, and necessary. Resistance hates passion because passion burns it away.
👭 6. Find Your Frog-Eating Crew
Accountability is magic. Whether it’s one writer friend, a group chat, or a co-writing sprint, knowing someone else is showing up to fight their devils and eat their frogs helps you show up too. Fighting the devil is easier with allies. Frogs go down smoother when you’re not alone.
Resistance never goes away. The frogs need to be eaten. And your voice still demands to be be heard (or read). Never forget that your characters are waiting for you to tell their story, and your readers are waiting to fall in love with them. Maybe that’s the point of resistance and fear. Maybe I don’t need to slay the devil and eat the frog once and for all. Maybe I just need to love them anyway… and they’ll love me in return. 💗
