Movies love a good story about women chasing their creative spark while the rest of their lives spin out of control. Whether it’s heartbreak, rejection, or just plain writer’s block, these characters keep pushing to make sense of the mess — one page at a time. With the release of Jane Austen Ruined My Life, we’re revisiting five more films that explore the highs and lows of female writers facing both personal and professional storms.

Agatha (Camille Rutherford) lives in Paris and works at Shakespeare & Co., the city’s most popular bookstore. Deep down, she dreams of a career in literature and feels that she was born in the wrong historical period. She prefers the era of balls and gentlemen from Austen’s novels to the era of smartphones and online flirting. When she gets the chance to visit Jane Austen’s residence, Agatha heads to England, where she thinks she can finally find the right words for her book and maybe even dance with her own Mr. Darcy.

Fans of the English writer should not miss the new film by debutante Laura Piani. The director tenderly tells the story of the lost Agatha and does not forget to confess her love for Jane Austen once again. Writing also finds its place in the film: after all, the main character is working on a novel and finds herself among authors of various stripes. Expect heated debates about literature against the backdrop of picturesque English landscapes.

My Salinger Year is a quiet but magnetic drama based on Joanna Rakoff’s memoir — and a must-see for anyone drawn to stories about young writers finding their place. Released in 2020, the film stars Margaret Qualley as Joanna, a poet from sunny California who dives headfirst into the literary hustle of New York City. She lands a job as assistant to a powerful literary agent — and suddenly finds herself replying to fan letters sent to none other than J.D. Salinger.

The film captures that early-career tension between dreaming big and paying your dues. Joanna is passionate about writing, hoping to one day stand among the authors she admires. But the demands of the job — and the walls of the industry — start closing in. Her creative spark dims as her novel gets pushed aside, replaced by someone else’s schedule. What unfolds isn’t so much writer’s block as a deeper identity crisis: can she keep chasing her dream without losing herself in the process?

Margaret Qualley plays it with softness and restraint, making Joanna feel both vulnerable and sharp — a very different kind of performance from her recent, raw transformation in The Substance. There, she dove headfirst into physical intensity and psychological extremes. Here, she’s more internal — showing us how quiet longing and emotional uncertainty can hit just as hard. It’s a reminder of her range, and of how subtle choices can shape a coming-of-age story into something real.

Mike Newell’s film lives up to its name and offers a cozy pastime in the company of book lovers. The film will especially appeal to connoisseurs of retro films: the director carefully transfers the spirit of the original source — the epistolary novel by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Burrows — to the screen.

1946, London. Writer Juliet (Lily James) is unsuccessfully searching for an idea for a new book. One day, she receives a letter from a stranger on the island of Guernsey who claims to have found a book that once belonged to her. Through their correspondence, Juliet learns the amazing story of a local book club that was formed during the German occupation. Without hesitation, she packs her bags and rushes to Guernsey: perhaps the Normandy coast will provide her with the inspiration she has been seeking?

Not Another Happy Ending is a forgotten film from the 2010s starring Karen Gillan. After her dizzying success, Scottish writer Jane finds herself facing writer’s block. Her publisher Tom (Stanley Weber) is convinced that she can’t write a single line for one simple reason: she is too happy and content with her life. He decides that for the sake of art, Jane must be made to suffer.

John McKay has made a colorful romantic comedy that relies primarily on Karen Gillan’s charm. Her character captivates viewers with her natural charisma and Annie Hall-style outfits. Don’t expect the film to offer profound insights into creative crises or thoughtful reflections on whether great works of literature must be born out of suffering. It is a pleasant, sometimes predictable story that transports the viewer into the romanticized world of a writer’s life.

If you’re into Coming-of-Age Movies with a bittersweet edge, Adult World is worth a look. This low-key indie drama from Scott Coffey stars Emma Roberts as Amy Anderson — a young poet with big dreams and zero patience.

Amy’s always believed that literary fame was just around the corner. But once she’s out in the real world, it hits her: talent and ambition don’t guarantee anything. Rent still has to be paid, and rejection comes faster than inspiration. She ends up working in a sex shop to get by, all while chasing mentorship from her hero — the cranky, washed-up poet Rat Billings (John Cusack). As Amy stumbles through awkward first jobs and harsh life lessons, Adult World paints an honest portrait of what it means to grow up and hold on to your creative fire — even when the world isn’t quite ready for you.

Little Women is one of those classic Teen Drama Movies that digs deep into identity, ambition, and creative growth — all through the lens of sisterhood and self-discovery. At the center of it is Jo March, the literary alter ego of Louisa May Alcott, and a timeless portrait of a young woman trying to carve out her place in the world through writing.

In Greta Gerwig’s most recent adaptation, Saoirse Ronan brings Jo’s fierce spirit and professional struggles to life. The story follows the four March sisters as they navigate growing up: Meg (Emma Watson) dreams of domestic bliss, Amy (Florence Pugh) pours herself into art, Beth (Eliza Scanlen) finds comfort in music, and Jo sets her sights on becoming a writer. Since childhood, Jo has been scribbling down stories — bold, dramatic, and entirely her own.

But when she moves to New York and starts submitting her work, Jo runs into the hard truth of the writer’s life: rejection, criticism, and the pressure to write what sells instead of what matters. Her crisis, like so many others on this list, forces her to realize that the most powerful stories come from the things she knows best — her own life, her family, and everything she’s fought to hold onto.

From Parisian dreamers and wartime letter-writers to indie poets and literary icons, these six films paint a rich, layered picture of what it means to be a woman chasing her voice on the page. Each story — whether tinged with romance, melancholy, or sharp humor — shows that writing is never just about the words. It’s about the heartbreaks that shape us, the choices that define us, and the courage it takes to keep going when the story gets messy. Watching these women navigate ambition, doubt, and identity reminds us that the creative journey is always personal — and sometimes, that’s what makes it powerful.