There is a lot of good advice on the internet, and one of the things writers struggle with is motivation, so not surprisingly, there is a lot of good advice out there on how to stay motivated. I’ve combed the internet and my own personal experiences to bring you what I believe is a pretty decent list of the salient points:
- Clean your space. You owe it to yourself.
- Daydream. Brainstorming is part of the process.
- HABIT: You’ve heard the phrase “butt in the chair” or its variations. The writing won’t happen if you don’t give yourself the time to do so. Set a date with yourself and commit to being there. Show up. Repeat. The habit is what matters most. There is no such thing as a bad at the keyboard. Or, bad writing is better than no writing.
- Break the big project up into smaller pieces. If you’re writing a 55,000 word novel in three months, you need to write about 612 words each day.
- Give yourself deadlines. Write them down, hold yourself accountable.
- Give yourself rewards (and consequences). Rather than just buying that specialty five dollar coffee beverage, earn it. Didn’t do your writing today? Maybe you have to skip tv until you catch up.
- Use procrastination to your advantage. Are you avoiding your math homework, housework, or exercise? Trick yourself into writing while avoiding other tasks.
And if you’re a visual person, like me, here are some visuals:
Jobe
J. Jobe 