We all have times when our motivation is somewhat lacking. On days when it’s cold and dark, it’s tempting to curl up into a little ball and drink hot cocoa instead of writing (or doing something else productive). Luckily, there are tricks to staying motivated, even on the laziest of days.
1. Track Progress Visually – This is how Jerry Seinfeld motivated himself to write every single day during his “Seinfeld” days. He took a year-at-a-glance calendar and hung it on his wall. Every time he wrote, he made a large X on the calendar. When he wrote day after day, his marks eventually formed a chain. He pushed himself to keep going so as not to break the chain.
2. End on an Up-Note - You’ve heard of leaving your readers wanting more? Well, you can also leave yourself wanting more as you write. According to this post on The Second Act, Hemingway had some specific advice for staying productive: “The best way is always to stop when you are going good and when you know what will happen next. If you do that every day…you will never be stuck.”
3. Focus on the Small Things - This is the way I try to approach writing (or pretty much anything else) when I’m feeling unproductive. I focus on accomplishing something manageable, like writing one scene or writing for a half hour. I find that often if I can get myself to focus on just one small thing, I keep going and get more done than I set out to. But even if I only write that one scene, that’s still a few pages I didn’t have before.
What techniques do you use to keep yourself motivated?
- Categories: Craft, Writing Rants
Maybe it’s the weather Anna? I’m finding all I want to do is stay under the electric blanket. Ha.
I’m finding that #3 is what I’m been doing lately. Focusing on little stuff. When I look at my whole novel, it just makes me head hurt and I want to take a nap. So one scene at a time helps me tremendously and I don’t feel like a loser.
Karen, it must be the weather because I’ve been feeling the same way! Just take it one scene at a time and you’ll get there.
When I started my blog, I thought that it would be a tool to chart my progress with writing. It hasn’t been. Because the old posts seem to disappear into cyber space after I write a new one. I’m an out-of-sight–out-of-mind kinda girl.
So, I went back to charting my progress in a physical journal. And to read the entries about what I did the day before, and to want to write an entry about what I did today– that really motivates me. Each day, I want to write that I did something with my writing. It keeps me accountable.
And I keep my blog for other wonderful things, like putting my goals out there, and connecting with other writers.
Heather, I love the journal idea! Not only would it motivate you to write so you can have something to jot down in your journal, but you can also look back at the progress you’ve made. I might have to give that a try next time I’m feeling stuck.
GREAT post!
I’d have to say micro goals. I want to revise this many chapters a day, or write a chapter a day. But it’s the microgoals combined with the larger self imposed deadline of querying that keeps me going. Of course, if I need more time I take it because it’s never a good thing to query too early – not for me.