Writing motivation matters, whether it’s easy to admit or not. For lots of new writers, it can be difficult to find time to write because of a lack of motivation. Motivation is such a central concept that we often forget that in reality, motivation is a luxury. In this blog, I review why I think motivation is unnecessary and how you can manufacture it without much effort.
What is Writing Motivation?
Writing motivation simply describes the impetus one feels and requires to write productively. When someone says “I don’t feel motivated to write,” they typically mean that they lack the feeling of enthusiasm one feels to start or endure an activity.
The problem with motivation is that we can’t always have it. Sometimes when I write, I don’t feel motivated. In other words, I would rather be doing something else. I might not be excited about writing because I can’t figure out how I want to proceed, or I might just not be in “the mood.”
How to Get Motivated to Write
So are you doomed if you don’t ever feel motivated to write? Not at all. There are ways for you to feel motivated, but you don’t really need to do any of the things I’m about to outline below. All you need to do is write if you want to eventually publish a book. But more on that later.
1. Tell someone about it
If you tell someone that you’re writing a book, it will keep you accountable. You could even ask someone who is also writing a book to be each other’s accountability partner. This basically entails that both of you remind one another to keep writing; you can put deadlines on each other or simply meet every week to discuss progress. It’s a great arrangement because when you’re actually done with the writing portion, you can trade manuscripts and start beta reading for one another.
2. Outline your novel
If you outline your novel, you will be more likely to stay motivated because you have a clear picture of what you need to do. Sometimes, when you’re overwhelmed by all the plots and characters, and you’ve lost the direction of the story, you start to procrastinate. Outlining circumvents this issue and in turn, lets you stay motivated throughout most of the process.
3. Create a schedule
Some writers just work better when they set themselves a schedule. Others favor a spontaneous approach. It just depends on what your style is and what your goals are. If you’re struggling to stay motivated, I would try to create a schedule for at least a week. For example, you can write every other day for an hour each morning. Optimize your schedule as much as possible so you can get the most out of your session. If you’re a night owl like me, set a timer for yourself in the evening and try to write for as long as you can.
4. Take breaks
You can’t always write write write. If you’re burning yourself out, you’re going to reach a point where it becomes difficult to keep going. You can either take breaks and know when you’re pushing too far, or risk feeling overwhelmed by your project. It’s one thing to know your capacity and to write a short story in a week, for example, but if you’re just starting out, I would err on the side of caution. There have been times when I’m on a roll and can write for hours a day without fatigue; but other times, I don’t have the energy for it. The key here is to know your capacity but to also push yourself without forgetting to take breaks and reset once in a while.
5. Use writing prompts to get started
If you’re struggling to get started or get “in the groove”, try writing prompts. It will benefit you the most if you use specific prompts for your genre. For example, you can use fantasy writing prompts as an exercise to help you develop a routine or get into the mindset needed to start pumping out content. Writing prompts are like energy drinks; they can give you a bit of a boost so you can start being productive quicker and for longer.
6. Read while you write
When you take a break from a writing session, try reading. This is one of my favorite things to do because it keeps your mind focused on the task at hand. You’re taking a break from writing, but you’re also doing an activity that directly benefits your craft. Reading a good book can not only inspire you to write, but it can sometimes catalyze new ideas. If you’re reading a book in the genre you’re writing in, you can learn about your genre in a more intimate way. The author’s techniques and approach to storytelling can often inspire developments in your own writing world.
7. Reward yourself
Rewarding yourself can mean a variety of things. You might, for example, treat yourself to a cup of coffee after writing for an hour. I ran a half marathon a couple of weeks ago and when I got home, I indulged in all the foods I was missing out on when I was training. Sometimes, we need a bit of an incentive to get things going, and there’s no harm in motivating yourself with a treat or something fun when you’re done with your session for the day.
8. Get rid of distractions
Maybe the reason why you aren’t motivated is because there are so many distractions around that you can hardly focus on the task at hand. This happens a lot to many of us with our computers, access to the internet, other devices, etc. For me, I have to put my phone away completely and work on having the discipline to not open another tab while I’m working to go on Reddit or YouTube or whatever. These are things I allow myself when I’m done with my session, or when I’m taking a break. The only exception I will make is if I need a thesaurus or if I want to look at the definition of a word. So, I suggest you try to remove any distractions for a specific length of time while you write so you can dedicate yourself fully to working on your project.
Motivation Vs. Habit
For a while, you may rely on motivation to keep writing. Beginners experience this a lot where they think they have to feel motivated to write. In my view, this is a faulty approach, but it’s also understandable. Why would you write when you don’t feel like it? Because sometimes the reasons we don’t want to write aren’t good representations of our desires, our passions. Developing the habit of writing is much more conducive to success than relying on something as inconsistent and unpredictable as a feeling in our bodies—motivation. So, use the above techniques for cultivating a motivated attitude, but don’t rely on them completely to get some good quality work in.
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