Published in SF&Fantasy Workshop newsletter, May 2002
How to Stay Motivated with Your Writing: Tips to Help you Lick the Writing Blues
by
Ron Vitale
You've worked late for longer than you can remember, the kids have tons of extra homework they need help with, the house repairs have become a must, or you've writer's block so badly that you can't even touch a book. Do any of these writing issues strike a cord with you? Add these types of problems up and a writer can quickly lose her motivation. No matter if you're an unpublished writer, have had a few pieces in print, or just finished your latest book tour, developing coping skills to help you remain motivated will allow you to get through the rough times.
Jot It All Down
On a personal level, I find that journal writing is a therapeutic way of helping me remain grounded. Sitting down in front of the computer (or scribbling your thoughts down in a journal) and allowing your thoughts to drain onto the page is a great way to acknowledge and accept that you're having a problem with writing. Each writer has his/her own struggles to overcome: Lack of time, inspiration, energy, and the stresses of everyday life. Writing your angst down in a journal, can help ease your frustrations and also enable you to pinpoint ways to help re-motivate yourself. And with your journal writing, I would suggest that you incorporate the "free will" rule. By allowing yourself the freedom to write whatever you want and without correcting any spelling/grammar mistakes, the ease of writing will come back to you. Not all writing has to be complicated or perfect. Writing for your own enjoyment can be uplifting and motivating.
If you are in the midst of writer's block and are still finding it difficult to write, then I've heard professional writers describe how they simply type over and over again: "I don't feel like writing and don't know what to write." Sooner or later the pure boredom of writing the same thing might change your feeling to: "Writing this same line over and over is driving me nuts!" Eventually, you’ll allow yourself the freedom to be honest and open with why you're not working. Writing down the issue and hashing it out on paper is an effective way of dealing with and solving the problem.
Make Time
Finding the time to write is not a problem, because most times there is never an ideal moment to write! Scheduling time and sticking to the plan, might help you become more productive. Here are some suggestions: If you're a morning person, set your clock one hour earlier and go to your writing area and go to town. Maybe you have free time at work during lunch? Take the time to write then, save your work to disk, or e-mail it to yourself at home. If you do not have access to a computer, then a pen and paper will do the job nicely. Working late at night is also another option for night owls, but I find that early morning on the weekends is the best time to do the job. Of course, as I've mentioned, keeping to a schedule can be difficult. Do not berate yourself if you've a family, are working hard, and you cannot make the time as you had planned. Such self-destructive feelings will only weaken your resolve to write.
A Room of One's Own
I've found that having one's own workplace to write does wonders for motivation. If you're lucky enough to have your own room, then make it your own. Set space up to write on your computer, curled up on a couch with a big, yellow legal pad, or type away on an electric typewriter. Set your resources near you (dictionary, thesaurus, grammar books, etc.) and make your room comfortable. For those of you who do not have your own room, claim some space somewhere. I've written on the floor with a laptop, handwritten notes in a copybook on my bed, or stolen away to the basement of a library to find a quiet spot. The key to this tip is to find a place which is close to home and allows you to have privacy and quiet. Distractions can easily exacerbate the problem. A ringing doorbell or phone can sap your strength. If you live alone, close the door to your room and don't come out until you've had enough time to work. You will be amazed at how much more interested you will be in writing if you set space for yourself. The "room of one's own" mentality helps to clear the mind and set the stage for you to write. Work with your significant other, friends, or family to create an atmosphere that will allow you to work in privacy.
Music for One's Soul
Listening to music is an excellent tool to calm your nerves and help you become motivated. There are times in which certain songs inspire me to write and keep on writing. My rule of thumb is to write down what music I am listening to while writing my notes so that I can re-create the mood for later. When in the deep, dark funk of inactivity, I play music that will help exorcise my blues.
Another tip is to incorporate several techniques together: I often listen to music and write in my journal at the same time. Try this experiment if you can touch type: Close your eyes while listening to a favorite piece of music and just type. Do not open your eyes to see if you hit the right key, just type as fast as you can and type whatever you want. You'll be amazed at what you allow yourself to write when uninhibited. The purpose of this type of activity is to help free up the way you look at writing. With the overwhelming responsibilities of today’s world, writing for pure fun and enjoyment might help bring back your motivation to finish that story.
Exercise the Mind and Body
When the weather is nice and you have some time to relax, take a backpack with you (filled with a notebook and pens) and go for a walk. Walk through the woods, on the beach, through city streets, whatever you desire. Just let your feet do the walking and watch all that you see. Maybe you might catch something amazing that you just have to write down. Or better yet, maybe an idea pops in out of the blue and you can stop and jot the basic framework of the story or article down in your notebook. Physical exercise helps lift the spirits and allows endorphins to course through your body. Try using this natural technique to help you. It’s free and it works.
If you’re not able to exercise the body or don’t have the time, meditation is another way to achieve the same results. Meditation means meditating and not worrying about problems. There are many books available (or Websites) to help teach you a technique. My favorite technique involves a mixture of relaxing the muscles and clearing the mind. Put yourself in a relaxed position (lying down is great for this) and inhale deeply through your nose. As you inhale, keep your eyes closed, clench your fists tightly together and imagine a warm light entering your body through your mouth and slowly filling your body. Hold the breath for a moment and then exhale through your mouth. When exhaling, envision a darkness (that represents all your problems, angst, or worry) coming out of your body. Move through this visualization technique to clench your stomach muscles, legs, feet, shoulders, squeeze your eyes tight, and finally clench up all your muscles in your body at once, hold, and then release. Granted this technique might appear odd for me to list in a writing article, but this form of relaxation has helped me undo the worries of life and enabled me to get back to my writing.
Don’t Give Up
Using a combination of these techniques, will hopefully help motivate you to get back to writing. No matter what technique you use—be it one listed here or not—remember that you are not alone and that other writers struggle with the same problems. Keep yourself in a positive frame of mind and don’t give up. Many writers believe that perseverance is one of the top attributes that differentiates an unpublished writer from a published one. With this thought in mind, remember the tips mentioned here and try them. If you give them half a try, some might help you get out of that blue funk!
