How do i become more motivated to write?

2 Comments

So for the past two years I’ve been working on a book series I’m drafting, and lately I feel like I’m getting too distracted. I’m not reading or writing as frequently as I would have hoped, and sometimes my writing doesn’t turn out as good as I thought it would. I’m hoping to release the first book by 2020, but I may be pressuring myself too hard by having a release date set in mind. Any and all help is appreciated! (Btw I did capitalize the I in the question but for some reason it came out lowercase, and my series is a fantasy if that helps).

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Comments ( 2 )
  • lordofopinions
    5 years ago

    I have written one book that is self published. It's a hard science near future scifi novel. When I first started writing it I had a basic idea of the plot. The first thing I needed was characters. I ended up with one and thought what our near future may look like with economies going down the tubes and all. I sat down and starting writing SOMETHING. Eventually the plot started to come together and it became easier as new characters were introduced. Then a strange thing happened. The book took me in directions I had not thought of with side plots that would just happen.

    Then I got writers block which is what I think you are experiencing. I put the project aside for a while, maybe a couple of weeks and thought about what to write next once in a while. Suddenly I had a brainstorm and sat down furiously writing. This happened a few times before the book was finished. It took a couple of years before I was happy with it.

    I am rambling. Sorry. The best idea is to take a break and forget about the deadline. It will drive you nuts. The motivation to continue will happen in its own good time.

    I am an an amateur writer but I am just recounting my own experience. I hope this helps in some small way.

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  • barstool
    5 years ago

    "my series is a fantasy" ... Sure looks that way, doesn't it?

    Ah no, sorry, I'm just joking. That was cruel, but it's to make a point, which is: Don't be too hard on yourself, and don't guilt yourself!

    Some things that you surely already know but might help anyway:
    Get your environment in order. Clean your office/studio/study and set it up all nice and free from distractions.

    Divide the larger goal (first book) into smaller blocks. Sounds obvious, but it can really help. A huge task is mammoth and seemingly insurmountable, but smaller chunks that you can tick off are manageable and achievable.
    So if you are able to create an achievable, daily chunk of work, you're doing well.

    I'm probably trying to teach an expert here, patronising as fuck. BUT, I think with writing, if you can start writing *anything*, you might get on a roll. It might start pouring out, ...but you have to be present to record it.

    You can always go back and fix it up. If you come up with one perfect sentence a day, after hours of typing and tinkering....that's way better than nothing. Way betterer.

    Last, when you say you're not as happy with your writing lately, it is very likely that your standards have gotten higher. And that you've become more self-critical.
    Those can be good things UNTIL they get to the point that they are paralysing you and stifling creativity. Then it's too much self-criticism, too much *perfectionism* and I think...you need to just write your way through that.

    A long way of saying, just keep producing work even if you're not happy with it. Sub-par content is way betterer than no content at all.
    Just my opinion though, you know more about it because you're the writer... I shouldn't even really be commenting lol

    Best of luck with it. I'm sure the first book and the whole series will turn out amazingly.

    PS Naturally I'll look forward to seeing a dedication for all my help when the book is published.

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