MOTIVATION
A verrryyyyy flattering picture of me on the floor with a writing book on my face.
Writing can be healing, invigorating, and profound, but it isn’t all of these things often, and usually, it’s not all of these thing at once. Writing can be like pulling teeth or doing the dishes. For me, it never feels like a literal chore because I find the challenge of writing to be valuable whereas never having every dish in the house clean for more than 30 minutes just isn’t. But sometimes, even when we have larger-than-life goals and dreams, we still find ourselves not feeling motivated to write. Or not having the energy to write. Or being afraid to write.
So yeah, this post is about that.
Scrabble tiles spell out “ideas” on top of a book page with some flowers. Image from Pixabay.
“I’m not in the Mood to Write.”
The truth is: authors wouldn’t be where they are if they only wrote when they felt like it.
Whether we’re still calling ourselves an aspiring writer or we’ve gone pro, everybody feels that lag in a project or the slog of just getting ANY words on a page at some point. Everybody gets stuck in their plot or gets murky about the choice their MC should make. Or maybe we’re waiting on beta readers and we just don’t know what to do next. Whatever the situation, jubilant inspiration never quite hits us like the Muses do in Hercules.
Instead, we have to find more creative solutions for our creative outlet. Below are some ideas that help me:
Person sits on a stack of books while reading a book. Image from Pixabay.
1. READ A BOOK
Yes, the advice that’s featured on every writer’s blog. Read. But what do we read? Where do we start?
If we’re done with a project and are itching to start a new idea, then start researching comparison titles (referred to as comp titles) with similar themes or settings as the new project. If we’re actively working on a manuscript, then it’s still good to read comp titles, but reading anything in our genre or audience age range (YA, MG, etc.) will help inspire. This is especially true when we feel stuck with how to describe something or how a character’s dialogue could sound more natural to them.
Good Reads is awesome for comp title research. But reading lists on Readers Digest can be great too, like this top Latinx Books list from 2021.
Audiobooks can be a great option for those of us who are stir-crazy or on the go too often to sit and read physical books all the time. And for some people, hearing the language of a book can change how we think of the written words of a book. We can see a narrator’s interpretation of the text, and it gets us thinking about how clear our writing can be.
The nib of a fountain pen writes on some graph paper. Image from Pixabay.
2. FIND A PLOT GENERATOR
Sometimes, we just need to noodle around with a new idea. Something to get our creative neural pathways open and jiving again. One way I like to do this is with plot or prompt generators. Whatever comes up on the generator, I try to write a vague outline or character sketch about who would find themselves in that mess. Or how the heck a pair of safety goggles and a cucumber can occupy the same story. It’s fun and makes for a good laugh, but also some actually great ideas can come from this.
Two generators I like for variety and options are:
Another option for those of us who feel motivated by time crunches, deadlines, and competition, consider joining in on an NYC Midnight Contest. Heck, we might get a great story idea AND some money out of it.
Old building blocks the view of a Ferris wheel. Image from Pixabay.
3. FIND AN IMAGE
Sometimes, an image can spark some inspiration for a new dystopian world or how to better describe a historical time period. However, I recently found an exercise where multiple pictures are better for less specific things. In this exercise put together by J.M. Tuckerman, we are brought to a site that gives us photo options, and she walks us through a series of questions that leads us to interesting plot premises. I highly recommend supporting her via Buy Me a Coffee to try out her refreshing take on photo prompts to inspire writing. Her content and other expertise can also be found on her website https://jmtuckerman.com/
Man covers his face with his hands. Image from Pixabay.
“But What If…?”
We writers aren’t only our own toughest critic, we’re also our biggest obstruction toward our author dreams. Sometimes, we become intimidated by the long list of tasks we have to complete. Or we convince ourselves that we aren’t real authors. That there’s no way we can ever accomplish the career of our dreams.
Many writers, regardless of how long they’ve been writing, experience fear and doubt surrounding their work. Below are a few ways that help me show up to the desk and get working, even when I’m afraid to.
A lime green chair sits in front of a wooden desk and black floor lamp. Some books and fake plants are on the desk. Pictures and posters are taped on the wall above the desk. Image from Pixabay.
1. CLARIFY THE VISION
Print out some quotes about overcoming anxiety or imposter syndrome. Get some reminders from successful authors and pin those suckers into the wall or on a corkboard. This vision board will serve as a visual reminder each time we sit to write that we CAN write and that it WILL be hard, but it will also be done.
For us more verbal learners, mantras may be a better option. Pick a mantra to add to the vision board. Or write it on a sticky note and read it before the next writing session.
Mantra examples:
My mantra can be found on Instagram here.
Another great mantra on Instagram is this one from Taylor Hartley.
Man in white and black striped shirt stares at writing on the wall. The words say “who, what, when, where, why, and how.” Image from Pixabay.
2. READ CRAFT BOOKS
When imposter syndrome rears its ugly head, one of the best things we can do for ourselves it brush up on what helps us become experts. After all, how can we be imposter authors when we have so much knowledge in our field? Below are some craft book recommendations and the links to buy those books.
Craft Book Recommendations for PROSE:
Story Genius by Lisa Cron
Saves the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi
Writing Irresistible Kidlit: The Ultimate Guide to Crafting Fiction for Young Adult and Middle Grade Readers by Mary Kole
Craft Book Recommendations for POETRY:
The Poet’s Companion: A Guide to the Pleasures of Writing Poetry by Kim Addonizio and Dorianne Laux
The Art of the Poetic Line by James Longenbach
Journal sits on a desk with colorful pens, a yogurt bowl, fake plants, and a mug of tea. Image from Pixabay.
3. CREATE WRITING ROUTINES
When I was in school, I was told by mentors that writing was all about talent. The longer I write, the more I learn that they weren’t right about a majority of writers. Writing is practice. And our practices become habits. But how do we form habits? When we are so busy being parents or having full-time day jobs, how do we find the time to write? From this point on, it gets so easy to say we don’t have the time, especially when our fears and insecurities already block us from getting words onto the page.
The best way to form a habit is to identify what we’re doing now and how it’s working. Think about how different writing spaces impact the writing itself. Then, build a dream habit. Sometimes, a writing coach or creativity coach have resources to help us reflect on/ brainstorm new routines and practices that nurture our motivation to create.
I recommend reaching out to Olivia for a writing coach, and Sydney for general creativity.
Group of people sitting around a table with papers and highlighters on it. They are work shopping a project. Image from Pixabay.
4. FIND WRITING COMMUNITIES
Some fears and moods are hard to get through on our own. Sometimes, we genuinely get stuck and don’t have anywhere to turn, and when this happens, we fear that everything we’ve done to improve has been for none.
When we get to this point, we’re long overdue for a writing community. This can be a Zoom critique group, a discord channel, or a community that puts on generative writing workshops. A community should be a place where writers in all stages feel supported, where learning more about quality writing is at the forefront, and where we have access to critique partners or future beta readers.
Sometimes, it also helps to have someone in-person to write with. At least once a week, I’ll go to a coffee shop with a friend who is also working on a novel. We get a hot tea and a pastry, and off we write. If we get stuck, we pause and discuss the problem and brainstorm solutions. Then we gave back to writing. Some days, we only write for an hour. But some weekends, when we’re particularly motivated, we write for four or five. So for those of us who have the resources to put together a small writing session with a friend or local writer, I highly recommend doing so (so long as it’s safe).
When we have people in our lives that support our work and vision, the fears we have shrink to something much more manageable. And if we find the right groups, some fears may disappear altogether.
Some writing communities I enjoy:
Paperbacks and Co (Women – All genres)
Sims Library of Poetry (Poetry)
Alegría Publishing (Latinx)
Glassless Minds (Spoken word poetry, music, comedy, and other expressive arts)
The Writers’ Society (YA and MG)
hiker reaches their goal of making it to the top of a mountain overlooking a lush green forest. Image from Pixabay.
Motivation Isn’t Easy
I’d be lying if I said writing was just about flow and having something to say. Or that inspiration struck daily or weekly. It just doesn’t. But if we find a community of support, and if we have some tools in our writerly toolkits to get us writing when the Muses won’t, then that novel or poetry collection is sure to take form in time.
Interested in following my writing/writing habit journey? My exploration of Latinx diaspora? Be sure to follow my blog to keep up-to-date!
