How do we stay motivated as we write? What keeps us going? Most of us are not doing this for a living, although we'd like to. We have busy lives and sometimes writing takes a backseat to other priorities. Your kids have a band concert, football practice, or dance recital. Maybe you had a fight with your spouse. Perhaps you have health problems. On top of all this, you still have to cook dinners, clean the house, go to your day job.
Where does writing fit in?
Like many people, my life has exploded lately. On top of my family duties and personal issues, I added in the networking with Twitter, Facebook, managing this blog, and Triberr. You can read about that here if you missed it last Friday. With all this added responsibility, I haven't done actual novel writing. I've tried to stay caught up with my critiques at Critique Circle, I've thanked all my "Tweeps" at Twitter, I've followed new Facebook groups and "liked" everyone who likes me ... I've been overwhelmed! The hour I used to set aside for writing in the morning before anyone else woke up has evaporated into time spent networking. I'm working on ways to manage these things better, and will post on that later.
Does this happen to everyone else too? I've been struggling for a way to kick start myself into gear. I need motivation to write the new novel. Always & Forever is with the editor, and there isn't much I can do there. In a way, I feel a little let down at saying goodbye to Zach and Lilly, knowing soon I will finish with them and they will be out in the world, hopefully selling *crosses fingers*. But just like children leaving to college, I won't have the same relationship with them I once had when they leave the house. During editing, I was so sick of them I thought I couldn't wait to see them leave (must be the teenage years!). Now, I have to admit to having no small amount of fear. What if I fail with the next book? Can I write something that good twice? The fear is almost as paralyzing as the overwhelming commitments I've gotten myself into.
However, I want to be a writer. I really do. Eventually, I want this to be what I do for a living, so I can't let these little speed bumps sidetrack me from my goals!
The first thing I've done to try and get myself back on track is to read more books again. I love helping my critique partners and looking for ways to improve their stories, but somehow that is not the same as reading for the pure pleasure and joy of reading. I find that when I read for fun, it sparks my imagination and my Muse once again speaks to me. The last few mornings I have awoken with the urge to write. I've had other things that needed taken care of first. Hopefully by the weekend my obligations will be fulfilled and I can begin writing. In the meantime, I'm going to continue reading every night, revving my Muse up so she will be ready to go when we write again.
Another thing that really helps me is having people who I know are enjoying the novel and are waiting for the next chapter. Part of my problem right now, no one is reading the new book (loosely named Crime & Passion) and so there is no urgency for me to get a chapter finished. No one is going to be disappointed if I don't write. I have no one to impress. I'm very much a people pleaser. The thought of someone being disappointed because I don't do what I'm supposed to really motivates me. If you are not involved in a critique group and find your motivation flagging, I suggest you join one. Critique Circle is free and a great place to meet up with other authors who are all looking to help one another. So, my job next week is to start inviting people to read my new book and putting up the chapters I have done.
Another program I really enjoyed in the past at CC was the ability to log a goal for how many words I plan to write in a given month. It shows up on my profile page, and other people can see if I'm making my goals or not, as I log each day how many words I managed to type. This really pushed me last time I used it. It is a potentially very public place to fail if I don't meet my goals. That motivates me.
So, what do you all do to stay motivated? Any tips for me to try? I have to start writing soon!
Have a great week!!
