Guide to Writing

Writing Tip 9: Management and Motivation

Chapter writen by AliciaM21

It's often hard for writers to keep themselves motivated - maybe it's because you have too many ideas in your head, you don't know where to go with your story, or you're even overwhelmed by writing too much! Here are some tips to help keep you motivated, and to finish your stories.

If you're losing motivation for a novel because you don't know where to go next, maybe it is best to start outlining your work so you do know where your story is going. You don't need to because many authors create great books by winging it, but when you're having trouble, planning it out may be the next best thing.

If you're losing motivation because you can't think of any other reasons to write it or whatnot, start creating more scenes that will happen in later chapters that make you excited. Getting excited on many different scenes may help you continue your journey through this book without getting bored. You can create twists that'll mess with both you and the reader, you can make a scene that you look forward to writing... something!

Or if you're losing motivation because you're thinking of other books, you can either write a couple other projects and try to focus on each and every one of them, or you can put their ideas to the side and continue writing your current novel until further notice. Only write what you can handle; not everyone can write two books at a time, let alone more than three.

Also think of your schedules; some people may be very busy and others may not be. If you're constantly busy and not able to sit down and write, maybe it is best to stay true to one novel unless you can handle more. Or you can go back and forth and write thirty minutes of this novel, thirty minutes of that novel, and so on.

But overall, the best way to keep yourself motivated is to have a set goal, or aim. Maybe it's just so you can say you've finished a story in the first place. Set yourself goals, and then aim for them!

What others have had to say

xFakingaSmilex "If you're starting to lose motivation, find ways to make your story more interesting. This could be done through adding more exciting elements and taking a different direction with your plot/ story line. Sometimes you need to give yourself a break and let the ideas flow instead of forcing them out."

PriciliaChang "If you're not happy with the story line. By all means start a new one. What's important is you are a hundred percent sure with the plot first, only then it would be a great story!"

Aristotle "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit."

Ammelia11 "It's easy to lose motivation, but never let that keep you from writing. Maybe it's just that you need a break - forcing yourself to write can be difficult, even when you have deadlines. It could be that you aren't interested. If you aren't interested, come up with interesting things that happen in the plot. Maybe you'll just have to take a bit of time out and plan it better, but your story will be all the better for it - readers can tell when you aren't interested.

Never take on too much, though! You don't want to overwhelm yourself if you can't maintain multiple stories."

Hopefully that's helped you all! How do you keep yourself motivated? And do you write many stories at once?