Motivation

Duncable · Aug 10, 2011

I wasn't sure where to post this, so I figured this was as good a place as any. Feel free to move accordingly.

My question is about creating a plan of action and keeping oneself motivated and on track. I know the answers will be different for everyone, and there is no one right way to do anything, I just want to know how you all deal with obstacles like this.

I have a full time (unfulfilling and not at all creatively-stimulating) job where I sit at a desk and stare at a computer for 8-9 hours every day. All day, I'm thinking about writing, having conversations with my characters, mentally mapping out the plot, all that good stuff. I always have my trusty notebook with me into which I jot ideas and trains of thought as they come to me. On the way home from work, I do the same thing, dreaming up scenes and scenarios to flesh out once I get home. But the problem is, when I get home, the last thing I want to do is sit on my ass some more in front of a computer screen!

I've tried giving myself goals, like, "I will write 1000 words every day." But no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to stick to it. On the weekends, I spend a considerable amount of time on my WIP, but I can't seem to keep that same momentum during the week, and then I end up getting down on myself for procrastinating. Which just sends me into a downward spiral until the next weekend when - WHEE!! I'm a writer again!!!

Does anyone else feel this way, or find yourself encountering the same issues? How do you overcome the obstacles in yourself?

(I know that mostly this seems like a mental issue, but my poor eyes do get pretty upset and start to protest when I force them to stare at a computer screen for more than 9 hours a day. :tongue

)

Bubastes · Aug 10, 2011

Have you tried writing your first draft longhand or on a word processor device like an Alphasmart? Like you, I spend my day job staring at a computer screen, so I prefer writing first drafts on a different device. My brain associates "computer" with "day job," so switching devices helped me a great deal. It also gives my eyes a rest.

n3onkn1ght · Aug 10, 2011

I know exactly what you're talking about. Some people, like me, can only be awake for so long before their ability to write fades and they type out gibberish. Unfortunately, working a 9-5 job pretty much fills up that time.

The only advice I can give you is either write exclusively on the weekends, or quit your job.

DeleyanLee · Aug 10, 2011

Maybe you're a writer who isn't going to write every day. Maybe you're a writer who will only write on the weekends.

Either way, you're still a writer. Only one way, you're a writer who's not giving himself an ulcer with unreasonable expectations of what he "should" do instead of what works for him and his life.

suzie · Aug 10, 2011

Personally, I think you're putting too much pressure on yourself to do what you think writers should do. Like someone has already said, it's about finding a way to write that that fits in with your life as it is at the moment... I'd definitely give long hand a go, especially after sitting in front of a computer screen all day. Not only does it give your eyes a break, it can help with your thought processes, with regards to what it is your trying to say. Almost like a different kind of writing experience to that of working at a keyboard. Hope that makes sense x

Celesta · Aug 10, 2011

Get up early and get an hour of writing in while your mind is fresh. Go to bed earlier so you'll still get enough sleep.

Cosmic · Aug 10, 2011

The trick for me is to not dwell on it too much. As a writer, you should remind yourself to hear a story while telling a story. I find that some of my favorite moments when writing happen when I didn't plan something out, when I haven't thought about it beforehand, that these words are simply happening on the spot. In a nutshell, don't spoil it for yourself. The greatest motivation I find for writing is that fresh, unexpected turn in the plot which I never predicted, that sort of turn which lifts you up and you begin to soar through the pages.
Just like a good book you can't seem to put down.

Mclesh · Aug 10, 2011

Bubastes said:
Have you tried writing your first draft longhand or on a word processor device like an Alphasmart? Like you, I spend my day job staring at a computer screen, so I prefer writing first drafts on a different device. My brain associates "computer" with "day job," so switching devices helped me a great deal. It also gives my eyes a rest.

This is good advice and an alternative for you as long as you don't mind writing things out. As far as motivation, I know that when there's something in my head, I've got to get it down on paper or else it keeps rattling around in there. (I think it's my way of not forgetting a certain bit of dialogue.) That's pretty good motivation for me.

Duncable · Aug 10, 2011

DeleyanLee said:
Maybe you're a writer who isn't going to write every day. Maybe you're a writer who will only write on the weekends.

Either way, you're still a writer. Only one way, you're a writer who's not giving himself an ulcer with unreasonable expectations of what he "should" do instead of what works for him and his life.

suzie said:
Personally, I think you're putting too much pressure on yourself to do what you think writers should do. Like someone has already said, it's about finding a way to write that that fits in with your life as it is at the moment...

I'll be the first to admit I'm too hard on myself. I know part of my dilemma is that I've got an idea in my head of what writers do and how they do it and I feel like if I deviate from that, it means I'm not a writer. Then I beat myself up, because gosh-darnit, I want to be a writer! Definitely something I need to get over. Thank you for the reminders!

Cosmic said:
As a writer, you should remind yourself to hear a story while telling a story. I find that some of my favorite moments when writing happen when I didn't plan something out, when I haven't thought about it beforehand, that these words are simply happening on the spot. In a nutshell, don't spoil it for yourself. The greatest motivation I find for writing is that fresh, unexpected turn in the plot which I never predicted, that sort of turn which lifts you up and you begin to soar through the pages.
Just like a good book you can't seem to put down.

Very, very good point Cosmic! I have run into this situation before. I've been resistant to the process in the past, because I get so attached to scenarios that I've constructed in my mind. I think that tendency stems from me not feeling like I'm writing enough, and so all I've got during the week are those times when I retreat into my imagination and get to know my characters and the world they live in.

It's a precarious line to walk, and I suppose I just haven't found the balance yet.

Jamesaritchie · Aug 10, 2011

I have two motivations. One is that I find writing fun, and I'd rather spend time writing than doing just about anything else. The other is never having to work a nine to five job I hate.

HarryHoskins · Aug 10, 2011

Jamesaritchie said:
I have two motivations. One is that I find writing fun, and I'd rather spend time writing than doing just about anything else. The other is never having to work a nine to five job I hate.

Curmudgeon? I think not!

For me it's booze.

dangerousbill · Aug 10, 2011

Folks hereabouts like to say that if you write 200 words a day, in a year you have a 70000 word novel. How long does it take to write 200 words, especially if you have all day to think about it?

Consider also a voice recorder. I bought one recently at the drug store for $US 50 that will record for about 33 hours without erasing. It downloads the product as an mp3 file that you can play on your computer in one window, while typing in the other. Two minutes of speech = 300 words, equals one day's product.

It takes a bit of practice to use a voice recorder effectively. It took me about a week when I was obliged to use one at work (secretarial pool rules).

Duncable · Aug 11, 2011

Jamesaritchie said:
I have two motivations. One is that I find writing fun, and I'd rather spend time writing than doing just about anything else. The other is never having to work a nine to five job I hate.

If I hadn't chuckled when I read this, I would have said something snarky here.

Like someone else said, I could just quit my job. But that little, responsible voice in me is constantly reminding me that I'm this thing called an adult, and I have to pay these other things called bills.

quicklime · Aug 11, 2011

how accountable are you at work?

If you stare at a screen for 8 hours, but 2 of those are spent browsing the news, that's 2 hours you could be writing.

Otherwise, at home, I have yet to hear from an author who's made it and wrote after about how they "found that spare time"; the guys (and girls) who made it did so because they MADE the time. Many of them got up an hour or two early, or went to bed late, or made their spouse watch the news alone for two years, but they actively carved the time out to write by NOT doing something else. That is how it works.

NeuroFizz · Aug 11, 2011

To back up d-bill, a tape recorder will allow ideas to be captured for later transcription. Also it's possible to experiment with storytelling techniques on tape, even play with dialogue. It's a good way to do hands-free "writing" and to interject comments about intent, tone, theme, and things like that.

Jamesaritchie · Aug 11, 2011

HarryHoskins said:
Curmudgeon? I think not!

For me it's booze.

Well, yeah, booze is always a plus.

Susan Coffin · Aug 11, 2011

I love to write. In fact, I love it so much that I found a job where I get to write 90% of the time, then I get to come home and write some more on my creative stuff. Life is good.

Duncable · Aug 11, 2011

quicklime said:
how accountable are you at work?

If you stare at a screen for 8 hours, but 2 of those are spent browsing the news, that's 2 hours you could be writing.

In the short term, day-to-day, I'm really only accountable to myself. So I do have down-time where I'm able to browse and I usually use this time to do research. (That, and respond to threads here

) I would be uncomfortable actually writing at work, because I don't want anyone else to see those documents. Knowing myself, I'd probably plan on writing for a half hour and end up writing right up to 5 o' clock, so that would be another concern. After all, writing is exciting and interests me, my job...not so much.

I used to write long hand, but my writing is so atrocious now when I try this that I think it might create more problems! I'm intrigued by the idea of a recorder, so I think I might give that a try. Any suggestions on brands of transcription software or the devices themselves? I have no idea what Alphasmart is, or even what a word processing device is, so I think I will look into that, as well.

I also feel the need to note that in addition to getting my writing muse back and feeling antsy about the progress of my novel/stories, I'm planning a wedding, recording an album of covers and original songs, and trying to help my fiance start a new business. So I guess the title of thread is misleading, because it's not so much that I lack motivation, but sufficient amount of hours in the day to balance the things I love and the things I have to do!

Thanks for all the suggestions, you guys are awesome! This community is really all the motivation I need in some ways.

LJD · Aug 11, 2011

I *try* to wake up so that I can write for 45 min each morning, but it hasn't been happening much lately, unfortunately. I have a lot of personal problems at the moment, and so I haven't been pushing myself. If now is a particularly busy time for you with the wedding plans and all, maybe you just need to accept that writing each day isn't going to work for you right now. Not everyone writes every day, but I think writing regularly is important.

RyanLKing · Aug 11, 2011

Time management is crucial. I work the same kind of job and then go home to a wife and child. Time to do anything is rare. Well, it feels rare. I get normally get to work a few minutes early to write. While I mostly have to work through my lunches, I make sure to take at least 2 days of my work week to have a writing lunch where I leave the office and write/eat. I also go out after my son's bed time to starbucks once or twice a week (mine closes at midnight) and write till they close. It's easy to let time slip through your fingers if you're not paying attention. The key is scheduling the time and sticking to it.

Blue_Lotus · Aug 11, 2011

Try setting small realistic goals, for example:
I will write 1 page a night.
I will edit my RD for 1 hr/night.
I will finish the outline by Sunday...

I find that by doing that, even though I worked 60 hours a week, I was still able to get quite a bit accomplished.

After I got the outline done and found that keeping that pace was no longer something I could do I had a heart to heart with my employer and he allowed me to resign with his blessings and the promise that should I ever want my job back it was mine. Yes I know I am lucky, but quitting my day job was not a hardship for me because I own my own business as well...

Bottom line if you want it bad enough you will find a way to make it work.

Get up 30 minuets eary and write, go to bed 1 hour late at night and write there are ways to get the time in if you want it.

I used to carry a tape recorder around with me @ work so that if I had a bright idea I wanted to use I could record it and then when I got home I would have it.

Sarah Madara · Aug 11, 2011

dangerousbill said:
Folks hereabouts like to say that if you write 200 words a day, in a year you have a 70000 word novel. How long does it take to write 200 words, especially if you have all day to think about it?

DB, I've averaged well over 200 words a day for the last 2 years. Sadly, they've been 90% crap, 5% decent prose but the scene got tossed, and 5% keepers. Mayhap lack o' talent (or, more generously, experience) slows down the process.

Back on topic: To the OP, I second the suggestions of getting up early and/or going to Starbucks (or the hip indie coffee shop of your choice to support the little guy - shameless plug for my coffee-shop-owning family). Anyway, getting up early rocks because you feel like you did something you cared about before addressing anything else. But if you can't do it, I always find a coffee shop pretty good for getting me on task. Especially if you find one that DOESN'T have wi-fi. The Coffee Bean in my neighborhood had its wifi down for a month and I got so much writing done!

And if none of that works out, writing on weekends is better than not writing at all. I think I even used to have a book called "The Weekend Novelist," or something similar. If you are still motivated on the weekends, treasure that and go easy on yourself. Not everyone can keep the same schedule; we all have different stressors and limitations.

soullesshuman · Aug 11, 2011

To be honest to motivate myself I literally do not allow myself any pleasures of the day n until I finish at least one chaptr/scene. Then I can move on. A similar thing happens before bedtime. Since I write best when I first wake up and at around 3-5 am, this is my only productive time as any other time I am already half-asleep.

For not-so-crazy people with an actual sleeping sceduale, I suggest having an hour dedicated to locking yourself in a room with just a notepad and a pencil, with music if you need it, and to focus on nothing more but writing. If you burn out, spend this hour doodling. Thanks to this hour of relaxation, writing will become less like a chore and more like a delight.

dangerousbill · Aug 11, 2011

quicklime said:
I have yet to hear from an author who's made it and wrote after about how they "found that spare time"; the guys (and girls) who made it did so because they MADE the time.

True indeed. Most folks have to be brutal about reserving time for themselves. While I was working, most folks knew they risked being bitten if they disturbed me between 9 and 11 pm.

Since I retired, people are sure I have nothing but free time on my hands (aside from my business and household chores), so I can be interrupted any time at all.

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