We all struggle with motivation sometimes.
Perhaps you're going through what feels like a dry spell with your writing. You don't have any ideas that are calling to you, and you're finding it hard to make progress when you sit down to write.
Motivation can be tough, and many of us are finding it harder than ever to write after all the pressures of 2020 - 2021. But here are some practical things you can do, whether you're struggling on one particular day, or whether you've been feeling unmotivated for a long time now.
Short-Term: Try Writing ... But Take a Break if You're Struggling
Last week, I'd planned to write for a couple of hours from 3pm - 5pm on Wednesday afternoon, after a day of homeschooling duty our two kids.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, by the time 3pm came around, I was not feeling at my most creative and energised! I struggled on with the writing for 30 minutes, but I really wasn't getting into the flow, so I switched to doing some low-brain admin tasks instead.
While I think it's worth pushing through initial writing reluctance, if you're really struggling with motivation during a writing session, don't feel you have to grit your teeth and stick to it, come what may. Give yourself some grace, and take a break if you need one. That way, you can come back to your project when you're feeling more in the mood for it.
Medium-Term: Switch to a Different Project
If you've ground to a halt part-way through a big writing project, like a novel, then maybe it's time to switch to something else for a bit. You might want to work on a short story or even a completely different type of writing, like poetry or non-fiction.
Sometimes, having a few weeks off from a big project can help you get more of a sense of perspective about it. You might find that you can more easily see (and celebrate!) the progress that you've already made.
Hopefully, you'll return feeling refreshed and re-enthused about your writing.
Long-Term: Surround Yourself With Writing Encouragement and Inspiration
Perhaps you feel like you've been lacking motivation for a long time, but deep down, you really do want to write.
One of the best things you can do is to surround yourself with things that encourage your writing and help you feel inspired. That doesn't necessarily mean covering your walls in quotes and affirmations (though do use those if you find them helpful – many writers to).
Instead, you might choose to take a writing course – a great way to meet supportive writers – or to join a writers' group, either online or
locally.
Another great way to get into the "writing zone" is to read writing blogs or magazines regularly. Even something as simple as making physical space for your writing can help you feel more motivated.
If you're feeling burnt-out by writing, take a break from it. Then, come up with a plan to ease back into writing (and to enjoy it more). That might simply mean setting aside some guilt-free time for writing, or reorganising your bedroom to make space for a small desk.
Your writing is important, and you deserve time to work on it. But you also deserve to enjoy writing ... so don't feel bad if you need a bit of time away from it in order to feel more motivated again.
