How to Stay Motivated During the Writing Process
Dr. Tyra Seldon
Let’s be honest, writing can be an arduous task. Spending many hours alone with your ideas and your imagination can be taxing—so taxing that some people lose motivation and either prolong the process or stop writing all together. On the surface, writing may seem deeply personal and individualistic, but in many ways, writing, especially a book, is about the writer and the reader.
Just think about how different the world would be if your favorite author never finished his/her book. What if the book you are writing is that book for someone else? If that isn’t incentive enough to keep writing, here are a few things you can try to stay motivated during the writing process.
Remember Your Why: We all start writing for a reason. Ranging from being deeply passionate about the craft and wanting to share our ideas with others to wanting to monetize our skills, the why will vary from person to person. When you get discouraged or feel unmotivated, tap make into why you started.
I know this sounds like a cliché, but the first step to writing successfully is believing that you will be successful. If you allow the possibility of failure to anchor you, you will never move. Wherever you draw your strength from, tap into that source and use it to propel you into the next step in your writing process.
Draw from Your Support Community: Too often, we may look outside of our circles when the answers are within. Who are the other writers in your life? Have you connected with them? Support and accountability go hand-in-hand. Even the most prolific writers have people around them who help them stay on task.
You may even want to consider not only asking others for information and advice, but to mentor you. Be coachable and learn as much as you can. If you are able to make the investment, also check to see if there are any writing coaches in your community who can assist you.
Take a Planned Break: We are all human and sometimes, life happens. We may put writing on hold to focus on things that are more pressing and urgent. This is perfectly ok; the key is not to pause for so long that it becomes difficult to restart. This is why I advocate planned breaks for my clients. If you can forecast your writing schedule then it is easier to stay on track and stay motivated.
Keep Writing: Motivation comes in different forms so be sure to tap into your source. Whatever you do, keep writing. Remember, someone needs to read YOUR book.
About the Author
Tyra Seldon, Ph.D. is a former English professor turned writer, editor and small business owner. Passionate about the English language and the craft of storytelling, she launched Seldon Writing Group, LLC in 2011.
Seldon Writing Group, LLC (SWG) is comprised of writers, editors, typesetters, and graphic designers. The SWG team has worked with education tech companies, celebrities, aspiring writers, entrepreneurs, media outlets, Fortune 500 companies, school districts, and government agencies to develop their written content. With clients in almost every state, Seldon Writing Group, LLC has helped a diverse range of authors “write their dreams into reality.”
Dr. Seldon has authored Write Like a Champion: A Guide to Improving Your Child’s Writing Skills; Time to Pivot: Shifting from Ideation to Execution to Sustainability; and over 400 public blogs and articles. She’s a regular contributor to Freelancer’s Union, Black Doctor and numerous other platforms including Shoppe Black, Black Coffy, and Slant. When she’s not writing, she’s traveling the world, one continent at a time.
To learn more or to schedule a coaching session, e-mail: staff@seldonwritinggroup.com