Writing Motivation Tips
Motivation is unreliable. Systems are not. Here is how to keep writing even when you do not feel like it.
Stop waiting for inspiration
Professional writers do not wait to feel inspired. They sit down and write. Inspiration shows up after you start, not before. As author Jodi Picoult said: "You can always edit a bad page. You can not edit a blank page."
Make it visible
Track your progress where you can see it. A growing word count and an unbroken streak are more motivating than any inspirational quote. BookBeast puts your progress right on your phone.
Set small milestones
- First 10,000 words - you have started
- 25% complete - the foundation is set
- 50% complete - you are halfway there
- 75% complete - the end is in sight
- Done - you wrote a book
Celebrate each milestone. They matter.
Remember why you started
You started writing because you had a story to tell. That story is still there. The only way it gets told is if you keep writing. No one else will write your book for you.
Use accountability
Tell someone you are writing a book. Share your weekly word count. The social pressure of having someone ask "how is the book going?" is surprisingly effective.