Every writer—no matter how big or small, experienced or inexperienced, prolific or scarce—has those moments when they struggle to see beyond the empty page in front of them, and when just about anything in the world seems a more attractive alternative to sitting down to write.
To borrow from a famous quote, the case could be made that the art of writing revolves around roughly 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration, and preparing yourself for the challenge awaiting you can sometimes appear too daunting to handle.
There are, however, a number of motivational tactics to help see you past the finish line without resorting to hitting the booze cupboard and slowly losing your mind with stress.
So if you’re struggling to get started or losing the requisite willpower to continue with your project, then the following methods might provide some much-needed assistance:
1. Have Faith In Your Vision
It’s often said that we are our own worst enemies when it comes to judging our work. Using your imagination and plying your craft often carries with it much emotional baggage.
After many hours of writing, one lousy-looking sentence can lead you to believe that none of it is any good. In this state, it can become very difficult to analyze your writing in an objective manner.
The chances are your writing isn’t worthless.
The chances are that if one lousy-looking sentence gets you down, you have very high standards. Your writing is probably very good.
Having faith in your vision can be a struggle at the best of times, and the most important thing you can do is to remember that every writer experiences this.
You have to smash through the barrier.
2. Discuss Your Writing Regularly With Friends and Fellow Colleagues
There is only so much that you can do on your own. Discussing your work regularly with friends and colleagues is a great motivational tool if you find yourself struggling to make it work.
If you talk about your work with others and bounce ideas off one another, chances are you’ll walk away with a renewed excitement to get back at your desk to write.
There is nothing wrong with seeking some approval for what you’re doing. And there is nothing better than seeing someone else’s enthusiasm for your creative ideas.
Seeing their excitement is a huge confidence booster when it comes to writing. Sometimes all you need is a little kick in the right direction, and it’s our friends and colleagues that can do it for us.
3. Break Down the Writing Into Manageable Sections
Long journeys across deserts are split by the stars of the night. And every great mountain climb has been tackled in slow stages.
Nothing great can ever be achieved all at once. Writing is no different.
From the shortest essay to the longest novel, breaking your work into manageable sections is the sure way to success for any burgeoning writer.
Splitting one project into ten makes even the hardest writing task doable. The more you break it down, the more manageable it becomes.
It is easy to feel daunted by the empty page, but diligent planning in this way is one of the most powerful tools to envision and motivate yourself for the road ahead.
4. Find Something You’re Passionate About Within the Work and Let It Flow
If you’re completely stuck for ideas, don’t worry. It’s not unusual.
A good habit to get into as a writer is to keep journals. Your writing journal is the only place with no rules, no hesitation and no analyzing.
Make sure you treasure this. Good writers can just sit and write.
So can you.
Without thinking, write the first thing that comes into your head, let the nib of the pen glide you across the page and keep writing for at least twenty minutes.
Afterwards, glance over your work and you will be amazed at the things you come up with.
This simple motivational tool can work wonders in opening your mind to new ideas and possibilities. By letting your pen and emotion carry you forth, you’ll find something you’re passionate about and be able to let it flow.
Hopefully at least one of these tips will have struck a chord in you somewhere and you’re now ready to write.
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How do you motivate yourself to put words on the page?
About the Author: This article is by Laurent Kelly on behalf of UKEssays.com. Founded in 2003, it has helped students around the world with their dissertation writing.
