I have a deadline coming up this summer. It's made me look at where I am and where I want to go with this MS. Last week I even sat down and wrote a few plot points in a time line.
No! Of course I wasn't plotting. This was entirely different. I maintain my status as a pantster.
Really. No plotting at all.
*cough* Anyway....
How do you motivate yourself? If you have a deadline or a goal and you really need to get working what do you do? Do you have a special routine to get in the writing mood? Do you work on a reward or punishment system? I know each writer is different an there are many ways so I've been wondering, how do you do it?
Lately, I've been having troubles with this. My WIP hasn't been getting past a certain word count for *cough* too long. This last weekend I printed out a couple fun sheets (plotting, character aids, etc.) and made myself put it all down in short phrases. It helped. I suddenly feel attached and inspired again. Good luck!
ReplyDeletefinding out more about the characters and their motivation is always a good way to get back into a story.
DeleteFor me, I've found a good motivator to be putting the time/date, etc. on a stick note and posting it to my monitor. That way it's always looming until I'm done.
ReplyDeleteStrange, I know, but it's worked for me quite a few times :)
Keeping the end in sight it a good motivator.
DeleteHa! I'm the Queen of Blocks since the big renovation got going in April. It's now mid-May and I'm still sitting, twiddling my thumbs. Sigh. If you figure it out, let me know. ; )
ReplyDeleteRenovations are a huge thing. And sometimes life just needs all your attention. That's how March and April were for me. Now I'm trying to get back into the swing of things.
DeleteI keep it reeaaal simple. If I don't do it, no one will.
ReplyDeleteI tend to look at the reward, what happens if I finish, if it's worth the work, then I'm motivated, if it's not then I forget about it.
DeleteThis is something I sturggle with myself, but I think it boils down to a very simple formula: Just. Do. It.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to writing, I can't force anything. Sometimes when I'm struggling, though, I find physical exertion (for me it's walking my dog -- we walk fast...) helps me get through the struggle. But deadlines and such, I set general goals and find that works for me, soft guides like "by the start of summer, I'd like to be here" or "at the end of next month, I'd like to see this kind of progress."
ReplyDeleteI'm not doing too good with motivation right now. I'm getting tired of being productive all the time since I also work and have a family. So I don't really have deadlines or goals right now. And that's okay with me because I know I'll have way more time sometime in the next year and can focus more. For now, I'm just doing what I can.
ReplyDeleteI used to be pantser, but now I'm an in-between. Although I just bought Scrivner today so i guess that makes my plotting side more offical :)
ReplyDeleteAs far as motivation goes. Sometimes I just have to write and worry about motivation later. I may only get 100 words, but eventually I'll get through the crap and start onto something great!
I love scrivner! and I find it's very useful as a pantster.
DeleteThat's true. Sometimes just spitting the words out gets us in the story.
I can't pants it and unless it's a brand new idea and I need to find my MC's voice. Otherwise I'm a big time plotter, and I find reviewing my outline and "story bible" motivates me. Also, I try to find music that fits the tone of the story, as well as movies and TV shows with similar ideas, whether it be plot or character driven, and surround myself with only those things day and night.
ReplyDeleteI'm a plotting (often plodding) pantser. I must know (plot) point Alpha and point Omega and a few additional points along the way, but the remainder is pure discovery. I need both aspects to stay motivated.
ReplyDeleteThe only time I've had any kind of deadline was NaNo. But I still like to push myself regardless. I only have limited time to write... so it's kind of like a mini-deadline each day to get a certain amount of words. I always feel awful if I consciously waste it.
ReplyDeleteNot meeting a deadline costs me money, so I don't miss. I put my head done, throw everything else to the side and just do it. Deadlines seem to kick my butt in gear. Which is why I love and hate them. :)
ReplyDeleteI have deadlines. Flexible deadlines. :D
ReplyDeleteI set goals and deadlines but keep them flexible that way I'm not stressing. I still kick myself by not making deadlines but the creative process is so fickle.
ReplyDeleteIt is fickle. Which is why it can be hard to work to deadlines.
DeleteI feel more motivated when I have an idea that sucker-punches me. Otherwise, it's so hard to sit down and just write and hope an idea will take over.
ReplyDeleteThat's true, a good idea is the best motivation. The only motivation really because if the idea isn't good you're not going to get it to work despite all the effort you put in.
DeleteNothing like the panic of a deadline to get those creative juices flowing :)
ReplyDeleteThe panic of a deadline is an excellent nudge. I wish I could summon that motivation even when there's so deadline! But on the flip side, I do hate the stress of feeling pressured to produce something in a certain time frame. It's not conducive to a happy working life.
ReplyDeleteDeadlines are good motivation but too much pressure will kill creativity. It's a fine line to walk.
DeleteI've done both goals and pantsing. I have been very mired for a while, but when I was writing, I found it useful to have a daily word count goal for the slow days. That kept me going until the ecstatic burst of creativity took over and I couldn't stop writing.
ReplyDeleteAh, I miss that.
I go into no-thinking mode and just do what I need to do to meet the deadline. I actually prefer deadlines. It's too easy for me to procrastinate otherwise.
ReplyDeleteTimes like this, I think the Nike slogan comes in handy... JUST DO IT!
ReplyDeleteWell, logic also helps. If you don't do it then nobody else is going to do it for you...
Writer In Transit
Had to laugh with your pantser comment, Sara...
ReplyDeleteWith me, I wait to the VERY LAST SECOND... and then DO IT! Although the pantser in me had to do some plotting for the A-Z, but still... I usually just DO IT! A gift I treasure from above. The words seem to always come.
The more things I have to juggle, the more things I have to accomplish by a certain time, the more productive I am, so for me, external deadlines met by internal fortitude is a great motivator. However, I'm much more laid back at this stage of life, and there aren't nearly as many demands placed on me as when I was young. Ergo, not much in the way of pressure or juggling. Any motivation to write has to come from within, and any writing I accomplish now is simply because I WANT to do it.
ReplyDeleteSo true about being more productive when your schedule is busier. I'm the same way.
DeleteThat's a great motivation for writing. It means you'll always enjoy it.
Deadlines are good---they work for me! But I usually don't have a problem with motivation. I do go up and down emotionally a lot, but the drive is usually always there... :D
ReplyDeleteI don't have any real deadlines, yet, only self imposed ones. I just try to write every day. I hope that works when the real deadlines come.
ReplyDeleteLike Jenn, I only have self-imposed deadlines right now. However, I do write every afternoon for about 2-4 hours, depending on the project I'm working on. The reward system is great - that's how I purchased my last couple of pairs of boots! ^_^
ReplyDeleteArgh! I'm having the same problem. Drafting is so easy! Editing is where I need motivation. I think I'm going to have to suck it up and start getting up extra early again. Nothing else seems to work.
ReplyDelete