Ever notice how difficult it can be to feel inspired when you want and need to feel it the most? Inspiration, in any endeavor, can be tricky as it ebbs and flows like a tide and will change throughout the day or season. For a writer, inspiration is key to our staying the course and finishing that novel, short story, or to begin generating ideas for new material.
We have to learn to push the boundaries of our creativity beyond the page and look for ways to continue feeling motivated during those low seasons. See if these tips help inspire you to find ways to continue writing all year.
1) Reflect on why you became a writer and the joy you have writing.
I, personally, find myself practicing this internal dialogue when I am juggling projects at work, home, and trying to meet a blog deadline. I feel drained in almost every capacity of any motivation, much less, creativity to churn out a mere 500 words. During these moments, I catch myself and take a deep breath then begin listing the reasons either in my head or on paper of all the positive things I glean from creating narratives.
2) “A habit takes 21 days to form.” Dr. Maxwell Maltz
Although Dr. Maltz’s “21 days to form a new habit” myth has been debunked, research still proves that when an individual sets their mind to practice something new; they can create new behaviors. The same holds true for making it a habit to continually create new ideas. A writer’s idea factory has to continue churning new thoughts, and be available to tap into creative material, in order to continue pushing the limits of our writing. Start making a habit to increase and foster your ability to observe your surroundings and assemble character traits, place and setting ideas, asking the ‘how, why, and what-ifs’, and keeping notebooks or journals with you at all times to log new ideas.
3) Set smaller writing goals.
Nothing can deflate creative momentum like a lofty writing goal. When we set our expectations too high we inadvertently create an attitude of procrastinating. Making a point to cut down your writing methodologies into smaller sections will produce a lot of motivation as you complete these smaller tasks and feel a sense of accomplishment. It also keeps the sections more focused and increases the time you can devote to outlining, research, writing, revising, and editing providing the opportunity to continue creating stronger work.
4) Quit worrying about it.
Every writer is as unique as the individual themselves. We each observe and interpret the world around us in our own distinctive ways. Let worry fall to the wayside, follow your instincts, and trust the ideas you have. Don’t lose sight of the way you want to bring your story to your audience. Your work will stand apart as you tell your story using your developing, unique voice.
