How to keep going

Photo by Vek Labs on Unsplash

The hardest thing about maintaining a consistent writing practice is staying motivated.

I don't know a writer who hasn't at one point or another thought—what's the point? Why am I doing this?

Many writers have a strange contradiction: we want to write yet we resist writing.

Recently I took a one-day workshop with screenwriting coach Corey Mandell, and he asked us this question:

Why is this your dream? What is motivating you to pursue writing?

This is a great question to ask a writer at any stage of their career. And it can help us remember why we are doing this in the first place.

All I know is that before I became a writer I had few interests and wasn't very good at anything in particular. After I took my first writing workshop when I was 20, I thought—I'm doing this for the rest of my life.

There's something about the words on the page that excites me. I'm also excited about the possibility of getting better or changing my style or moving between genres.

I haven't looked back despite the few highs and many lows. Somehow I've managed to keep trudging along. It hasn't been easy. It's mostly been hard. And the hardest thing is staying motivated.

Some Tips to Get You Going

So below are are a few tips if you are having a low moment where either you don't feel like writing or don't see the point in it. 

1. Ask yourself why are you a writer? Why is this your dream? What motivates you?
2. Do a morning free-write. Just write anything don't worry about what you are writing. Just keep your pen on your paper for a set amount of time (15 or 30 minutes).
3. Read something you love.
4. Do some experimental writing exercises.
5. Give yourself permission to not write for awhile.
6. Eavesdrop on conversations.
7. Collaborate with another writer.
8. Find a buddy who will help keep you accountable and who you can check in with.
9. Make a writing date with another writer either in person or on Skype where you just write together but on your own projects.
10. Take a break from social media (I have not done this one but should!!!).
11. Give yourself permission to stay away from literary events and other writers. This may sound mean but can be helpful if you're in a not-good space.
12. Take in some other form of art. Go to a movie, play, art show, performance (thanks to Danielle Egan for this one.).

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