How to Stay Motivated During the Writing Process

One of the hardest parts about writing is the motivation aspect. How do you keep going and stay inspired even when you face rejection or lack of time? That’s why I’ve assembled this quick list of how to stay motivated during all parts of the writing process! Hopefully the tips below will help you just as much as they helped me.

1. Turn your ‘shoulds’ into ‘musts’.

It’s helpful to make a list of all the things you keep telling yourself you ‘should’ do. Chances are that the list is longer than you thought. It’s also a list of projects or activities that will bring you serious joy and fulfillment once you get started on them. Have you kept telling yourself that you should read every day? Carve out ten minutes at the beginning of your morning to pick up a novel over breakfast. Have you always said to yourself that you should begin on that plot idea that’s been bouncing around your head? Take five minutes to jot it down. Even with a major time crunch, you can still get started on that list in short intervals.

2. Write down your current writing reality, your intended writing future, and bridge the gap in between.

Not sure what I’m talking about? On one side of a sheet of paper, write down your current writing reality: just finished a first draft, self-published two novels, one novel out by a big 6 publisher, etc. On the other side, write down your intended writing future: publish the first novel with a small-press publisher, sell 1,000 copies of the novel, finish another story draft. Then in the space in between the two sides, write down the steps you need to take to get to the intended future. It’s an easy way to monitor your writing goal progress and become excited about all the possibilities.

3. Seek inspiration from influencers and peers.

This could include reading a book about writing, scannng blog posts from other writers, or browsing general articles that provide motivation. I love Blots & Plots, She’s Novel, and The Daily Muse. But if you’re more of an audio learner, listen to some great writing podcasts! It’s always inspiring to hear advice from other writers and professionals.

How do you find inspiration during the writing process? Have you tried any of these tips before?