How Can You Motivate Yourself To Be A Writer?

MotivationJuly 17, 2017

Trying to be a writer is challenging because the job requires plenty of discipline, commitment, and desire. Even more important will be the determination to continue with the job. This is because you need to motivate yourself to believe you are passionate about writing. You cannot assume that writing is just any other job. Therefore, consider the following tips that can perhaps motivate you to be a writer.

Writing can be a tedious task. It can also be boring at times. There are deadlines to meet and distractions to overcome. Your family could demand time from you when you feel you are ready to carry on with the job. You could be tempted to make excuses for not writing for the day, but you need to motivate yourself to believe otherwise. Given the circumstances, how can you motivate yourself to write daily without exceptions? The following tips can perhaps help you to make a decision.

“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” — Toni Morrison

Make A Date With Yourself

Yes, we are aware that you have a jam-packed schedule, but you definitely deserve a writing rendezvous with yourself. You owe it to yourself to have some creative and meaningful time. Therefore, you should make a date with yourself and ensure that you keep your time.

Have the Right Mindset

During some time of the day, it is likely that you will be more in tune with your inner self. It could be early in the morning or late in the night. It could even be after you have had your morning exercise break. If this is the time that you feel is the best for writing, you should use it to do the writing. Although this will not apply if you are working on a 9-to-5 job, it will definitely apply to you if you are a freelancer.

Have a Clean Place

You do not need a custom-designed studio with an ocean view to begin writing. You need a place that is comfortable, one that makes you happy while also matching your personality. It could be a table in the corner of a shared bedroom, but it should give you the freedom to contend. The place should fit the creative self within you. Most importantly, it should be a spot which is free from any negative memories or associations.

Keep Your Family and Friends Informed

It is advisable to keep your family and friends informed about your decision to write. You should make them aware that you are involved in a task that requires your focus without distractions. Also, remember to switch off any electronic devices that you may e tempted to use regularly. It will keep you away from reading or responding to messages and emails that may be coming in. Keeping your family and friends informed will also give you an opportunity not to be distracted in order to concentrate on your job with utmost dedication.

Set A Daily Quota

You have allotted a time for the writing and also decided the number of hours you are going to be at this job. However, you also need to set a quota or a target for the number of words you are going to complete within the time specified. At no cost should you allow anything to disrupt the target you have set. Remember that completing it will be a motivation for the writing by itself.

“The life of the professional writer – like that of any freelance, whether she be a plumber or a podiatrist – is predicated on willpower. Without it, there simply wouldn’t be any remuneration, period.”—Will Self

The job of writing as a freelancer is fraught with several risks because you are not in control of all the job requirements. Your mind, your targets and your motivation can easily be tossed out on the window by various factors. Some of these include problems with Internet connectivity or the hardware you are using acting funny. However, you can overcome these challenges if you are motivated to continue writing without giving up.