Post by Siana Blackwood on Sept 17, 2013 19:29:06 GMT 10
These pep talks might look random, but they're actually being released according to a complex schedule only I understand.
...
Okay, they're random.
Anyway, it seems like now is a good time to talk about losing steam. Mid-month, we're (in theory) about halfway through what we want to achieve in September. I'm not - right now I'm around 3k behind my official goal and I'm making up advice instead of trying to avoid slipping further behind. That makes me the ideal person to talk about how to motivate yourself to struggle onwards through the sagging middle of your goal, right?
'Sagging middle' applies even if you're working on a project you started well before September. You have a concrete starting and ending date. You have an amount of work you want to achieve. Therefore, right now you're at the uncomfortable point in the middle where you've run out of 'just starting' enthusiasm, but there's still a long way to get to the bit where it's almost done.
So, how do we deal with this situation?
Last pep talk, I think I encouraged you to write a list of things you love about your current project. If I didn't say it, or if I did say it and you just didn't make the list, go and make one now. Put at least five things on it, even if one of the things is just "I've already written x words".
~~~ Intermission while everyone reads/writes lists of things they love about the project ~~~
...and now my work is done. You have five (or more) things you love about the project, so it should be easy to keep writing.
I know, it's not that simple. Maybe you love it, but don't know what happens next. Maybe the list is shorter than the one for some other project. It's even possible that you've come up with some way better ideas for this project, but don't know how to use them without restarting.
So, let's have a look at those things.
Don't know what happens next? Start by writing a synopsis of what you've done so far. You can even include it as a 'recap' by one of your characters if you like. Try brainstorming on where things might go next. Compile the whole thing into a forum post that can go in the 'Writing Chatter' board where your fellow writers can come up with wacky suggestions. You can also do all this if you're struggling with some new ideas or directions that you don't know how to fit into your original vision.
Does the list of things you love look less enticing than you'd hoped? If so, there are a few different things you can try. Make a second list that includes all the things you love to find when you're searching for something to read. Can you add a few of these things to your current story? Have you already included them, but didn't realise they were important?
Or, add something silly to the list. Mine includes 'When I finish the draft, I get to eat that block of chocolate sitting in the Treats Box'.
A 'Treats Box' is a good idea. It doesn't have to be chocolate - you could include new stationery, new music, new movies or a webcomic you'd love to start reading are all great rewards for SeptNo. Maybe an end-of-month treat is the incentive you need to keep you moving.
Point is, this week is not the time to give up on your project. You've already invested substantial time, effort and emotion in it, so a little more isn't going to hurt as much as you might think. Even if you lower your goal and write 100 words a day for a while, don't stop writing.
:grouphug:
...
Okay, they're random.
Anyway, it seems like now is a good time to talk about losing steam. Mid-month, we're (in theory) about halfway through what we want to achieve in September. I'm not - right now I'm around 3k behind my official goal and I'm making up advice instead of trying to avoid slipping further behind. That makes me the ideal person to talk about how to motivate yourself to struggle onwards through the sagging middle of your goal, right?
'Sagging middle' applies even if you're working on a project you started well before September. You have a concrete starting and ending date. You have an amount of work you want to achieve. Therefore, right now you're at the uncomfortable point in the middle where you've run out of 'just starting' enthusiasm, but there's still a long way to get to the bit where it's almost done.
So, how do we deal with this situation?
Last pep talk, I think I encouraged you to write a list of things you love about your current project. If I didn't say it, or if I did say it and you just didn't make the list, go and make one now. Put at least five things on it, even if one of the things is just "I've already written x words".
~~~ Intermission while everyone reads/writes lists of things they love about the project ~~~
...and now my work is done. You have five (or more) things you love about the project, so it should be easy to keep writing.
I know, it's not that simple. Maybe you love it, but don't know what happens next. Maybe the list is shorter than the one for some other project. It's even possible that you've come up with some way better ideas for this project, but don't know how to use them without restarting.
So, let's have a look at those things.
Don't know what happens next? Start by writing a synopsis of what you've done so far. You can even include it as a 'recap' by one of your characters if you like. Try brainstorming on where things might go next. Compile the whole thing into a forum post that can go in the 'Writing Chatter' board where your fellow writers can come up with wacky suggestions. You can also do all this if you're struggling with some new ideas or directions that you don't know how to fit into your original vision.
Does the list of things you love look less enticing than you'd hoped? If so, there are a few different things you can try. Make a second list that includes all the things you love to find when you're searching for something to read. Can you add a few of these things to your current story? Have you already included them, but didn't realise they were important?
Or, add something silly to the list. Mine includes 'When I finish the draft, I get to eat that block of chocolate sitting in the Treats Box'.
A 'Treats Box' is a good idea. It doesn't have to be chocolate - you could include new stationery, new music, new movies or a webcomic you'd love to start reading are all great rewards for SeptNo. Maybe an end-of-month treat is the incentive you need to keep you moving.
Point is, this week is not the time to give up on your project. You've already invested substantial time, effort and emotion in it, so a little more isn't going to hurt as much as you might think. Even if you lower your goal and write 100 words a day for a while, don't stop writing.
:grouphug: