Request: Motivation and Dedication · 10:10pm Feb 25th, 2014
So, today's topic is another that stems from popular (and repeated) series of requests. A lot of you out there have noticed not just what I write, but how much I write. It's true that I'm very productive, even for a fiction writer. I usually average about four or five thousand words a day, and on a monthly basis just over seventy or eighty thousand words. This is part of the reason why I'm trying to publish three books this year in addition to getting "Beyond the Borderlands" written. Make no mistake, it's a lot of writing, and a lot of work.
And what a lot of you have expressed interest in knowing is how? How do I keep up the pace? How do I find the motivation? How do avoid falling into the pitfalls of most young writers? You guys have asked these questions (and more), and well, today, I'm going to tell you. And offer some general pointers on my methods as well as being a productive writer in general. What I write here today for you readers is a combination of knowledge learned from both practical experience and passed down to me by authors that I look up to and idolize. Now, I'm going to pass my words onto you, in hopes that some of them might give some of you the inspiration you were looking for.
What are you writing for?
When it comes right down to it, a lot of what you can accomplish while writing comes down to what you are willing to dedicate to it. And in this regard, it seems to me that there are two paths to follow: you're either writing for the fun of it, when you feel like it, or you're writing full-time not just because you enjoy it, but because it's a job.
These are two different things. If you're writing for the sheer joy of it, then what I'm going to talk about here won't be as vital to you because you're writing just as a hobby. A hobbyist can still be fairly dedicated, but it's still a hobby. It's not expected to take over your life, nor should it. Don't let that bother you! For you, writing is about the fun and as little stress as possible. What I do is work. Fun work most of the time, but work nonetheless, and with that comes additional trappings. If you're just writing for fun, on a whim, and don't want it to become something more than that, then there are tidbits here you may enjoy, but I wouldn't worry about it. For you, writing is a hobby. It's not, and does not need to be, an occupation. You might make some change here and there, but you have other ways of making your paycheck.
Now, maybe you don't know which area you fall under. That's ok. You have some time, presumably, to make this decision. Maybe reading this will help you make that decision. But at some point, you're going to want to decide if writing for you is going to be a fun hobby, or if it's going to be a full-time/part-time job. If it's going to be the latter (like me), then be prepared.
Writing is Sacrifice
if you're going to get a lot of writing done, you're going to have to understand that you're going to have to give some things up. When I sat down and decided that my writing was going to be full-tilt, I knew that I was going to have to set some limits for myself on things that I once enjoyed. Writing takes up a good portion of my day (usually 8-12 hours of it), which means that I no longer can enjoy some of the pastimes that I once did. I'm still working on beating games I got from Steam two years ago, because I simply don't let myself have that time anymore.
It's all about time management, really. Writing is demanding. Writing takes a lot of thought and dedicated time. Is it fun to go and see a movie? Yes. Is it fun to load up Gears 3 on my X-box and play? Yes. But I understand that these are breaks, not the day-to-day flow of things. Occasionally I'll hit a small wall and play a single round of Deathmatch just to get my mind to come at things from different angles. But it stays a single round, and then I'm back at my keyboard.
This isn't to say that I don't have fun. As of writing this my Steam profile is sitting at a total of 25 hours of play in the last two weeks, which is right about where I like it. I still watch movies from time to time, and I make time for mountain biking in the summer and working out in the winter. But my writing time sits at the top of my list, and I understand that I'll have to make choices like the following: I come home and would like to fire up a movie, but I know that I need to hit my quota for the day.
And so, the movie I would like to see spends yet another day on the Netlfix shelf of "later." Because I have work to do.
Goals, Goals, Goals
I have a writing quota. Three actually. I have my daily goal (Monday through Saturday), my monthly goal, and my yearly goal. Now, that's actually pretty over-the-top. But even the most normal of writers have a goal (usually a word count) because it gives them something to work towards. It's one thing to sit yourself down in front of a computer and tell yourself to write. It's another thing to sit down and tell yourself "I need 2000 words before I can get up and go do something else." Set an achievable, notable goal that will make you stretch, but also one that you can see yourself achieving. Make it measurable and relevant, something that always has an easily measurable result. Don't make it something like "how long have I been sitting here today." Make it something you can't spoof.
When I first started writing seriously, my goal was simply to hit 1000 words in a day. As soon as I'd done that for a week, I bumped it up to 1500. Then 2000. Slowly, I grew. Now my goal is 5000, minimum of near 4000. I don't hit it every day, but even on a decent day I can get 3000 at a bare minimum. Most days, I'm over 4000.
Now, those were my goals. You? Well, that's for you to decide. But when you sit down to write, have a goal to aim for.
Reward Yourself
So you've just finished up your latest set of goals? Good! Now treat yourself to something! For example, every month I hit my monthly goal, I give myself a $5 "whatever" reward to spend how I please. Sometimes I stack a couple of them and get myself something really nice. I hit my daily goal? Time to watch that movie I've been waiting on seeing.
The specifics don't matter. The concept does. Don't neglect the rewards for your hard work! You hit a milestone? Celebrate it somehow! Yes, there will be the reward of seeing readers enjoy your work, but don't neglect all your time in-between stories. Don't go over the top (they need to be special), but have them. It'll make any stressful moments a lot less impactful overall.
There is No Tomorrow, Only Today
For the purpose of writing, keep that header in mind. if you're going to be a writer, then you need to be writing nearly every day. Writing is an art that requires practice. There is no such thing as writer's block or "I'll do this some other time." If your writing consists of you saying "I have writer's block" or "I'll do this later," you're not writing. Would you like to know a secret?
"Writer's block" does not exist. There is no such thing. The term gets thrown around as an excuse. Yes, there will be scenes that are difficult to write, times when something won't be working and you'll need to take a few minutes or an hour to do something else and then come back and tackle it again. There can be "writer's slowdown," "writer's difficulty," or even just "writer's why-won't-this-freaking-scene-work?" But there is no "writer's block."
Now, writing doesn't mean that you have to be "fingers-to-keyboard/pen-to-paper" in order to actually be working. Writers are known for such events as 'plotting in my head while laying on the couch" or "brainstorming a character while eating dinner." This is mental work, and it's a commendable exercise in effort, no matter how relaxed we look on the outside.
But there comes a point where you must commit your ideas to paper. At some point, you rise from the couch and tell yourself "it's time" and start typing. This is writing. I have written plenty of "imperfect" scenes that get slashed to ribbons in editing. That's how these things go.
Finish
In addition to being my last point, this is also a well named one. You must finish things. I once reworked a novella idea I had four times before losing my patience and, realizing how much time I was wasting on it, started a new paragraph, and wrote the following line:
And then the reactor exploded and they died.
I ended it. And it was done. I needed a "mental" finish, one that would allow me to move on to my next work unburdened. Let your scenes end. Let your stories end. If you find that you've only ever continuously reworked one story over and over again, it's time to stop tweaking and finish it so you can move onto something else.
Interesting tidbit: most writers write far more than they publish. A writer will churn out several books a year. A lot of them we never see. Why? Because they look at it and know it's not worth selling. But they finish it anyway. Maybe someday they'll go back to it. As a reader, you never hear about it.
Finish what you write. You won't always finish it the first time around (I've got a few things where halfway through I've started over, but I've always finished a variation of the story), or even give it a good ending, but don't leave unresolved writings. Have a clear start, and a clear finish line.
And in that note, I need to finish this and get to work finishing my next book. I hope you all enjoyed my opinions on dedication and motivation.
Next week, more technical stuff.
Nice post. I'll try implementing some of this today.
Alright, this has all been very helpful and relevant advice for me, but I still have a question or two. How much time, if any, do you set aside for reading? I've heard the adage that writers read in order to expand their horizons and learn new things about their trade. I'm not entirely sure how to balance reading and writing.
1873937
I try to spend some of my free time reading, usually before I get to bed. I still like to read several novels worth of literature a month. Honestly, it's a toss-up between bathroom reading and bedtime reading. There are also lunch breaks and dinner breaks,
Again, it's all about sacrifice. I have a good couple of hours free in each day, and I just have to decide when and where to divvy that time up.
Granted, a gripping book makes it much easier, if increasing suffering due to lack of sleep.
1874019
That's pretty much what I thought. I think I have too many imaginary obligations right now and I need to cut some of them out of my life. Reading fiction will thankfully never be one of them, since it's actually fun and helpful.
So in the end it isn't so much an art of motivation as it is of dedication.
Also, what music, if any, do you prefer to listen to while writing?
1875381
Actually, I think my dedication just overwhelmed everything I was thinking of. In my defense, I was exhausted yesterday. I'll try to rectify this a little today.
1875426
Instrumental stuff, usually soundtrack scores. I've found that I write a lot slower if I listen to anything with lyrics or people speaking because my mind tries to listed to what they're saying and splits my focus. I have hundreds of hours of soundtrack scores, classical music, and other instrumental works (like OverClocked Remix) on my computer running while I work.
1875820 So what do you do on days you absolutely not feel like writing?
1876715
I sit down and write. Even if I don't feel like it.