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Five tips to raise motivation to write: Editor's Notes #353 November 24, 2021

Hello, People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing—that’s why we recommend it daily.” —Zig Ziglar In this issue: 1. Five tips to raise motivation to write 2. Tickled my funny bone 3. Interesting Web site 4. Writing prompt 1.Five tips to raise motivation to write Understand that a lag in motivation is not the same as writer’s block. Writer’s block is the condition in which a writer’s pace slows or stalls. The writer may not know what the next step is. Which project should I start? How do I move this character forward in light of current events? Which chapter can I shorten without losing any important ideas? Motivation is the reason for action. There is a deep and long motivation that guides big issues in your life. Which career should I pursue? How should I order things in my budget? Where should I live? There is a more short-term motivation that drives smaller tasks. Will I get up or hit the snooze button? Which item will I order from the menu? Will I have a nap or write for 15 minutes? I’m assuming that you have a serious motivation to write, enough to have made a commitment to at least give it a fair try, but from time to time, the daily motivation to bring your big goal through to completion lags. When you lack the motivation to sit down to write at any particular time, consider using one or more of these tips to raise that motivation to write. Set a timer, and get to work. Set the timer for 5 minutes, and start writing. You can do it. You can do almost anything for five minutes. And once the ball is rolling, who knows how long you can keep going! Turn on the tunes. Experiment with this one. Which music at which volume? Music can perk you up or calm you down. Choose the right music, and you may find yourself writing in no time. Tie on those shoes. This assumes you are not out of your house and wearing shoes already. I can testify to the change of attitude that comes when I put on shoes that signal it’s time to go to work. Some people are more motivated if they wear other articles of clothing that also signal work time. Contact your accountability buddy. If you don’t have an accountability buddy, get one. This is a person whose regard matters to you. Call the buddy and report what you plan to accomplish within a certain (relatively short) time frame. Then report back when you are done. Promise yourself a reward. A long soak in the tub, some time with your favourite video game, a special pen you’ve had your eye on, a walk with a friend (You really won’t want to let you friend down, so this one gets extra motivational points.), anything that feels like a reward to you. A warning: Go easy on high calorie rewards. This way lies other dangers. These tips to motivate yourself to write will not solve your problems with plot or fix your spelling or decide which character to throw away, but they may move you into writing mode where you can solve all those other problems. =========== 2.Tickled my funny bone TOOTHACHE: The pain that drives you to extraction. =========== 3. Interesting Web site Thank you to Lesley Pinkett for sharing this link. There is a wealth of information here. Maybe one or more of the ideas will motivate you to get writing. https://smartblogger.com/how-to-write-a-bestselling-book/ =========== 4. Writing prompt Write about an unexpected motivation, real or imagined that powered a significant action in someone real or imagined. As always, I’d love to see what you do. =========== Join Writer's Helper Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WritersHelperEditor Follow me on Twitter @AudreytheEditor Link on LinkedIn https://ca.linkedin.com/in/audreyowen (Email me first so I know how you know me.) =========== If you know a writer who would appreciate receiving Editor's Notes, forward this issue. If someone has passed this on to you, you can get your own free subscription by signing up at https://www.writershelper.com/newsletter.html

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