Tips to Help Writers Stay Motivated
by Heather Weidner
Today marks the 25th anniversary of 9-11. It is one of those moments that I will always remember where I was and how the news affected me. Horrific news stories, the political climate, the economy, not to mention personal tragedies, can all hinder your writing and demotivate you.
Writing is primarily a solitary business, and a bad day, the
grumpies, a negative review, someone’s snarky comment, or events in your life
and the world can easily cause a writer to question everything.
Here are a few ideas that I have picked up during my writing journey that may help.
- Look
at the feedback/criticism. Learn from it, but don’t dwell on it.
- Keep
control of that voice in your head. Be aware of your self-talk. You don’t
need to make things worse by letting them consume you.
- Take a
break and do something else for a while. Physical activity will clear your
mind and get your endorphins going.
- Do
something else that’s creative (e.g. paint, cook, draw, knit, sew…). It
will boost your energy and your mood.
- Take a
minute to be grateful. Make a list of things that are going well. You’ll
be surprised at all the positive things in your life that you are thankful
for.
- Volunteer
or help someone else. You’ll often find that your troubles aren’t as
challenging as what others are facing. You are also able to make a
difference in someone’s life.
- Writing
is work, and it’s a long process. There is a lot of waiting. Stay busy
during the quiet times. The best advice I ever received was to write the
next book.
- When
something happens that you don’t like, take a minute to cry, scream, yell,
or eat chocolate. Get it out of your system and move on. You’ve got things
to do. Don’t waste precious time.
The writing journey is a roller coaster ride, and there are days that I don’t feel like writing. When that happens, I try to do some other book-related or marketing tasks. What do you do to keep yourself motivated to write?
If you or someone you know is struggling or in emotional distress, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7, to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Heather
Weidner writes cozy crime fiction for readers who want justice with a sprinkle
of fun and a southern accent.
Through the years, Heather Weidner has been a cop’s kid, technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager. She writes the Pearly Girls Mysteries, the Delanie Fitzgerald Mysteries, The Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries, and The Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries.
Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a crazy Mini Aussie Shepherd.
