I’ve written over 90 books over my 40-year career, and I can tell you that as much as we would like them to, books don’t write themselves. Motivation is the measurement of the energy that is put into any endeavor.
When you write a book, you are bound to struggle with periods where you lack the motivation to write or experience writer’s block, a key challenge that writers face while lacking the motivation to write. Even when writing inspiration is lacking, it is crucial to stay committed and motivated.
To combat this, you need an arsenal of tools and techniques that you can use to help you overcome motivational issues like getting started writing, finding your message, or getting rid of writer’s block. Writing is a job and every job needs the “write” tool.
Here are a few techniques I’ve used to overcome writer’s block from time to time and really get motivated to write. I’ve used these same techniques to write 4-5 books a year.
How to Stay Motivated When Writing a Book
The hardest part of writing a book is always the first few pages, especially when facing writer’s block. No matter how strong your motivation or how compelling the topic is, motivating yourself to start is a large task.
In this video, I break down a few of my favorite tips for staying motivate to write:
Understanding the writing process is crucial for staying motivated, as it involves overcoming fears, setting realistic goals, and finding passion in your work.
1. Write Every Day
One of the tricks that artists use and that works well for writers too is to write often. Even when you don’t want to type a single word, do it anyway… just write. It triggers something in your brain so that the pathway between your daily routine and your creative side is easier to find.
Create small writing goals that you can achieve every day. You can set goals like committing to writing a specific word count of 250 words or one page a day. At the end of 365 days, you’ll have a 365-page book.
This low word count goal is crucial for maintaining consistency and avoiding disappointment, making it easier to stay motivated and keep writing every day. Writing every day helps maintain motivation even when writing inspiration is low.
If you want to complete your book faster, you can write a chapter a day.
Make the time that you sit down to write each day a habit. If you set a time to write in the morning, sit down and write at the same time each morning.
Establishing a consistent writing routine is key to overcoming writer’s block and keeping your motivation high. It involves setting a designated time and place for writing and possibly incorporating new elements into your routine to keep it fresh.
You can also pre-release your book on Amazon and date it to give you extra motivation to have it finished by a certain date. Write down your goals and review them every day and you will complete your book in no time.
2. Don’t Edit as You Write
One of the biggest mistakes I see with writers is trying to edit their own writing as they’re drafting. It’s crucial to allow yourself the freedom to express your thoughts and ideas without self-judgment during the initial writing phase.
Save editing for the very end. Switching back and forth between being creative and critiquing your own writing causes you to lose steam.
One of the greatest tools to cultivate motivation is progress. Keep writing, focusing on the raw and real expression of your ideas, and save the editing until you finish the book.
3. Get Rid of Distractions
Get rid of distractions when you write.
Writing a book requires all of your attention.
Create a space where there are few if any outside distractions.
Put your phone on silent or turn it off.
Leave a do not disturb sign on your door.
Filter outside noise with a white noise machine.
Your goal is to eliminate all distractions and get into a state of flow.
4. Take a Break for a Fresh Perspective
Don’t be afraid to put your book aside for a few days when you’re feeling blocked, then when you are ready, resume writing. Just make sure that you specify the time that you’ll come back to writing. Give yourself a strict deadline, and adhere to it.
Changing your environment may be all you need to jumpstart your motivation. Try writing in a different room, outside, or in a different color.
To rejuvenate your motivation after a break, it’s essential to start writing again, even if it’s just small steps at first. This act of beginning anew can significantly help to regain your writing momentum.
5. Use Examples From Others
If you have had the good fortune to read Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, then you might be familiar with another useful tool for overcoming lacking motivation. That tool is the creation of analogies that support your book.
In Think and Grow Rich, Hill uses the comparisons of rich and famous people to support or outline his points. Similarly, when you are stuck, look to people you value, including other writers, for inspiration.
Learning from their experiences and the way they have navigated their writing journeys can be incredibly enlightening.
It’s important to admire other writers for their unique voice, passion, and storytelling style without falling into the trap of comparing your work negatively to theirs. This process opens up a door that bridges the gap between critical thinking and artistic thinking.
Did you know most celebrities who write a book are using a ghostwriter? Use some of their methods, to brainstorm ideas and get examples.
6. Talk it Out
If you’re having trouble writing, try talking it out. Write as if you’re talking to a friend. As you write, consider that you are telling your story to one of your friends and as you do, write it down.
When you tell your friends that you are writing a book what do you tell them? Write it down. What message are you trying to convey?
Having a conversation with your book is an excellent technique for talking through the problems that you need to solve for others in a casual manner. Talking is often easier than writing which is why this technique helps break your writer’s block. Talking out your writing problems can help overcome writer’s block.
Additionally, dedicating some time to plan before each writing session can significantly streamline your writing process, making it easier to start and keep the momentum going, effectively overcoming writer’s block.
7. Try New Creative Writing Prompts
Try creative writing prompts as a way to challenge yourself to write. Those might include: Describe your surroundings — Look out the window and describe the first thing you see in great detail.
Keep a journal of these entries as though you are Darwin traipsing through the jungle.
Try a word challenge — Open the dictionary and choose the first word you see. Use that word in a haiku or short quote that your main character might say. There are many writing prompts that writers use to jumpstart their brains and their motivation.
Find a few that work well for you. Creative writing prompts can also help spark writing inspiration when you need it most.
You might also find inspiration for this activity from this list of motivational quotes
Being motivated 100% of the time just isn’t possible for most authors. So don’t get discouraged if you’re having a hard time getting started. These tools and techniques have helped me persist many times when I simply did not feel like writing.
Keep Your Writing Motivation High
Facing a blank page can be daunting, but it’s a common challenge that many writers overcome by simply starting to write, even if it’s not perfect.
How do you motivate yourself to write?
- Write every day
- Don’t edit as you write
- Get rid of distractions
- Take a break
- Use examples from others
- Talk it out
- Try creative writing prompts
You should also know:
Learning how to write a book with a proven system is also a great way to keep your momentum on the journey to publishing.
Everyone has a book inside of them. It’s your job to find out what your message is, take action, and just start! It’s normal to lose motivation at times, but knowing your purpose can help push you through those moments.
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About Brian Tracy — Brian is recognized as the top sales training and personal success authority in the world today. He has authored more than 60 books and has produced more than 500 audio and video learning programs on sales, management, business success and personal development, including worldwide bestseller The Psychology of Achievement. Brian’s goal is to help you achieve your personal and business goals faster and easier than you ever imagined. You can follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and Youtube.