How do you motivate yourself to write?

Question

I want to write more but often find myself putting it off or giving myself some excuse to not write. I'm not sure if it is fear of failure, lazyness or procrastination. How do you motivate yourself to write and how do you stay disciplined and focused?

Answer 1

I like to drink a lot of alcohol and listen to The Doors

Answer 2

I have this problems sometimes too. I make a "writings" book. Its just a notebook that I write stuff in, like what I did that day or a movie I saw or a short story or a poem, anything to get the words out. I also have found that using different parts of the book helps too, because the thought of starting at page 1 and going to page 2 then page 3 is way too scary-I think like, how am I going to fill all these pages? So I flip around and fill a couple pages here and there, before too long-I am done with it! Then, I go in and get the good stuff and put it on the computer. I have found the best writing I do is in long hand. I also try not to think about anyone reading it except me. I get all freaked out when I think about what someone is going to think when they read it. I really feel good when I write everyday. It is such a part of who I am, that when I don't write regularly I feel terrible. You should check out Stephen King On Writing, it helped me a lot. The thing he stresses is to write everyday for a set amount of time. I guess its like going to the gym...

Answer 3

I set a time every day to write (1-2 hours, one in the morning one in the evening). If it isn't flowing I put on music and just relax and think about things--jotting down what comes to mind. I don't worry about the motivation I just set the time and make sure to show up.

Answer 4

I'm a lot like you. I think the reason I put off writing is a combination of all three of those, but a lot of times I have a really good idea in my head for a short story/poem, but I'm too afraid to write it down because I might ruin my own idea! I know, it sounds really strange.

Answer 5

This is rather funny, because I love to write (I'm a Journalism major) yet I haven't found the time to write in my diary/journal in a very long time. What used to work for me is to set aside some time every day to write; right before you go to bed often works well.

At that time, reflect on how your day went, what you wish you did differently, what you'll do tomorrow, etc. Writing is easier when something really interesting or dramatic happens, but the more you do it, the more you will enjoy it.

Answer 6

Don't get stressed if you can't write. Maybe you've got the writer's block. I do sometimes have writer's block, specially when I am about to start a new one. I can't help myself but to stare at the bank paper, and when I am stating to write, I jsut can't have my ideas fit together. What I usually do is to crumple a piece of paper, that signals the writer in me to focus on what I want my story to be. and I write whenever I want to write
If you stress yourself to be motivated too much, you won't get motivated.
Good luck...

Answer 7

I incredibly have this issues on occasion too. I make a "writings" e book. Its in simple terms a computing device that I write stuff in, like what I did that day or a action picture I observed or a short tale or a poem, something to get the words out. I even have chanced on that utilizing different factors of the e book enables too, because of the fact the seen commencing at web site a million and going to web site 2 then web site 3 is far too frightening-i think of like, how am I going to fill those style of pages? So I turn around and fill a pair pages right here and there, till now too long-i'm carried out with it! Then, i bypass in and get the stable stuff and placed it on the computing device. I incredibly have chanced on the perfect writing I do is in long hand. I additionally attempt to no longer think of roughly all and sundry examining it different than me. i'm getting all freaked out while i think of roughly what somebody is going to think of while they study it. i myself experience stable when I write time-honored. it incredibly is such an component of who i'm, that as quickly as i do no longer write generally i've got confidence poor. you ought to inspect Stephen King On Writing, it helped me plenty. the element he stresses is to jot down time-honored for a collection volume of time. i assume its like going to the health club...

Answer 8

well my motivation is a tortured live which i would not wish on anyone. I write from the gut . What i write are feelings that must come out somehow . writing is the safest way to pull them out.
I dont want to send you down a bad road but dinking alcohol helps me facilatate my writing

Answer 9

i just get up in the morning put the computer on (unless i'm going somewhere) and open microsoft word then i open whatever i was working on the previous day and get stuck in. if i am having a particular difficulty with my writing then i put on some music, have a bath watch wrestling or sometimes go for a walk to get my brain to co-operate with me

Answer 10

You should just let it flow. If you're putting it off, maybe you don't really want to write. I never force it, I just write when I hear a pretty turn of phrase in my head.