When you think about it, many people don‘t make their dreams, of becoming a writer, come true because they spend more time thinking about it and researching instead of actually doing it.
Running a marathon
It could be said that I‘ve spent my entire high school and college thinking about becoming a writer. My excuse was lack of time because I had to study. That was true but, at the same time, I was ignoring the fact that I spend a lot of time playing games or on social networks or both. That time could easily be dedicated to writing but it wasn‘t.
Even when I tried to write, which happened on numerous occasion during my last year of studies, I would fail. To put is simple: I would sit down in front of my computer and in my mind a would have had a goal of writing a novel, and it felt like running a marathon. When I had to run 42 km after years of sitting on the couch I had only one thought in my mind – NO WAY!
Once I finally finished my formal education I had plenty of time but I still wasn‘t writing. Later, I realized that the problem wasn‘t in time; it wasn‘t in my mindset. If I wanted something done I could have found the way, but If I didn‘t want it, I could have always found an excuse and that‘s exactly what had happened.
Running the sprints
Now, when I have a little bit of experience, I know that writing a novel is more like running a large number of short races than running a marathon and that‘s the idea that keeps me going.
A daily word count
One form of the short races is the daily word quota. I‘ve read somewhere that some writers had a daily word count and I decided to set mine quite low – 500 words per day. That was something that I could finish in 40 minutes and it would give me a sense of accomplishment and I would feel good and ready for the next day.
Don‘t put your bar too high
Once I realized how easy it is to finish one short race I‘ve tried setting my word count higher (2000 words, 3000 words) but after several days of failing to accomplish my goals, I would get discouraged and stop writing. So, instead of writing 3500 words in a week, I would write 3000 words in two days and wouldn’t write for 10 days because I felt bad.
Celebrate the good days
Sometimes, I do write 2000 words, and I feel great about it but. The important thing is to that I stop while I‘m still in the heap and I never let myself to become totally exhausted. Therefore, when I sit down to write the next morning, I know that I won‘t have to write 2000 words again.
Keep the flow
From my point of view, it is important to have the flow, to show up every day in front of my screen and type; whether it‘s my novel, Diary, blog, whatever; knowing that I accomplished something gives me the energy to try even harder the next day.
What is your tactic to motivate yourself to write every day? What are your writing goals? Tell us in the comment‘s section below.