Staying Motivated When You HAVE To Write

We’re heading into the final ten days of Camp NaNoWriMo and if you’re anything like me, you’re probably feeling a bit tired at the moment. A month is a long time to write large amounts consistently. Many of our goals are large and challenging. We’ve been working hard for the last three weeks already, and maybe by this point, working on our books is the last thing we want to be doing right now. No matter how much we love our stories, or how fun we find  Camp NaNoWriMo to be, sometimes it all feels a bit much and we struggle to keep pushing towards that final goal. I know. I’ve been there recently. But, there are also some things we can do to help keep ourselves motivated, inspired, and trekking on towards that victory.

One of those things is to spend time with other writes. If you’re in a Camp NaNoWriMo cabin then you have a community around you already. If not, you probably know other writers on Facebook or Twitter. Talking to other writers can be really motivating. I always feel super motivated to get up and work on my own goals when I see the amazing things other people are doing. Don’t be afraid to let people know that you’re struggling. Other writers have been where you are, and the amount of support they provide is amazing.

Plus, other writers are great people to write along with. Hosting a word sprint, either in your own cabin, using the NaNoWriMo word sprint tool, or on Twitter, is a great way push yourself to write a little, even when you don’t really feel like it. If one or two fellow writers join in, those word sprints can go on for a while, and you can find yourself writing way more than you initially thought you could. Sometimes it takes company to make the words flow.

Another thing is to try switching up where you’re writing. Go to the library, or buy a cup of coffee and hang out at your local cafe for a while. A change of scene and atmosphere can trigger a shift and make you feel more creative. Going somewhere else is refreshing. It gives you fresh input, new sounds, a change from the same old, same old that can make you feel exhausted at the very idea of writing. And going somewhere for the express purpose of writing can help give you a jolt of motivation as well.

If you can’t go somewhere out of the house, you could always try switching things up inside. Listen to a different genre of music. Try adding some ambient noise into the mix. There are great playlists for this on Spotify, which I’ve found very helpful. I also recommend Coffitivity, especially when combined with music. Move to a different space in your house. Change the colour of your font, or write in a different program, like an email. Shake up what you’re doing so you don’t feel quite so stagnant.

Something else that often helps is scheduling some time away from writing. It doesn’t have to be long, but a break can really help you rest and recharge. We often put off doing recreational activities because we haven’t made our word counts yet. If you’re tired and struggling, maybe it’s time for a bit of recreation. Maybe you need to watch an episode of something, or read a book for a while, bake some cookies, play a bit of a game. Something different and fun to recharge your creative batteries.

Alternatively, if you’re too stressed about reaching your word count to take time off to do these things, try using them as a reward. Write 500 words, then rewards yourself by reading a chapter of a book. Write 100 words, let yourself post a tweet. Write 300, then go and make yourself a fresh drink. Sometimes giving yourself something to look forward, and breaking your day goal into smaller chunks, to is enough to get you through those words whether you feel inspired or not.

Other quick ideas to keep you going, if you need some extra small boosts:

• Set a timer, for short, manageable ten or fifteen minute sessions ​
• Get up and move regularly to get the blood flowing again
• Take a break for a few minutes and outline where you want the story to go next
• Whenever you stop writing, leave yourself a sentence telling yourself what’s about to happen
• Find an accountability person who will check in on your during the day
• Switch things up. Write from another character’s perspective for a page
• Take some time to look after yourself. Have a bath. Drink something nice. Eat chocolate. Take care of yourself.

These are just some ideas that often help me when I’m struggling to stay motivated, and goodness knows I’ve needed them in the past. The end of Camp NaNoWriMo in particular can be very tough on motivation, inspiration, creativity and energy levels. Hopefully some of these will help you push through to that victory. But most importantly, take care of yourself. A win or a loss is nothing. You are a writer, not a machine, and if you need to take some time to look after yourself instead of writing, that’s ok too.

Are you doing Camp NaNoWriMo this month? How are you going? Got any other tips to add to this list? Let’s chat in the comments down below.

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