So I’ve written myself into depression today.
How did that happen? Easy. I tried to write about why I’m stuck creatively in some areas.
I figured out that I don’t need to explore that. I know what’s wrong! I just need to find some good motivators.
Why not write about that?
Here’s some of the things I do to get myself motivated.
To Start With:
- I get light into my space. If I’m writing at night, I light the place up. If I’m writing in the daytime, I throw open the blinds and let the sunshine in!
- Keep the browser closed! I do my level best not to hit up Facebook, Imgur, Reddit or other Time Suck sites. I wish I were better at staying away, but I’m not.
To Get Into It:
- Set the mood. I get my Itunes and my YouTube playlists up and running. Depending on what I’m writing, I need that mood music to fuel the scene.
- Research. I love to research the crap out of what I write. It’s fun! But I can overdo. So I limit myself to an hour on the computer. Then an hour in the library. Then another hour on the computer…
THE ACTUAL GORRAM WRITING:
Yes, I said gorram. I aim to misbehave.
- The soothing sounds of silence. After I get pumped up, after the research, I hear the whir of my computer and the clicking of my keyboard. There’s nothing better.
- Tick tock, tick tock Clarice. Some writers time themselves. I’m one of ’em. Hell, I have to. I have kids and a wife that need me to pick them up. So I can’t lose track of time. Speaking of which, I’d better wrap this up.
BONUS FEATURES!
Motivation comes in all forms. Speeches, music, pictures, quotes. Whatever.
Here are some great things I employ to light a fire under me.
ZeFrank’s Invocation for Beginners
The Great Dictator’s Final Speech
The Wayside 