I'm getting towards the end of completing the first draft of my current work in progress, and sometimes it's been hard to motivate myself to keep going if I'm feeling like it isn't going in the right way. How. Do you guys keep yourself motivated?
I'm getting towards the end of completing the first draft of my current work in progress, and sometimes it's been hard to motivate myself to keep going if I'm feeling like it isn't going in the right way. How. Do you guys keep yourself motivated?
My motivation is - Enjoyment.
I love playing around with different options for my stories.
But there comes a time when I have to let go of a story, and start something new.
Sometimes, I am writing 2 stories, or several stories at the same time.
I agree with Debbie-Ellen - Music can be a good motivation. I find walking another.
But ultimately, for me, writing is something I enjoy doing, and it's nice to hear positive comments about my stories from readers.
Dam well said Jonathan.........
I agree with Amanda. Giving up is failing, and we can't have that.
The problem is twofold. You either don't want to finish, like Renee said, which I think happens because you've lived with your manuscript for so long how will you manage without it? You tend to meander through the final chapters, drawing out the agony. Either that or you rush towards the ending and then can't figure out how to et it over with.
Time for some sheer bloody-mindedness. Even if you don't normally use a plan, sketch out the final chapters: it'll keep you on the straight and narrow. Then just write them. And when you have, type a big THE END after the last sentence to prove to yourself you have.
Okay, it's the first draft, but 95% of people who begin writing don't get that far. Tell as many people as you want, because you've managed something really quite special.
Then, when the fuss has died down, you can start on the truly hard part. And even if you never get that particular work published, you'll write another - because now you know you can.
Best of luck! :)