What do you do for writing motivation? And once you’re motivated, how do you stay focused?
“I hate writing. I love having written.” Variations of this quote are usually attributed to either Frank Norris or Dorothy Parker. Whoever said it, though, they were definitely a writer.
You probably know the feeling too—the painful process of getting yourself to actually sit down and write, and the sense of accomplishment once you’ve finally finished that piece of writing. You’ve probably also had days when the only words that come are, “Ugh, I have to write this. I need to get in the zone.”
Here are twelve tips for getting—and staying—in the zone.
1. Create a dedicated writing space
Sure, you can sit and write at the kitchen counter, but when you’re struggling to get in the zone, you’re going to find every excuse not to write: the dishes need doing, the fridge needs reorganizing, the oven needs cleaning. And where did you put your notebook and pens?
A dedicated writing space will help you get into the right mindset for writing. You have your laptop, reference books, notebook, and pens right there so you won’t have to lose your thread while walking to the next room to fetch them.2. Create a ritual associated with writing
Ex-smokers will tell you how activities like that morning cup of coffee or that cocktail at sundown will trigger the desire for a cigarette, even years after they quit smoking. Once you have a ritual ingrained in you, your brain will react the same way to those triggers. So why not create triggers that will get your brain in writing mode?
An easy ritual is to prepare a cup of tea to sip on while you’re at your writing desk. Boiling the water, taking out the cup, putting the teabag in the cup, adding the water, stirring the tea. Now just add the next steps: sitting down at your desk, opening the document you’re working on, taking a sip of tea, and starting to write. If you use a tea with a distinctive smell, like mint or green tea, that will reinforce the writing trigger even more.
3. Get rid of distractions
Distractions are the death of being in the zone. So, turn off your phone or put it on silent. Turn off your email notifications. If you have to, turn off the wi-fi and draw the blinds so you don’t stare out the window. Get noise-cancelling headphones. Go to the bathroom before you start writing. Whatever it is that pulls you out of the zone, do what you can to keep it at bay during your writing time.
4. Set dedicated writing times
Most jobs have office hours, even if those aren’t your usual nine to five. And writing is a job. So, set yourself office hours for writing too. Like rituals, dedicated writing times will help rewire your brain into thinking that if it’s, say, eleven, it’s time to be in the zone. You can more easily avoid distractions too if you let the people in your life know that these are your work hours, when you won’t be available. Pro tip: Be sure to refer to your work hours and not your writing time. Other people tend to take the word work more seriously.
5. Set goals and deadlines
Having to write an entire book is a daunting task. It becomes less overwhelming if you break it down into smaller tasks. So, set yourself some writing goals—a certain number of words by a specific date, for instance—and give them realistic deadlines: realistic being the keyword. And always remember your why for writing the book.
6. Get someone to hold you accountable
If nobody’s going to hold you to the deadlines you set for yourself, you might not be as motivated to meet those deadlines. Get someone you trust—a friend or an editor, for instance—to check in on you as those deadlines come closer. You can even join a writing group where other writers can hold you to your deadlines. Few things are as motivating as wanting to avoid the negative feelings associated with having to say, “I missed the deadline again.”
7. Set the mood
Engaging your senses to get you in the right mood is a great way to get in the zone. For example, engage your sense of smell and taste with a cup of herbal tea. Music—preferably instrumental music so that the lyrics don’t distract you—will engage your sense of sound. The right colours around you will engage your sense of sight, and the textures of your clothes or the cat sleeping on your lap will engage your sense of touch.
You can use these not only to get you in the zone in general, but in the right mood for writing a specific scene too. If, for instance, you need to write a scene set in the snowy wilderness, you can burn pine essential oil, chew on something minty and cooling, turn down the thermostat and wrap a blanket around your legs, put on ambient music like that of Icelandic band Sigur Rós, and surround yourself with white. If you’re using a writing tool like Scrivener, you can even change the background to a picture of a snowy landscape. You will feel like you’re right there in the scene.
8. Have a visual way to track your progress
A fantastic motivator for the path ahead is knowing how far you’ve come. So, find a way to track your progress in a visual way. Write your goals on a whiteboard, for instance, and strike through each one as you achieve it. Or draw a graph with your word count every day, so you can see that line go up and up.
9. Set rewards
You may also find that having something to look forward to is very motivating. So, set yourself rewards for reaching your goals: “When I finish these 500 words, I can have a cookie. When I’ve finished this chapter, I can go to the beach. When I’ve finished my first draft, I can have a spa day. When this book is published, I will have a party.”
10. Step back
There will be days when, no matter what you try, the words just won’t come. When this happens, step back. Do something else related to the book, such as editing what you’ve written so far to ensure you’re still on track with the narrative. Revisit what it was that inspired you to write the book in the first place.
Or do something else related to writing in general: write a short story or a LinkedIn article or even a poem. Finishing something short will give you the confidence boost to tackle that big book again.
11. Strike while the iron is hot
You will also have days when the inspiration comes unexpectedly. On these days, harness the energy and get as much writing done as you can, even if it’s outside of your regular writing hours. Many writers find it useful to keep a notebook on them for those times when an idea strikes in the dairy aisle.
12. Take care of yourself
Be kind to your body. Eat right, get enough sleep, get enough exercise.
Be kind to your mind too. Meditative activities—whether it’s sitting down and meditating, praying, or going for a walk in nature—will help you quiet the noise and regain focus. And if you need to talk to someone about what’s bothering you, make time to do so.