by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
I lurk in a lot of Facebook groups and while there are always writers who are pumped up about writing and promoting (yes, really, there are those writers!) I notice that there are just as many who seem frustrated or discouraged: either with their writing progress or with their lack of sales.
Sometimes they’ll be at least making steady sales and then will get completely undone by a terrible review.
Sometimes they say that they don’t really have family support for writing or feel as though they have to make a ton of sales to justify their writing.
Sometimes their life has turned upside down with medical issues for themselves or for people close to them. Or it’s turned upside down for other reasons.
In these circumstances, it’s really tough to keep going. There’s a lot to be discouraged about and sometimes it’s hard to be creative or motivated when faced with a lot of discouragement.
For these times, I think it’s good to evaluate what keeps you going. What is driving you to write? For most of us, it’s definitely not the money. So what is it?
Some writers might really appreciate a good customer review on Amazon. Or a question from a reader on Facebook, asking when the next book is coming out. The feeling when you get a great idea for a book you’re working on. Or the feeling of ‘having written’ that day.
Some people will say that it’s most important for the motivation to come from within. That we write to please ourselves and not other people.
It’s probably true. But I know that my whole life, anytime I’ve ever written anything, I’ve wanted desperately to share it. I don’t even know that I cared if people liked it–but I wanted to share it. I was that kid shoving stories into the hands of grown-ups visiting my parent’s house. I wanted people to read my stuff. Of course I’d still write if I was going to be the only audience…but I don’t think I’d be as happy. This is how I know I’ll always publish.
So this is my tip for when you feel like you’re about ready to throw in the towel: make your writing life very, very basic.
Set the bar low in terms of your goals: 5-10 minutes a day.
Cut way back or eliminate your promo activity. Automate whatever you continue doing (sharing other writers’ blog posts, etc.)
Don’t worry about platforms, blogging multiple times a week or anything else besides opening up that manuscript and working on it a few minutes a day.
Realize that many other writers are in the same boat. Take a look at the IWSG for writers. It stands for Insecure Writers Support Group, and it hosts encouraging and informative blog posts and newsletters, as well as monthly blog hops where writers share insights into their own roadblocks and encouragement.
If reviews were the problem, consider avoiding reading them (I do find negative reviews helpful, but they don’t bother me as much…if you’re more sensitive to them, there are many, many writers I know who make it a point never to read their reviews). I also recommend keeping a Word doc or Evernote file full of any positive feedback you’ve received: emails, customer reviews, book bloggers, etc. Then you can look through them if you feel discouraged later.
Never try to catch up if you miss a day or two. Just jump right back in and pick up where you left off.
Take care of yourself by keeping to a regular schedule of sleeping and eating and other forms of self-care.
See if, after these steps, you remember why you wanted to write in the first place.
If all goes well, gradually increase your social media presence again.
Because, when sales or reviews or life gets you down, the best thing to do is go back to basics…and focus on your writing. Rediscover what made you become a writer to begin with.
For other thoughts on staying motivated, read Susan Dennard’s post “How I Stay Motivated During the Tough Times” and Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen’s post “6 Tips for Staying Motivated to Write from Successful Writers.”
Any other tips that I’ve missed about staying motivated as a writer? How do you stay motivated?
Tips for Staying Motivated as a Writer: Click To TweetPhoto credit: e.r.w.i.n. via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC
Hi Elizabeth – I think your tips for authors who’ve published, are ready to go (almost) etc are excellent … as a non-published author, who only blogs, find your voice, have confidence in that from comments you get or emails you receive … and then move on – but if you’re out there writing as you want to write – things will slot into place, one step at a time … as you continue to show us … cheers Hilary
I think, also, that even successful writers can lose motivation–fulfilling reader expectations can be a tough job. But taking breaks and refilling the well definitely helps.
Those are some good ideas. (Reviews don’t bother me either.)
I’d add to avoid comparing yourself to others. If reading about the success of others is getting you down, stop going to that place and reading them. We’re all on a different path and that’s all right.
Thanks for mentioning the IWSG!
Good point! Comparison, from what I’ve noticed, doesn’t seem to result in positive outcomes. Maybe if we’re competitive personalities it does, but so often writers aren’t particularly competitive!
And you’re very welcome. :)
This is such good advice, Elizabeth. Even under the best of circumstances, writing is hard work. There really are times when it’s tempting to stop – completely. That’s when you re-think what you’re doing and maybe set a new schedule, or find another way to tap into the joy there is in creating stories, or whatever it is that sits you down in that chair to write. I think one of the most important things is not to compare yourself to others.
New schedules/routines can be remarkably helpful!
Yep. Frustrated and discouraged. Not there right now, but been there. (Okay, still frustrated, but the discouraged has temporarily left the building.) ;o)
It all has to do with sales, though. No sales leads to a malaise – ‘why bother spending money I don’t really have to publish books no one is buying’, and then ‘why bother to publish’ leads to ‘why bother to edit’ which leads to ‘why bother to write’. Reviews don’t bother me except where a low-star review leads to a drop in sales.
Like I said, though, I’m not in that cascade of crap at the moment. Right now, I’m motoring ahead on the edits for my ninth book, which is due to my editor on Monday. If all goes according to plan, it’ll be out in September. Once this book is in her hands, I’ll be writing again. Not quite sure what I’ll work on, but it’ll be words, on paper – with the intent to get those words into the hands of readers.
I write for myself. I edit and publish so other people will read what I wrote. And maybe, just maybe, make a little money so I can keep putting books in reader hands without going broke.
I’m not quite sure this morning what motivates me. It’s all internal. I have to be the one to light the fire under my own butt. Having a couple cheerleaders helps, but in the end, it’s all on me.
Glad the discouragement has left the building, ha!
If your motivation is internal, that’s the best kind there is.
Maybe you can find some time to celebrate the release of book 9! Celebrating those milestones can help make it all worthwhile, too.
It’s easy to lose motivation when you’re so busy doing other things. Then you get tired on top of unmotivated. Just getting some rest would help at that point.
Rest helps a lot!
This is very timely, Elizabeth – thank you! I think my motivation to write is to bring people pleasure – to give them a chance to escape from whatever it is in real life that might be troubling them.
First drafts have always been the hardest part of the process for me, but this time it has been particularly difficult. My dad died last year, and I’m first-drafting book #6 – the first time since it happened (I’d been editing other stuff before). So an already difficult process has become incredibly stressful, I can’t seem to tap into the creativity I need, and I feel inadequate when I compare my lack of productivity with the wonderful word counts my fellow writers post (and I’m happy for them, don’t get me wrong, but boy, do I feel like a slacker).
I keep at it every day, but it’s a good day when I can get 1ooo words written. Lord knows when this novel will be done, but I’m learning that I have to stop being critical or panicked about my output. No good writing comes from that space. So your post today really helps affirm all that for me. Thanks again!
I’m so sorry to hear about your dad! Hugs to you. Having this be the first book you haven’t shared with him has got to be really tough.
I think a 1000 word day is a *very* good day. I average about 750. You’re moving forward every time you write and that book will be done before you know it.
Hoping things start getting easier for you and your writing very soon.
Thanks for this boost, Elizabeth. I have a few writing projects that are light-years from completion, and it’s so frustrating. But working on a draft a few minutes a day, with discipline, is a doable target. I agree, social media is the single biggest distraction to my writing. I’m going to have to cut back on it. Thanks, also, for the links to the writers support groups.
Just a few minutes can make a huge difference. And good luck cutting back on the social media. The IWSG is a very helpful and supportive group–hope you’ll enjoy what you see.
Hi Elizabeth,
Very good advice, especially the ten minutes a day. I took a hiatus from working on my current wip because I still can’t sit too comfortably at my desk since hip surgery … and because I may be a wee bit stuck with my pantser plot! But I made a goal to get 15 submissions out in June, mainly for my novel but also some poetry and essay submissions. I think that developing a discipline for one’s writing life is important and sometimes we need to cajole and trick our reluctant self to keep to that discipline. I try and remember my daddio’s advice on gardening – start with a small garden and keep at it. And constantly check your intentions for writing. No one is making me be a writer – I’m choosing to be one!
15 submissions is huge! Congratulations on that accomplishment, especially during your recovery (didn’t realize you’d had that–hope you’re feeling better!)
I like your father’s gardening advice. :) Keeping it all manageable is important.
I’ve just come through 18 months of crap (low sales, bad reviews, and two different medical diagnosis on my parents) and somehow managed to write and publish 5 books. However, in June of this year I collapsed. Literally. (Pretty much the day after my daughter got out of school.) I had no choice but to give up any kind of writing or social media interaction and did nothing but sit in my chair in front of the tv. I didn’t have to go to my doctor for a diagnosis. I knew I was suffering from exhaustion and stress.
I tried to do the 10 minutes a day. I couldn’t. I was even thinking about giving up writing completely and getting a real job, that’s how bad it was. Between the lack of sales and that one bad reviewer (who managed to trash 16 of my 19 books with 2 star reviews within the span of 5 days) I was over it. I decided to just let the writing go. I didn’t even think about it. I cleaned my house, the car, the closets, the kitchen cabinets. I washed every floor. I bought paint for the hallway. I refused to think about writing.
It’s only been a couple of days that I’ve felt the rumblings of writing pique my interest again. I have several books I started that I wanted to get back to, but the one I’ve finally decided to work on is something I began over 5 years ago and recently found while cleaning out old files from an older computer.
It’s a sweet little story, just a plain old romance, simple in the telling, and uncomplicated. Just what I needed to get back into the groove.
I’m not by any means disparaging your advice, but sometimes it’s better to let it all go and give up for a short amount of time just to get your head on straight. I needed a month of nothing to get back in the game. I’m not saying I’m raring to go, but I am here commenting on your blog (which I have not done in years) and I did manage to write 3 blog posts over the last few days, so baby steps.
Thanks, Elizabeth.
That sounds awful–I’m so sorry about your rough 18 months…and hope your folks are doing as well as can be hoped.
Thanks for bringing another perspective: that sometimes a writing break is exactly what we need. Instead of acting as a life preserver, writing in those circumstances can make dark times even harder. If that’s the case, we need to just stop…guilt-free.
Great advice about starting back with a project that’s not complex–that doesn’t require a ton of research or wrangling of complicated plotlines. Baby steps sounds like the right way to go. I’m so glad that things are starting to look up for you.