3 Tips To Motivate You to Write

For years I struggled with making writing a priority. I wanted to be a writer, but I had this idea in the back of my mind that I would get to it “when I had more time.” I didn’t understand the principle of motivation as it applied to writing. Do you want to know the cold hard truth? No one ever gets more time. We each have twenty-four hours a day. We can’t make more time.

When I began to get serious about writing, I had a pretty scheduled life. I was homeschooling kiddos who also had swim team practices, play practices, etc.. I put all of these events on my schedule first during my weekly planning meeting on Sunday. Even though I was an avid planner, being an organized person didn’t help me write. Do you know why? I didn’t put it on my schedule. Instead, I tried to fit it in “when I had extra time.”

You may have found this article because you want some more motivation for your writing journey. You don’t want to hear about schedules. Hold on. Don’t click out yet.

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Motivation is a funny thing. What motivates one person, does nothing for another. So as you are reading these tips, think about what motivates you.

What makes you wake up and walk in your writing purpose?
When you follow through and write -how do you feel afterward?
How can you make yourself feel that way every day?

Keep your answers in mind as you read the tips and tweak them to fit your personality.

“The most successful people in the world are those who have taken the time to figure out exactly who they want to become and what they want to achieve. Then they invest the hours of their days in activities consistent with these ideals.”
– Success Is Not Accident, Tommy Newberry

Block out time for writing and keep a word count. Not many years ago when I was homeschooling and serving as the Mom taxi, I didn’t understand how important this practice is. I tried fitting writing in here and there when I had an empty fifteen minutes in my super busy schedule. Not only was I homeschooling, but I was also teaching several classes at our co-op and a women’s Bible study once a week. Do you know what was missing? I hadn’t put writing on my schedule. When I began to specifically block off time and pick a word count goal, I started making progress in writing my first book. Seeing those time blocks on my google calendar turn a lighter shade when I finished a writing session motivated me. When I wrote a thousand words, and then another thousand, I was motivated to move forward.

Try it. Block off time on your calendar – a print version or online. I do both. I use the Living Well Planner and Google Calendar. *Just one more point – depending on the season of your life you are in- you may have to get up earlier, stay up later, or use kids’ nap time to write. For a season, I got up at 4:30 every morning to write. Find what works best for you and do it!

Remember your why. For years I buried my writing desire. (Read about it HERE). After receiving the National Parent’s of the Year Award, I had a bitter taste in my mouth about media in general. I forgot my why. I should never have been writing to please others, but only to please God but I had slipped into a people-pleasing trap.

Now am I trying to win the favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ (the Messiah).
Galatians 1:10

I had a desire to share my spiritual adoption story alongside the physical adoption of my kiddos. When my why became stronger in my mind than anything else, I began to write again. My why for sharing isn’t for fame. Part of my why is using the gift and story God has given me to help others. What’s your why?

Reward yourself. When I finish a writing session, I give myself a little cheer, ‘Great job, Kathleen, you did it!”

I’m going to be honest here and say I struggle with the habit of celebrating the most. When I plan my day I often leave the “how I’ll celebrate” section blank. I’m learning to celebrate more, but it’s not my strong suit. It is important though. Often as Mom, no one told me I was doing a good job, so I got into the habit of not celebrating my achievements. Instead, I went on to the next task. I’m focusing on celebrating my wins more often. I have a letter board in my office that reads “Choose Joy” Although I enjoy writing immensely, I need to reward myself for doing the hard work. Some of my favorite ways of rewarding myself are –

a hike
bike ride
taking my kayak on the lake
read a book
a coffee

Make your own list!

Not sure you can write a nonfiction book? We can help with that. This checklist will confirm five reasons you CAN write a nonfiction book right now!

Grab my Checklist

Summary.

Like I said earlier, motivation is a funny creature, we all have different motivators. Take my tips and tweak them to mesh with your motivators. I love organization and schedules, so putting writing on my schedule motivates me. I’m going to strongly suggest you do this even if seeing a red block on your calendar doesn’t motivate you. Because if you don’t block out time, you’ll never make writing a priority. Other than that, tweak the tips to fit you and your personality!

To recap, here’s the problem we solved:

You can motivate yourself to write!

Block out time and keep a word count.
Remember your why.
Reward yourself after each and every writing session. Use bigger rewards after a project is completed – ie. the first draft of a book.

Conclusion:

No matter what season of life you’re in, whether you’re a busy homeschooling mom, work part-time, or an empty nester, the time you have every day will fill up if you don’t do something about it. You must take personal responsibility to plan and use your time wisely. If you don’t the urgent circumstances will dictate how you spend your day.

Just write every day of your life. Read intensely. Then see what happens. Most of my friends who are put on that diet have very pleasant careers.
~Ray Bradbury

Before you click out of this article promise yourself that you will schedule at least one block of writing time on your schedule this week. Take the next step and write down your why. Save it somewhere you can see it. Then plan how you will reward yourself for that writing session whether it’s a cup of coffee, a cheer, or going outside for a walk.