Friday, April 3, 2009

Motivation

I've found the best way to motivate myself is to give myself rewards. Doesn't always work though.

I need to buy a kitchen timer. I had one, but it is long gone. I like to set it when I'm taking a 'quick break'. 15 minutes turns into an hour very easily with me. The TV is also evil. I turn it on in the mornings to watch the news, but if I don't shut it off right away, I get sucked into whatever is on next. I've gotten good with shutting it off though.

The big issue for me is I always have good days and bad days. I'll go maybe a week straight being productive then it's like someone flipped a switch and I get nothing done. Writing wise. Other stuff I have to do, no matter what.

Food is a great motivator...except when it's junk food. I have to be careful with promising myself ice cream. Example: If I just finish that edit on chapter whatever, I can have a mug of ice cream. I'll end up get lots of chapters done, and eating lots of ice cream. Probably making myself sick in the process. (Can't have too much dairy.)

On a day to day basis how do you stay focused/motivated? Are you a daily writer? M-F? Or just whenever the inspiration strikes? I'm always curious about how other people do things. :D

Laters!
Meg

9 comments:

  1. I create self imposed deadlines- then I motivate with small things-like snacks-(Okay, five peanut M&M's if I hit 5 pages...)

    So, in that sense we are a lot alike. cheers!

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  2. I do need to set goals. I shoot for 1000 words a day, weekends are a plus and sometimes I go over. I did 2000 words a day for some of my novels in the past, but it was too hectic to keep up.

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  3. I usually write when I get ideas, which is normally several times a week. I'm not really goal oriented and I seldom try to force a certain number of words.
    Sometimes I'm in a musical mood and go in my studio for a few hours, like today.

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  4. Glad to hear I'm not the only one motivating with food. :)

    I've tried daily word count goals, but I'd start telling myself to do as much as I could in one day, and I would burn myself out by the next day. Maybe I should try setting weekly word count goals...that might work.

    If I was musically inclined, I'd love to do that. I go sit out on my patio when the weather is nice and just enjoy the fresh air sometimes. It's relaxing.

    :D

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  5. I write whenever I can fit it in my schedule. Used to be Wednesdays, but now I'm stuck working 5 days a week. I've decided to tackle small projects at a time. I'm working on my edits now.

    Morgan Mandel
    http://morganmandel.blogspot.com

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  6. My AlphaSmart has been helpful. It disciplines me from the Internet.

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  7. I use lists and a timer. I am constantly adding to my To-Do list. It helps me remember and I like crossing things off as I complete them. I use my timer, not on breaks, but when I'm working. I always have several projects going at the same time - my own writing, editing for other authors, etc. - so I'll set the timer for two hours and then focus on one project at a time.

    Helen
    http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com

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  8. The fact that I have a limited amount of time to write is my motivator. Of course, if I'm having an off day, nothing works.

    Lynnette Labelle
    http://lynnettelabelle.blogspot.com

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  9. Lately, I have had a horrible time motivating myself to write. I used to use food, but now I don't want to use food as a reward, because I'm trying to get healthy. Word goals sometimes helps, but lately nothing has gotten me back at my computer, writing. One thing I love to do, though, is make lists. My life is a giant To-Do List. It helps me focus sometimes, and other times it just makes me feel lazy if I'm not completing everything on it quickly.

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