How do you motivate yourself to write daily?

1. 61

   Winter Maclenposted 11 years ago

   How do you motivate yourself to write daily?
   
   For those of us who are juggling a "day job" along with our writing careers, how do you motivate yourself to write on a regular basis?  In his book on Writing, the author Steven King noted that budding writers were to write daily, even if it was scribbled words.  What do you do to keep moving?

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2. 71

   Radical Rogposted 11 years ago

   Get a pocket dictaphone and narrate while driving or any other opportunity. Then write up later. Takes a bit of practice but you'll be surprised how much you can get done because its quicker than writing and you don't have to worry about paper and pen.

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   1. 61

      Winter Maclenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I like the idea. I can use my phone. So far I have found little else to use the extras for except the camera function.

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3. 96

   Glenn Stokposted 11 years ago

   When I'm  out with friends, at social affairs, or talking on the phone, various discussions always leave me with the thought that I should write an article about it.
   
   I make a note as a memory tickler so I don't forget about the discussion. I make a note in my iPod. But iPhone has a notepad app also. Or you can just jot it down on a piece of paper.
   
   When I'm in front of my computer I type up a brief summary from my short notes, which I save in a file for future use. When I need ideas, I review these files and pick one to write about.

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4. 61

   tlblissposted 11 years ago

   If you are awake, you have something to write about:
   
   •  Write about the events of day.
   •  Make a list of what you did from morning to night.
   •  If you spoke with anyone, write down your discussion.
   •  If you took a moment to spell the flowers, describe it on paper.
   •  If you went to the store to buy groceries, write it down.
   •  If you napped on the couch all day and watched movies, write about it.
   •  If you never made it out of your jammies and were lazy all day, write about it.
   •  If you went to work, write about it.
   
   There is always material to write about, no matter how trivial it may seem - just write, and write, and write.

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   1. 61

      Winter Maclenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      In his book on writing, Stephen King says we should write every day, even if it is drivel, just to keep in practice.  Do you think it helps?

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   2. 61

      tlblissposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I sure do.  It keeps your mind active.

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5. 0

   VeronicaInspiresposted 11 years ago

   As a writer, is it extremely difficult to come up fresh and new ideas, and write all the time, and is something I thought about a few days ago after an incident:
   
   First, I've been with Hub Pages  for about eight months and have only written a meager 11 articles.
   
   I started out with a burst of energy and commitment, but that quickly waned as other “stuff” got in the way.
   
   The challenges of finding great topics to write about and the pressures of being a stellar hubber quickly got the best of me.
   
   Also, my application to the Apprenticeship Program made me reexamine my consistency and commitment to this platform.
   
   ***I don't want to be known for “half-assing” on anything, so because of that, that was enough to help me regain my focus!
   
   Two: The work doesn't do itself, so I focus until the work gets done.
   
   ***I'll outline my goals and keep that picture CONSTANTLY in mind. To make it doable, I'll break up my writing into smaller goals.
   
   For instance in the case of my goals here on Hub Pages, one is to answer 100 questions. I'll scan all of the questions, write down 100 that interest me, then over the course of a week, will answer about 15 at a time – or however many I feel compelled to do.
   
   Also, is my goal to get paid for my writing. So I'll determine the figure I want to make – let's say $40,000 for the year. I'll divide that figure by the average rate for a job – let's say $200.00 and that will give me the number of clients that I'll have to have during the year at that rate. If I charge a higher rate, I'll obviously have less clients who will still allow me to meet my goal.
   
   But all of that to say: ***I think about my big picture, create my goals, break them into manageable milestones, then come back to make sure I'm meeting my targets.

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