Friday, April 18, 2014

Writer Fuel—Tips to Help You Keep Going When You Don’t Feel Like It

by Edie Melson

As writers, most of us start our writing journey from a love of writing. It’s the way we process life. It’s an emotional driven process. But we can’t survive long on something that depends on how we feel. So we morph into serious writers and begin to write when we don’t necessarily feel like it. That’s when we all arrive at a crossroads of sort.

Am I going to choose to keep going when I don’t feel like it, or am I throwing in the towel?

I assume the majority of you reading this have passed through this intersection and are choosing to forge ahead. The decision to keep going is only part of the equation. Now you need the fuel to help you stay on track. These are a miscellaneous list of  environmental things, time management tips, even attitude adjustment hacks.

Writer Fuel
Set up to write in a different location. This can be as simple as moving from your office to your back porch—or as radical as driving to a coffee shop

Take a walk. This will help in several ways. It will get your endorphins flowing and remove you from a place of frustration.

Write down your goals. Start at the 20,000 foot view, such as I want to write 40 books in the next 10 years. Then begin mapping out a way to do that. It will give you a sense of control in an industry where author control seems about as easy to find as the end of the rainbow.

Turn on some music. Just the rhythm and the beat can help you power through a tough spot in your writing.

Pick up your knitting. Or crochet, or your sketch book. Whatever other creative outlet you have, picking it up can give you that extra creative push you need.

Write down your fears. What is the worst that can happen if you move forward. Putting it on paper can show you how unreasonable most of what we’re afraid of truly is.

Call or text a friend (shout out to my own accountability partner Beth Vogt). Let another person speak truth into your life when you can’t see it for yourself.

Go see a movie. Sometimes the escaping to another world can reignite the creative spark inside us.

Take a look at your diet. NO, don’t go on a diet. Just make sure you’re eating healthy food that’s helping you stay focused. Keep healthy snacks around and drink plenty of water.

Pick up a camera. It doesn’t have to be a fancy one, use your phone if you want. And this tip isn’t just for those who consider themselves amateur (or professional) photographers.   Looking at the world through a camera can give you some interesting perspective and insight.

Sit down and tackle the writing you most fear and/or dread. What are you putting off doing? Is it working on your WIP, writing a blog post, whatever it is. Spend 15 minutes on it. And yes, set a timer. I don’t care if you write junk the entire 15 minutes, you’ll feel better for working past that dread.

Finally, and most important, reread something positive that someone wrote about your writing. Maybe a reader letter, a blog comment, or something from a crit partner. And a special note here—SAVE THESE THINGS! It’s not an ego trip, sometimes it’s just what you need when the voice in your head is whispering negative comments.

These are some of the things I do to fuel myself when the writing gets tough. What are some things you’d add to the list?

Don’t forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie

TWEETABLES

Are you doing everything you can to fuel your writer-self? @EdieMelson shares her own list to help keep moving forward.(Click to Tweet)

26 comments:

  1. Thanks for the fuel, Edie! You supplied suggestions I would not have thought to try to refresh and invigorate my writing. :)

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    1. Rene, So glad you saw something you liked here! Blessings, E

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  2. Edie, thank you! You know as well as I do, the "call or text a friend" suggestion has been you on more than one occasion! Thank you for being my accountability partner. Love you, precious friend!

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    1. Jamie, thanks so much for stopping by, Blessings, E

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  3. These are good suggestions for anyone endeavoring to accomplish more that they even thought possible. Would add only one thing: Covered prayer. It works every time.

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    1. Chris, you're so right. THAT one should have been number 1!!!! Thanks so much, blessings, E

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  4. All the suggestions are great but I especially like turning on the music. It makes all the difference. For me, it's Windham Hill. :)

    Thanks and I hope you have a very blessed Easter!!!

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    1. Cathy, I love Windham Hill! Thanks so much for the reminder and suggestion, Blessings, E

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  5. There are times when I'm stuck - not without ideas, but with don'tfeelikeitis. I do most of these, but the one that helps me the most is to remember my calling. I'm hoping to touch lives with my stories, and if I'm going to do that, I'd better well get on with it. ;-)

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    1. Ane, I love that, "don'tfelikeitis"! You're absolute write about remembering our calling. Great addition! Blessings, E

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  6. Edie, I have a question unrelated to Writer Fuel. This seems to be more of a problem than I had anticipated. Everything I've published --only articles so far, is under my actual name. I had a ms accepted and placed on Writers' Edge listings under my actual name. I had thought and chosen a penname, but the only thing I have under that name is my blog. To most people it isn't (and shouldn't) be a big deal to have a dba, but a number of my acquaintances apparently do have a problem with it. It is almost a hostility with them. I'm thinking I should just ditch the penname and let it go. Any advice would be welcome.

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    1. Deboraw, I recommend writers avoid using a pen name unless absolutely necessary. Your name is your brand, now more than ever with social media. It's really hard to make forward progress when you have the added filter of a pen name. Just my two cents, Hope this helps! Blessings, E

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  7. Love this list! My personal favorite is picking a new location. If I'm stuck, it's a real challenge for me to write at home. But if I pack up my laptop and a spiral notebook and head to my favorite coffee shop (Java Bistro!!!) or Panera, the words and ideas start bubbling to the surface. :-) And while I've kept every note anyone has sent me about my writing, I've never thought to re-read them as a way to re-energize. Definitely going to have to try that, especially on days when there's no way to get out of the house. Thanks!!

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  8. Thank you, Edie, that does help tremendously.

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  9. Great ideas Edie. Some I hadn't thought of before.

    My favorite is going for a walk - and it's my dog Ruby's favorite, too. :)

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  10. Great ideas Edie. Some I hadn't thought of before.

    My favorite is going for a walk - and it's my dog Ruby's favorite, too. :)

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  11. I can usually get past the "don't feel like writingitis" if I write something - a blog post, a blog comment - anything.

    It's interesting that you linked fear with writing projects. Perhaps that's one of the factors afflicting me.

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    1. Susan, great tips on what to write - even a blog comment! And yes, fear is always a factor for me. I can choose to move forward in spite of it, but it's always there. blessings, E

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  12. Edie, my tank was on empty. Thanks so much for the fill up!

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    1. Sharon, I'm glad God used this to help refill your tank! I also really appreciate your taking time to comment. These comments from all of you all mean the world to me!!! Blessings, E

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  13. Edie, These ideas are encouraging. A second question I have, and perhaps you've covered this elsewhere, is closing down the voices... I'm talking about the ones that shout, 'what about your family? They would like clean clothes once in awhile--and a clean house...and food'. Then there is the one waving at me with the little voice, 'what about your Bible class?'. Twined with the one of self-doubt, they can be paralyzing. If you've written on this just give me a nudge in the right direction. :)

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    1. Deboraw, funny you should ask this. Silencing the Voices is the post I have scheduled for Friday. In it I tackle the echoes of those who tell us we can't succeed, as well as those that try to convict us about the good things we're neglecting when we steal time to write. So stay tuned for the Friday, Life Lessons post. Blessings, E

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  14. I will do that Edie. Really enjoy reading your 'stuff'. ;)

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