Questions

so i keep having these great titles for stories popping up in my head… and they relate to issues in my life.. i write to get my feelings out. but lately im not sure how to do it. i want to become more serious with my writing. my teachers say im talented and i should try to do something beyond school work so i figure whats gonna hurt to try? so… for example of my writers block:

i quit softball and i bought these new brand on cleats.. very expensive.. and i miss the sport. my dad, who was my coach for 14 years and biggest fan, is disappointed and i feel like i let myself down. but because of reasons that i cant explain here… i cant play any more. and well something keeps telling me to write about it, but i dont want it to be plain and be like “this is what happened. i quit, i cant play, and i have these new cleats that haunt me every day about quitting because theyre sitting in a box and bug me.” well the title would be “Brand New Ringors”… i know it needs some work, but the work cant come until the story does!

(and dont worry… i dont write like i talk, meaning to clarify that i know i probably seem like a bad writer right now because im not using any form of any kind.)

i HAVE tried to start several different stories but nothing seems quite right to fit.. to get my feelings out.

but basically what im trying to ask is how to overcome this hill… and what the best way to go about doing it is, and getting started. i never have this problem.. so i dont have a clue as to how to fix it.

any help??
- hns2715

One of the greatest challenges of writing a book is staying motivated throughout the project—this is something every writer struggles with at one time or another. And that’s okay. No one can stay focused 100 percent of the time. What’s important is that you stay committed to writing your book and you know how to re-motivate yourself when you feel like setting the project aside.

When you feel your inspiration waning, consider the following ways to snap out of it and stay motivated to write your book.

1. Just WRITE!

The best way to overcome a lack of writing motivation is to write—just put your head down and plow through. Don’t worry about whether or not your words are perfect because you have to go back and revise later. If you’re not sure about things like grammar and spelling, don’t worry about it until the book is finished. A good editor can go back and tell you how to fix the writing. In the beginning, focus on getting your thoughts on paper or on the screen and organizing them.

2. Get Help

Don’t be afraid to ask for help to stay motivated. If you haven’t written a book before you might need to hire a writing coach or read some books about writing to get started and stay on track. If you need help and don’t get it then you’ll be more likely to give up on the book, and if you give up on the book you could be giving up on a brand new career or a great new income stream for your business—or a hobby that you might really enjoy. So whatever you do, don’t give up on writing your book.

3. Communicate Your Challenges

Sometimes, just sharing your struggles with motivation can help you overcome them. One way to do this is start a blog and write about the process of writing the book. Your blog reader’s comments and support will help keep you motivated to write and make sure you meet your deadlines—you won’t want to disappoint your following. You also will have an audience of readers ready to buy your book the minute it’s finished if you cultivate supporters during the writing process.

4. Keep Your Eye on the Prize

If you’re stuck on the writing, think about how great it will feel to finish your book—and imagine what you’ll do with the money that you make from your book. You can expand your business, go on an exotic vacation, treat yourself to a luxury spa weekend, buy a house, buy a car, or thousands of other things. Writing for the pleasure of writing is great. But when writing doesn’t feel pleasurable anymore, it helps to think about book sales—and there’s nothing wrong with that, especially if it keeps you writing.

5. It’s Not Just About You

Another great way to get motivated is to think about how your book will benefit others, which is an underlying desire almost every aspiring writer possesses. Sharing your experiences might really help someone else who is in the same situation that you were, so let the satisfaction of helping others motivate you to keep writing your book.

Staying Motivated in the Future

Motivation comes and goes. The key to completing your book successfully is to recognize when you need a motivational kick in the pants and take action. When you feel like setting your book project aside, consider these strategies for overcoming your motivational challenges—your future success as a writer may depend on it.


- Melinda Copp

My school has a creative writing team (Power of the Pen) and I was on it last year. I was the only one in my school out of about fifteen to make it to state. I am worried that I won’t make the team this year since our coach might be changed to another teacher. Do you have any suggestions of writing excercises that I could do to practice?
- Cassy