Monday, August 17, 2009

Staying motivated

Here it is, another Monday, and my mind is blank about what I want to share on my blog today. I feel blank and unmotivated, used and wrung out. My youngest daughter is headed off to college Friday, and I've been immersed in plans for that. My writing has fallen by the wayside, and my back is killing me.

So, what should I do? First of all, BIC (butt in chair) is requisite. Then, I have to turn on the computer. Yes, I thought about not doing that! Still seeking motivation, I open my email and clear out over a hundred emails. Whew, glad to get that done.

As you can see, I'm getting nowhere fast. I look at my desk with a stack of items I need to get through today. Boring. Chin up, girl.

Okay, I've pulled out one of my works-in-progress and reread the last section I've finished. A tiny spark ignites, a little excitement tickles. Sitting up straight now, the last paragraph I've read gives me some ideas for the next plot point (no, I don't outline), and pretty soon, I've opened Word, pulled up my document and am working away.

No phone calls. No potty breaks (at least for awhile). NO EMAILS. That's a big one, cause I tend to get caught up there. No social networking. I'm on a roll! See the maniacal grin on my face? Yep, that's the face of motivation, of creativity, of plot and character development.

Granted, there are a lot of ways one can stay motivated, but the best way to start is simply, well, to start. BIC, turn on computer, and hop right into where you left off last.

Hope you're motivated today!

6 comments:

Erin Collins said...

I find it hard to get motivated too.
My current WIP is going slow..LOL.
But that's the way of it sometimes.
I find that if I leave the one I'm working on, go to another one, it helps.

Today, I won't have much time to write, as I am a guest blogger on Nadine Laman's blog.
Come visit if you get a chance. I'm giving away my book Shadow Walk: The Gathering, to someone.

URL: http://nadinelaman.blogspot.com/2009/08/party-with-erin-collins.html?showComment=1250514211158#c6626268884925192133

Sally_Odgers said...

Nice one... if only everyone else would go on holiday to somewhere nice... and take my deadlines with them.

Unknown said...

Actually, I got motivated enough to do a blog post. As for the rest of the day? I have no idea. I'm planted in front of the computer but my beads are somewhere else and I want that necklace done before we go to Pa next week.

Margaret Fieland said...

I've discovered that when I'm reluctant to start something it's often because I find the task overwhelming. When that happens, I've found that breaking it down helps. -- for example, if "write twenty more math poems" (Yikes!) is too daunting, then "read about the history of multiplication and write a poem about that" -- or even "read about the history of multiplication" will get me started.

Margaret Fieland
http://www.margaretfieland.com/

Tambra said...

Great post, Katie!

Thanks so much.

Hugs,
Tambra Kendall

Deb Hockenberry said...

I was doing fine this morning but this afernoon is downhill all the way! I can relate to all of this article all too well, unfortunately. I'm blaming it on the weather!
Deb :-)