Getting the Motivation to Write

Photo: Petar Milosevic

Being motivated to anything is difficult, much less if writing is something that needs to get done.  One of the best ways to find and maintain that motivation is through commitment and routine. Here are a couple of ideas that will help struggling writers get into the habit of writing.

The first step is commitment to fifteen minutes a day. No matter where we are we hear the same story from people who tell us why they cannot devote time to something. The prominent excuse from their mouths is how they do not have the time to accomplish something. Granted, we appear to be busier than ever with our day-to-day routines and obligations. Life can be hectic with jobs, school, and family. However, there are major portions of our days where we have some down time. Some of us decide to fill the time by checking up with the world on our phones. This is the perfect time to start writing. Take fifteen minutes of that down time and get something productive done.

 If for some reason you do not have time like that than start looking at your schedule and figure out where fifteen minutes could fit in your day. Can you do it first thing in the morning or during a break in the action of your day? Figuring out where it fits will be a boon to your habit formation.

Secondly, knowing the best environment for you to get writing done will make the process go much smoother. For some people all they need is a quiet corner and some headphones, others need an elaborate setup of sound proof rooms and nutritional essentials to get the job done. Whatever the case may be, once the optimal working space is discovered make sure to keep it that way for repeated visits throughout the week so that it takes less time to prepare or the next time

Lastly, practice makes perfect. Even if there is no pending assignment due you should continue to practice your writing to keep up routine and strengthen your abilities. In the offseason athletes continue practicing to keep their skills sharp and as a writer it does not hurt to do the same thing. Hone those skills as you would even if there was a deadline tomorrow.

Commitment, practice, and environment are all key factors to help students become better writers. Use these in your own work and watch your apprehension about writing melt away.