FROM: Writing Mentee
TO: Millie Florence
SUBJECT: Re: NaNoWriMo Weekly Check-In
Hello,
I’ve been struggling with having the motivation to write. Just wondering if there’s anything you do to find motivation or write when you don’t feel like it.
FROM: Millie Florence
TO: Writing Mentee
SUBJECT: Re: NaNoWriMo Weekly Check-In
Hey [Real Name]!
It’s perfectly normal to feel that way, especially on the second week of NaNoWriMo. Because you’ve got past the fun, exciting part of starting this challenge, and now everything feels a bit more difficult and routine, right?
In the weekly update email I just sent, there’s a video called instant cure to writer’s block, I would HIGHLY recommend watching that. Here it is.
Also, try and pinpoint why exactly you don’t want to write. Are you not feeling excited about the story? Do you not know WHAT to write? Or are you just tired and don’t want to do something hard in general?
I’ve experienced all of those before.
If you’re not feeling excited about the story: make some fan stuff for it! Make memes about the plot! Listen to some music that reminds you of the story and imagine it playing out in your head like a music video! Create a Pinterest mood board! Close your eyes lay on your bed, and imagine a scene playing out in your head. Visualize it. Create an outfit that one of your characters would wear!
If you don’t know what to write: it’s time to brainstorm. Use the K. M. Weiland writing method, or talk out loud. Ask your friends or family if you can talk through what’s going on in the story with them. It’s often surprising to me how much talking about it helps!
If you’re just feeling tired and unmotivated in general: take and step back, then sit down and JUST DO IT. Go for a walk to clear your head. Then, put on your coziest, best writing clothes. Get a writing snack or a fun writing drink. Turn on music if that’s your thing, or maybe go to a new place to write. Make it FUN.
Then, just do it.
I know it’s hard, but sometimes you have to just write. Even when you don’t feel like it. You can try to make it more fun, and that can help a lot, but at the end of the day, you still have to type words.
So sit down, and type the words.
Remind yourself WHY you’re doing this. You want to reach your word count goal, right? You want to feel happy and accomplished and proud of yourself at the end of this month! You want to be one step closer to finishing this amazing story and sharing it with the world. You can do that. YOU CAN DO THIS.
Also remember that a lot of the time, you won’t feel motivated until you actually start writing. Set a timer for ten minutes and stay undistracted and focus on just your story for those ten minutes. When the timer goes off, you may just find that you’ve started enjoying yourself.
I know this is hard, but those words aren’t going to write themselves. Waiting until later won’t help anything. You’ll only make this harder for yourself if you procrastinate. But you’re not going to do that because you are SMART and POWERFUL and CREATIVE. Even when you don’t feel like it. 🙂
Another reminder—even when you hate what you’re writing, you may read it the next day and realize that it wasn’t that bad after all.
You’ve got this. NOW GO WRITE!!!!
- Millie
FROM: Writing Mentee
TO: Millie Florence
SUBJECT: Re: NaNoWriMo Weekly Check-In
Thank you!!
That really helped, I shall get writing!
FROM: Millie Florence
TO: Writing Mentee
SUBJECT: Re: NaNoWriMo Weekly Check-In
I’m so glad, and I’m very proud of you.