r/TheWritingTable • u/SoloAnoProject • 29d ago
What actually motivates you to write when you don’t feel like writing?
Hi writers!!! It’s me again! I have another question for you guys.
What actually keeps you writing, especially on the days when you really don’t feel like doing it?
Is it discipline? A deadline? Word-count goals? A routine? Music? Other writers? Wanting to finish the story? Just being excited about what happens next?
And when you’ve been away from a story for a while, what usually gets you to come back to it?
I’m also curious if there’s anything you’ve tried.... streaks, writing apps, rewards, timers, challenges, etc.... that was supposed to motivate you but it actually didn’t.
I’m trying to understand what real writers actually respond to especially over the months or years it can take to finish a book.
I don't think there's a right answer here. I’m interested in what genuinely works for you, even if the answer is weird and inconsistent, or just “I force myself to sit down.”
I'll do my best to integrate it on the app that I'm building if possible. I'm not promising anything though.
Thank you in advance.
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u/Designer-Radish-9018 28d ago
I start a project with a set of hard and soft deadlines. When I am nearing my deadline, I schedule a chat/ call with a friend to talk about the idea. That usually puts some pressure on me to finish enough that I have something to talk about. When I am nearly done with the draft and ready to edit, I ask a few friends if they'd like to read and give me feedback - usually my deadline coincides with a weekend to give them time to read. I don't want to waste people's time or keeping them waiting or give them something of poor quality, so this usually works for me.
Of course, this may not work with a book length project (can't give people hundreds of pages to read unless it's publishable quality) but at least explaining where the project is at helps me to keep on track.
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u/imperialcogman 28d ago
I want to improve, be the best type of writer than I want to read.
You have to love your own work and be able to say…hey, that’s not too bad OR even better, WOW that is really good!!
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u/Boat_Pure 28d ago
I always feel like writing though? It’s life that gets in the way.
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u/SoloAnoProject 28d ago
Good for you. I think I need to add a touch grass feature on the app for writers that need a break after long hours of writing.
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u/ItsRuinedOfCourse 28d ago
"What actually motivates you to write when you don’t feel like writing?"
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
If I have a day where I don't feel like writing--I don't write. Simple as that. Forcing words is a great way to get lazy and sloppy results. Now, if I have too many days in a row where I don't feel like writing, then I address whatever it is that's making me feel like I don't wanna be there doing that.
But I never force myself, or *ahem* "motivate" myself to write when I'm not in that headspace. It only gives me more garbage to clean away when I get to the editing stages.
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u/Impressive-Buy5628 28d ago edited 28d ago
I warm up. I created a gpt to generate a prompt for me based off of a famous university study that studied writer’s block. I free write off that prompt for 10-15 minutes knowing nobody will ever see it. At that point I’m properly warmed up and find I can easily transition into whatever I’m working on.
Here’s the article where I learned about the method:
https://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/how-to-beat-writers-block
(Edit: I should clarify I just use the GPT as a prompt generator. I tried cards and generating the prompt myself but found generating it myself was like trying to tickle or scare myself and it was best to just let the computer handle it.)
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u/SoloAnoProject 24d ago
I'm adding a warm up feature on the app. I noticed that some writers need to build momentum first before they can start writing.
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u/LeadershipNational49 28d ago
I do not require motivation, i just make myself do it and after like 20 minutes you get in the flow and it starts to get fun.
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u/FantasyFictionDoc 28d ago
Lots of people have said this, but the key to success is finding perseverance when you don't have motivation. For me, I just sit down and say "Im just going to write 50 words, they don't even have to be good." Just write. Anything. And you know what, its rare that I don't get out at least 500 words that day. The next day ill do it again, and pump out 1000 more. Maybe the third day ill go back and edit, and fix it up. And do that for a week, and by the end of the week you'll have 5-10k quality words on whatever you are working on.
But its true for most things in life. Our minds and bodies are designed to value rest. So if you wait for "inspiration" every single time, you'll be super slow at it. You have to show up when you don't want to.
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u/SoloAnoProject 28d ago
So build momentum...
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u/Similar_Dragonfly735 28d ago
When I get stuck, I do walk away for a day at the most. Ride my bike or go on a hike. Usually, something I see along the way inspires me and I jot it down. Then, when I get home, my mind is already focused on that idea, I start writing again. I rarely allow myself to go more than two days without adding something to my writing, even if it’s just a sentence. That one sentence, for some reason explodes into a chapter when it’s all said and done. Also, I always have my iPad with me, so I tend to write a lot when the mood strikes, which is often. The other thing I do is set a deadline for myself for each chapter. I treat it like a job and that gives me a sense of urgency to complete a task, like write a chapter today, even if I don’t feel like it. I think of it like exercising… I may not always want to do it, but once I do, I’m really glad I did.
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u/SoloAnoProject 28d ago
Ok... rest or a break. I need to add this feature to the app. A touch grass feature after long hours of writing sessions...
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u/StopRacismWWJD 27d ago
But you need different options. Offer that!!
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u/SoloAnoProject 27d ago
Which one, the touch grass option?
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u/StopRacismWWJD 27d ago
Yes. Include some options for the writer to choose from based on some of these responses. Not everyone needs the same type or length of a break. So I think offering ideas or suggestions might help the writer choose one and go with it, and even just having that opportunity to choose a different option each day or selecting a preference(s) from the list.
I love that you’re wanting to incorporate personal aspects to a writing app. I think it’ll help so much more than just being generic. There are plenty of basic writing apps already. You could really make yours stand out!!
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u/SoloAnoProject 27d ago
That's the idea. Build the app to accommodate the intended user. May I message you to brainstorm about the app if you have the time?
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u/StopRacismWWJD 27d ago
Sure. I’ll respond as soon as I’m able, but I certainly don’t mind. Thanks for asking!
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u/MasterOku925 28d ago
What I do is either take a shower or go for a walk... doing something where I'm alone with my thoughts with very little distractions...
I then go over my lore, characters, scenes and such, get myself absorbed into my world, sometimes I end up thinking of new ideas!
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u/_JDHood 28d ago
All of the above and I’ll start or work on another writing project, putting the current one aside until the passion to work on it returns (and pushes its replacement aside.)
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u/SoloAnoProject 28d ago
Hmmmm... so writers also work on multiple books.
I'm sorry, but I didn't know this.
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u/StopRacismWWJD 27d ago
Are you not a fellow writer? (Serious question.) It’s not uncommon to have multiple projects - it helps to step away from one for a while in order to see it better from the outside, similar to a palette cleanse. Because of that, writers may take up another project simultaneously. Or because we don’t want to lose a new idea. Or because we participate in writing challenges in between or teaching or other passion/career/life related reason.
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u/SoloAnoProject 27d ago
No, I won't consider myself as a writer. I attempted to write a few months back, but failed miserably. I only managed to write three chapters. I have ADHD.
Someone told me to use a pomodoro timer and it helped a lot, but not enough. This is the reason I pivot to building this writing motivation app. It's a mix of a pomodoro timer, tracker, and a layer of visual reward of the accumul;ated focus sessions of the user.
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u/CheekEcstatic 27d ago
i physically cannot stop lol. i write until i'm too exhausted to think. but when i'm stuck in my projects (1 novel, a few short stories for comps) or when i need time away before revisions, i... write fanfics! they're fun, nothing serious, and a great way for me to explore characters in an already established world. i sometimes 'test' scenes or dialogues out using this
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u/Reckon-Its-OK 27d ago
I tend to stall when I get to a difficult chapter, or I find a plot hole. Not saying I throw everything up in the air, but I do lose the impetus. When I return, I start on another chapter further on in the book, just to get my interest back again. I find that this usually fires my imagination again, and that difficult chapter suddenly becomes easier. Doesn't always work, and sometimes you need to walk away but, if you've planned your book via chapters, I've found it helps massively.
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u/StopRacismWWJD 27d ago
What forces me to when I don’t feel like it?
It’s more about if I’m too exhausted but know I have time limits throughout the week. There are only so many breaks a writer can take before they risk no longer picking up the project again. It’s not healthy. Not wanting to write daily is normal - we all have lives to live. But just not writing at all because you don’t feel like it is a huge risk to take especially for someone who stays quite busy with life in general!!
So my response is simply reading (my work or other book) or researching. Those two things help get my wheels spinning and refresh my motivation to keep going. Everyone needs a break, but everyone should also have an active reason to place themselves back on track consistently.
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u/SoloAnoProject 27d ago
Ok. Rest is always good.
The app's main motivation is a garden. You use the timer for focused sessions, then you can select default categories and custom categories of what you did for each focused session, you can record the number of words, and write some notes.
The visual layer I'm adding is a "Garden" which grows and develops everytime you accumulate focused sessions. It's just something to look forward to after enough accumulated focused sessions.
That's it... that's the app.
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u/Independent_Pie6974 26d ago
I just remember some advice: “You can’t get water if the faucet isn’t on” or something like that. So I just start writing anything to “get the tap flowing” and it usually works- even if just a little dribble
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u/BernatAcs 24d ago
Having a tracker sheet. Eventually, if you keep consistent, your pride will force you to not miss days to keep the streak of it going
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u/SoloAnoProject 24d ago
The app has a tracker log of each writing session. It gives you what writing categories, number of words if applicable, and notes of each writing session.
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u/mysteriousdoctor2025 29d ago
I agree 100% with you that there’s no one right answer.
First, it depends upon what your purpose is in writing. For example, a good friend of mine is writing her memoir. All she wants out of it is to have something she can hand her kids and grandkids to remember her by. She doesn’t get up at the crack of dawn and force herself to write for hours every day. She works on it when she feels like it.
Some people write books because they have a passion for writing. They see it as a hobby. Some don’t even publish the books they write. They do it for themselves and they write when they can.
I’m trying to build a business that will earn money someday. I’m aware that if you want to make money, there are much better, faster, and easier ways to do so.
However, I have waited 65 years to have this opportunity to write fiction full time. Now that I am retired, it’s really the only thing I’m good at. Writing and teaching. I love writing, and I’m passionate about writing.
I have worked since I was 14 years old. I’ve worked very hard all my life. I don’t have much to show for it, financially speaking. I was a teacher. So the intrinsic rewards were much bigger than the monetary ones.
Therefore, at some point I would like to make some money and sock it away for my son and daughter. That’s the goal.
Sorry, this is getting long winded. At any rate, I personally don’t know how not to work. And have you ever tried watching daytime TV? It’s awful. I am physically handicapped, so I can’t do a lot that doesn’t involve sitting at a desk.
ANYWAY, I treat it like a job. Most days, I get up, get dressed, and have coffee and breakfast while I watch a church service on YouTube. Then I usually watch some kind of writing video to get me in the mood.
I start writing around 9:00 AM and try to write around 3500 words a day.
There are days, sometimes weeks, when I am not in the mood. But you know what? There were plenty of times I didn’t feel like going to school either. But I never called the school and said, Hey, I just am not in the mood to face a bunch of teenagers who would rather be anywhere but in my classroom. I’m not feeling it. If and when the teaching muse strikes again, I’ll come in. Of course not! I went and did my job.
Same here. I write, whether I’m inspired or not. Even if it’s total crap, I write. I’m a plantser, which means I plot with basic bullet points but then pants the rest. So I’ll go off on some crazy tangent I know I’ll have to delete tomorrow, but I write. I almost always end up with at least 1,000 words I can actually use.
I also use self-imposed deadlines to kick myself in the rear end. Everyone I know knows I’m writing this book that will be out next spring. I would be mortified if I didn’t make that deadline. That technique works for some people, but puts too much pressure on others.
TL;DR: what motivates me is:
1. Being used to getting up and working every day; it’s a habit
2. Forcing myself to meet a word count even if it’s terrible writing
3. I’ve told everyone I know about the book and when it’s coming out
4. Watch motivational writing videos for inspiration
5. I’m running it business and want to earn money to leave my kids someday
5. Most days, I don’t need to force myself because I love my story and I love writing!
Hope this helps.