It’s like the time stopped. Seconds are slowly passing by, your head starts aching and you keep staring blankly at the screen. As writers we have all been there. Having writer’s block or losing inspiration is the worst that can happen, but unfortunately every author goes through such experience from time to time. That is why in this article, we want to ease your troubles and tell you about 5 tips that can help you stay motivated and inspired as a writer.
1. Read a Lot
Needless to say that coming up with ideas is a tiring and energy-consuming process. But what can you use to fuel your creativity? Books. Or let us put it this way: anything that isn’t written by you. William Faulkner believed that a writer should read everything: trash, or classics to absorb and come up with your own ideas. Find pleasure in reading other authors’ works: whether it’s a detective, or science fiction; whether it touches your heart, or bores you to death. The key is to read and get inspired by other people’s ideas. The more you read, the more literature influences you can embrace. Examining other writers’ styles and techniques will help you develop and polish your own style. So read something every day to stay motivated and stimulated.
2. Pamper Yourself
To stay inspired is important if you don’t want to burn yourself out. It happens with lots of writers, when they push and push themselves too hard. For this reason, our next tip is ‘treat yourself with something’. Whether it’s this one-day trip you’ve been dreaming about for months, or a cup of coffee sitting alone in a room, or taking a long walk in the park – find what keeps your energy going and don’t forget to make a ‘pit stop’ whenever you feel like your battery is running low. Don’t forget about your hobbies: painting, pottery classes, yoga, or language classes – this is what will keep your head clear and ready to create something new. What is more, you can even schedule some rewards for every stage of writing. By juggling work and relaxation, you won’t get overwhelmed, as a result you won’t need to constantly reignite your inspiration.
3. Create a Perfect Writing Space
“If you write on a regular basis, it’s essential to have a work space that will keep you motivated,” explains Alan Walker, journalist, essay writer and reviewer at Stressays. “As you will be spending hours typing, you need to make sure you feel absolutely comfortable. That is why, you should decide for yourself what is your idea of comfort.”
Some authors will feel the need to have a clean table with no distractions, just a laptop and absolute silence. On the other hand, some writers prefer observing nature while sitting at the park bench. There are even those whose creative ideas prosper in a noisy and crowded coffee shop with tons of people going back and forth. See? It’s all the matter of taste. For this reason, have some time to yourself, visualise your perfect writing space and make sure you have it.
4. Develop Writing Habits
Despite being a creative process, writing requires strategy to be productive and inspired. First of all, experiment with the working hours. At what time do you feel the most excited and encouraged to write? For instance, Leo Tolstoy was the early bird, and he believed that it’s the best to write in the morning when the head is fresh and ideas are clear as day. However, it may not be your story, and you may find yourself the most productive in the afternoon, or even at night. Secondly, set long-term goals and a step-by-step plan to achieve. Then deal with these stages one step at a time. This is how you won’t get anxious. When there’s too much to do, and a writer doesn’t know where to start, they often procrastinate or/and blame themselves for doing nothing. Not surprisingly, they spend all their energy on thinking and criticising, leaving no energy left for inspiration.
5. Talk to The Like-Minded
Last but not least, stay informed. In other words, keep in touch with your literary colleagues. You may join a literary group, or find the like-minded online. Follow popular writer’s blogs, and take part in various events. This way you’ll always know the latest news, currents, and mainstream opinions in your field. What is more, don’t hesitate to receive some critical analysis of your work, and share your works with other authors. They can share their works as well, so you can provide them with valuable insights too. Finally, talk, chat, laugh, complain – just don’t let your ideas stay in your head. As soon as you start discussing any topic with your colleague writers, you’ll see how inspiring it is.
We won’t lie to you, if you’ve chosen to become a writer, it’s not going to be easy. Still, it’s one of the most rewarding professions. So if you feel it’s your cup of tea, don’t lose faith. You may be down now, but it’s probably just because you’re tired. This very moment, open the window to let some fresh air into the room, leave your device, get a hot beverage, and just be there to get relaxed and inspired.