I don't want to be writing this right now.
I would rather be working on something else.
If it were up to me, I'd be curled up in a blanket on my couch playing video games with my kids.
But I'm work. I'm writing. I have to write. One of the things I have to write on a regular basis is this blog. Most of the time I really love it. Sometimes, trying to think of an idea to write about is as difficult as breathing on the moon. Sometimes, I imagine they feel about the same, too.
So how do I motivate myself to write even when I don't want to?
I'm not quite sure. I know that's not the answer you're looking for. You're looking for me to say something like, "All you need to do is sacrifice a bat during the fall equinox and then pour salt over your left shoulder and you'll be able to get through any writing block you have." But I can't say anything like that because that would be bloody absurd. The only thing I can tell you is to put your butt in the chair and write. Write like it's the last thing you'll ever be able to do. Hell, we're all mortal, maybe it is the last thing you'll do.
There are other things I could tell you, I suppose.
Part of it is discipline. I am currently not letting myself look at social media until this is done. Once this piece is finished, I'll be able to go back and look at my Facebook and Twitter. What I hope to find there? I'm not sure. But I'm constantly looking for it. Look for other rewards you can give yourself. Want to read a book you've been dying for? Don't allow yourself to read more than a chapter at a time without getting some writing done in between. Want to play that video game? Make sure you hit your word count first.
It is absolutely a matter of will power. You need to tell yourself that you will be given your desired reward as soon as you finish a set amount of work.
That is what's getting me through this piece.
And even when it's stuff we want to write, sometimes you need that extra incentive. We all have that impostor syndrome, at least occasionally. We all wonder if whatever it is we're writing or saying is being heard by people. We're constantly wondering if those people care about what they're reading or hearing.
Or maybe that's just me. Maybe I'm the only one with that insecurity about my words. Maybe I'm not.
Despite this insecurity, having the discipline to sit in the chair, the willpower to force myself, and the encouragement to reward myself is enough to keep me writing. Whether it's a post like this or the next chapter in my next book, I'm going to keep going. Also being stubborn. I'm too stubborn to stop writing, even when I want to.
Tell me, what do you do to keep yourself motivated, even when you're not "feeling it?"
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As for my writing, I had a new piece come out on StarWars.com. This one is a playlist of everything we know about the first Death Star.
I finished my 12th book over the weekend as well, so that was great. I've dived into revisions of my fantasy book and started novel #13, which is pretty daunting, but I'm excited to take the challenge.
You can also come see me read and do some reading of your own on Thursday at the Downtown library in Salt Lake City. Here are the event details.
On October 29th, I'll also be interviewing Ian Doescher at the Library. I'll be asking him questions about Star Wars and Shakespeare. You can get more of those details here.
As a reminder: Please join my short story Patreon here. Your contributions to the Patreon help me write more like this.
The Aeronaut and Escape Vector are still out and still need your purchases and reviews. If nothing else, they can use you telling people about them. If you want signed copies, visit the shop here on this page.
As far as my work outside of all this: There's a lot of great stuff on Big Shiny Robot! and Full of Sith for you.
And please, please, please don't forget to check out any of my books, drop reviews of them on Amazon or Goodreads, and follow me on twitter and Facebook!
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