I love writing. I especially love when I’m over-the-moon-excited about writing whatever WIP I’m working on. I know that during the writing process you can’t always stay excited (I’m not that naive — just this week I was so tired I looked at my computer screen and said “Psh, it’ll be there tomorrow” and went to bed) I also have an idea that by the time I’m finished with the 7,654 edits that come with a novel, I’m going to be pretty tired of seeing my words.
So what do you do when you want to stay with it, but are getting to the point that you just can’t take it anymore?
1. Take a break. Not a long break (lest you don’t come back). Doing something else for a bit — go for a run (and then shower and eat because isn’t that what we all do after running?) or write a short story//article (or don’t because you’re tired of writing). Open your fridge 700 times willing it to start creating more food then what’s already in there.
2. Watch a movie with your main character look-a-like. You know those character sketches that you created and those celebrity look-a-likes you casted for your character? Well, find a movie they are in and watch it. I did this with one of my secondary characters last week and not only did it get me geared up and excited about writing, it also made me love my secondary characters more then my primary! (Don’t worry — I have a plan for that and all my readers will hate me, but it has to happen. *insert evil laugh*)
3. Listen to your novel soundtrack. You’ve made one right? (Whhhaaat? You haven’t? You should probably read this then and then go create one) You can listen to the soundtrack for The Black Knight (which FYI isn’t about a knight at all — intrigued?) here.
4. Make a novel pin board. (I’ve done that too) It’s a break in itself to make a pin-board and maybe it’s just the break you need to get re-excited about your project (just don’t get lost on Pinterest).
5. Are you on the re-vision process and you are tired of your novel//hate it//ready to throw in the towel? Slap yourself silly — you have come this far you are NOT stopping now. Give yourself a pep talk and keep going.
The trick is (because I know — haha — that was sarcastic FYI) to keep going. My pal Stephen King (ok he isn’t my pal — in all honesty I haven’t even read any of his books, and I’m just now a couple chapters in in his memoir) says that if you write 300 words a day at the end of the year you’ll have a novel. 300 words. That’s it. You got this!
How do you stay inspired on your WIP?
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