Motivation? Never heard of it.

[Raz2k13]

I wouldn't say I've hit a writers block per say, I know where to go and what happens. I'm not stuck on the story and details. I have always had a bad habit of knowing exactly where I want to go and how to get there. My issue is my brain can't stay concentrated long enough to get there and I get bored with myself somewhere along the way. I love my world and my characters are amazing but it seems to take so long to get anywhere because I will write a paragraph or two and my mind wanders to what's for lunch, later scenes, emails, you name it. I get frustrated because a scene isn't happening fast enough and I want to get to the next part but if I don't have this element then where I'm trying to get to doesn't make sense. I started this particular novel nearly a year ago and was so dedicated to it. I created all my characters, a map, timelines, birthdays (even though they hold no significance other than I wanted to), a calendar, and detailed outline. Everything was in place and seemed to be on track. I made it through 4ish chapters and then there is sat as my other stories always ended up. I picked it back up this week to try and actually finish something for once.

I honestly think part of my issue is I started writing fanfiction to try and flesh out a style and see if I could even write stories that made sense. In doing so I was posting chapters as they were being finished and I had interest and an audience to keep me motivated to keep going. Now that put that same dedication into original characters and a whole new world, I don't have the push to put out chapters at a set time and therefore I simply don't do it. I feel like I don't have much a purpose with this story because I can just get it done when I get there and that's my downfall. I have a goal of wanting to do at least 2000 words a day. I did great yesterday, over 3000 words. Now today I've gotten like 200 words and already doing everything else but focusing on writing.

Sorry if this is long winded. I just don't know where to go or how to cope with it.

If you've made it this far, I apricate your time!

-Raz

 

[sule]

There's no rule that says you have to write the first draft from chapter one all the way to the end. If you've already written your outline snd know where the story goes, I see no issue with jumping around to the scenes or moments that interest you that day. I've found, when I skip a scene that "has to go first" and write what's most interesting to me I have a lot more fun and get way more writing done than if I labor for way too long on something I just don't want to write that day. In a first draft, you're just telling yourself a story (as Terry Pratchett once said), and so, in my opinion, it's OK to skip to the interesting stuff. It can (and will) be polished in later drafts.

Or maybe you're getting bored as you're writing a scene because you think you know how it's "supposed to go" and your writing brain is trying to break off in a different, more intriguing direction. Maybe, once a week or so, you could give your brain permission to chase different plot threads and see where they take you. Not everything has to go in the final draft, but maybe you'll discover one or two things along the way that will make your story better.

Whatever you end up doing, just remember to keep writing.

 

[Raz2k13]

There's no rule that says you have to write the first draft from chapter one all the way to the end. If you've already written your outline snd know where the story goes, I see no issue with jumping around to the scenes or moments that interest you that day. I've found, when I skip a scene that "has to go first" and write what's most interesting to me I have a lot more fun and get way more writing done than if I labor for way too long on something I just don't want to write that day. In a first draft, you're just telling yourself a story (as Terry Pratchett once said), and so, in my opinion, it's OK to skip to the interesting stuff. It can (and will) be polished in later drafts.

Or maybe you're getting bored as you're writing a scene because you think you know how it's "supposed to go" and your writing brain is trying to break off in a different, more intriguing direction. Maybe, once a week or so, you could give your brain permission to chase different plot threads and see where they take you. Not everything has to go in the final draft, but maybe you'll discover one or two things along the way that will make your story better.

Whatever you end up doing, just remember to keep writing.

I'm going to be completely honest, I'm a bit concerned skipping around. I do have the outline done but my fear is writing out say chapter 25 and I put some detail in it that alters something in chapter 6 without meaning to. I had a really bad habit of doing that when I first started writing and didn't have an outline. I would go back and realize I said something that didn't line up later. Now I try and get as detailed as I can with my outlines so this doesn't happen. However, my fingers do tend to take over and stray from the path quite often.

I guess my question would be, how does one successfully skip around? I'm really in my head about creating a plot hole or messing up my timeline somehow.

 

[Valtharius]

I suggest locking yourself in a well-lit room with no distractions of any kind, no technology, just a stack of papers and pencils. And write the thing by hand.

 

[sule]

I'm going to be completely honest, I'm a bit concerned skipping around. I do have the outline done but my fear is writing out say chapter 25 and I put some detail in it that alters something in chapter 6 without meaning to. I had a really bad habit of doing that when I first started writing and didn't have an outline. I would go back and realize I said something that didn't line up later. Now I try and get as detailed as I can with my outlines so this doesn't happen. However, my fingers do tend to take over and stray from the path quite often.

I guess my question would be, how does one successfully skip around? I'm really in my head about creating a plot hole or messing up my timeline somehow.

I think that it's very hard to write a first draft that doesn't contradict itself in some way. That's why revision exists.

It sounds to me like you need to give yourself permission to be imperfect - this is the only way I can get myself to write most days. If I'm paralyzed over screwing up I'm not going to get anything written. I have to sit down, admit to myself that it's not going to be the best version of itself the first time around. It will stumble, it will contradict itself, it will sometimes go in circles. Once it's written, then I can get to the work of making it perfect. Sometimes I've rewritten the entire second half of a story because I wasn't happy with what I wrote the first time - but if I hadn't written the first version, I would never have gotten to the second version.

 

[Bramandin]

I'm a fanficcer trying to get into original fic too. I'm planning to serialize my story so that at least it's getting out there, but I'm used to no reviews because my fandom was never really big and people have lost interest over the past decade or so.

Other than an upload as you go, I'm not sure how to replace the review rush instead of just getting used to it. Granted, I had to live in my story for my mental health.

 

[therapist]

My issue is my brain can't stay concentrated long enough to get there and I get bored with myself somewhere along the way. I love my world and my characters are amazing but it seems to take so long to get anywhere because I will write a paragraph or two and my mind wanders to what's for lunch, later scenes, emails, you name it.

If you pay attention, you might notice that your mind isn't wandering because you are bored. But you become bored because you allow your mind to wander. Practice ignoring that impulse, and as Valtharius suggested, make the distractions harder to reach.
There are some great apps for motivation (beeminder) and focus (freedom). Check them out in case they work for you.
For me I find deadlines a great motivator. I don't think I would write nearly as much if it wern't for my weekly writing group submission deadline.

 

[Toby Frost]

I have a goal of wanting to do at least 2000 words a day. I did great yesterday, over 3000 words. Now today I've gotten like 200 words and already doing everything else but focusing on writing.

I've finished quite a few books and I regard 500 words per day as fine, and anything more than that as a plus. I work 9-5.

I agree that it's best to avoid distractions. These include excessive world-building which for a lot of people seems more enjoyable and easier than actual writing. I find it helps to see writing a novel as a sort of voyage with stops along the way. Each stop is a "plot island", where something important happens. That way you're not writing one massive lump of 70,000+ words, but you're moving towards the next plot island. Breaking the work up like that helps.

I wouldn't worry too much about inconsistencies at this point. Some of my first drafts are very rough: a lot of that comes out in the editing.

 

[Raz2k13]

I think that it's very hard to write a first draft that doesn't contradict itself in some way. That's why revision exists.

It sounds to me like you need to give yourself permission to be imperfect - this is the only way I can get myself to write most days. If I'm paralyzed over screwing up I'm not going to get anything written. I have to sit down, admit to myself that it's not going to be the best version of itself the first time around. It will stumble, it will contradict itself, it will sometimes go in circles. Once it's written, then I can get to the work of making it perfect. Sometimes I've rewritten the entire second half of a story because I wasn't happy with what I wrote the first time - but if I hadn't written the first version, I would never have gotten to the second version.

I guess I've never looked at it like that. I've always just thought it pretty much had to be perfect at the start and then minor adjustments after.

Thank you for that. That helps a lot.

 

[Raz2k13]

If you pay attention, you might notice that your mind isn't wandering because you are bored. But you become bored because you allow your mind to wander. Practice ignoring that impulse, and as Valtharius suggested, make the distractions harder to reach.
There are some great apps for motivation (beeminder) and focus (freedom). Check them out in case they work for you.
For me I find deadlines a great motivator. I don't think I would write nearly as much if it wern't for my weekly writing group submission deadline.

I will defiantly look into them! Anything at this point would be an upgrade. Thanks for that.

I like deadlines and I try to come up with my own but with no one to hold me accountable I slack. That's just an issue I have in everyday life as well. I'm trying to make an effort to do better but it isn't an overnight change. I used to have a group of friends who all wrote together and held the other accountable but they have drifted off over the years so I've kind of slacked off.

 

[Raz2k13]

I've finished quite a few books and I regard 500 words per day as fine, and anything more than that as a plus. I work 9-5.

I agree that it's best to avoid distractions. These include excessive world-building which for a lot of people seems more enjoyable and easier than actual writing. I find it helps to see writing a novel as a sort of voyage with stops along the way. Each stop is a "plot island", where something important happens. That way you're not writing one massive lump of 70,000+ words, but you're moving towards the next plot island. Breaking the work up like that helps.

I wouldn't worry too much about inconsistencies at this point. Some of my first drafts are very rough: a lot of that comes out in the editing.

World-building was getting out of hand for a while and I forced myself away from it or it would have consumed me. I do like the thought of 'plot islands'. That is a very interesting idea and I think I might go back over my outline and select points that could be the stops so I have goals to make it to. That would give me something to look forward to getting to and feeling like I've accomplished something when I hit it.

I'm going to have to get out of the mindset that the first draft has to be perfect. I'm so in my head about it that it is holding me back.

 

[sknox]

>I get frustrated because a scene isn't happening fast enough
Same here. And I would jump around. Did that on six books. I'm more linear lately, but that's in part because I've planned the heck out of this one. When I would jump forward it was at least in part because I felt I needed to "see" what happens in Chapter 9 in order to know how to write Chapter 3. I'm still not sure that's right, but it's what I felt.

The more detailed planning has let me linger over the earlier chapters. My motivation has changed. Before, I would want to rush through, to get to those later, bigger events. But now, I know those are there. I'll get to them. What I really want is to engage the reader in the current event, whatever is happening right now. I want to have the reader feel for the character, to feel the setting, to sense the movement of events. I want immediacy. So I'm paying far more attention to the full range of storytelling. In earlier efforts I'd have whole scenes that were in white rooms--nothing but dialog. Now, the dialog is happening in a place, with people who have facial expressions and movement. And clothes! Sure, previously those things would get added in Draft 2 or 3 or 4, but it's more satisfying to take my time and construct it all as I go. Which is how the reader experiences it, right?

 

[Raz2k13]

>I get frustrated because a scene isn't happening fast enough
Same here. And I would jump around. Did that on six books. I'm more linear lately, but that's in part because I've planned the heck out of this one. When I would jump forward it was at least in part because I felt I needed to "see" what happens in Chapter 9 in order to know how to write Chapter 3. I'm still not sure that's right, but it's what I felt.

The more detailed planning has let me linger over the earlier chapters. My motivation has changed. Before, I would want to rush through, to get to those later, bigger events. But now, I know those are there. I'll get to them. What I really want is to engage the reader in the current event, whatever is happening right now. I want to have the reader feel for the character, to feel the setting, to sense the movement of events. I want immediacy. So I'm paying far more attention to the full range of storytelling. In earlier efforts I'd have whole scenes that were in white rooms--nothing but dialog. Now, the dialog is happening in a place, with people who have facial expressions and movement. And clothes! Sure, previously those things would get added in Draft 2 or 3 or 4, but it's more satisfying to take my time and construct it all as I go. Which is how the reader experiences it, right?

I seem to be getting the same advice on jumping around. I had never actually even thought of trying it so it is something I'm going to have a go at.