How do you keep the ball rolling?
Eight ways to stay motivated when you get stuck.
Remember the Dr. Suess book, Oh The Places You’ll Go!? I remember reading it aloud to my kids, and now I read it to my granddaughters. It’s full of encouraging phrases and inspirational insights. Honest encouragement at it’s finest. “I'm sorry to say so but, sadly, it's true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you.”
What do you do when the muse doesn’t come? What do you do when you’re feeling knocked down or simply just stuck?
For the past nine months I’ve been firmly entrenched in querying hell. Querying agents is the side of the #writerslife that I least enjoy and not just because of this term of endearment. Everyone who enters the process knows about this “prickly perch.” It’s that place where rejections are more common than reviews. “Where everyone is just waiting…” Dr. Suess must have gone through this once or twice, too.
Now that no response is the rejection letter, I feel deflated after a month or two. Or three. I’m that Dr. Suess character hanging from his popped balloon. I’ve been here before-and I’ll probably be here again, unfortunately. But that’s just the way this game works.
When you’re bombarded by rejections, and an endless to-do-list, how do you keep going? How do you find the motivation to write your next book? I have some ideas.
Here are 8 motivators that work for me.
Buy yourself flowers and celebrate your accomplishments. Place them on your desk as a reminder. You’ve written a book and someone out there is reading your pages.
Stick to your writing routine. Butt in chair, even if you stare at a blank page. Stream of conscious writing could lead to your next big idea.
Remember that even JK Rowling received rejection letters from agents and publishers.
Take time for yourself. Go for a walk, listen to music or an inspirational podcast.
Write (or edit) your next book.
Parents and grandparents- play with your kids. Children are so inspiring.
Join a writing organization such as Sisters in Crime. You’d be surprised at how many authors are going through the same thing you are.
Commiserate with a friend- reach out to me! I love chatting with authors, and I’m happy to talk to you.
Remember, it’s important to keep the ball rolling. Your story is as unique as you are. The world needs to hear it.
Thanks for the great suggestions.
I completely agree with the get outside/go for a walk recommendation. Nature is healing. I also find channeling disappointment/negative energy into my house gets things really clean! :) And yes, "Your story is unique as you are. The world needs to hear it." Remember, you wrote a freaking book! That is something most people don't do! As a publisher, it is important to remember that there is a creator on the other side of the ask…