After publishing ten books with another in the wings, I suppose my passion for writing appears healthy. There are those days, however, when the words won’t come and I struggle to even write original posts for my blog. You can call it writer’s block, but there is also an element of frustration and discouragement that factors in.
What I’ve tried to do is turn the negatives into positives and maximize the positives. It’s not always easy, but it works.
Here are some of the negatives I’ve been working through:
Not enough time to write: My job is crazy busy. I have time to write at night, but I’m an old guy and I get so tired that my brain can’t function enough to write coherently.
My solution: I crash into bed at 8:30 or 9 at night and I’m up at 4:30 or 5 and get a couple of hours of writing in before work.
Sales are flat. Why bother? : This is not an uncommon phenomenon for an indie author. Sales might be consistent for a while and then just dry up. This can be discouraging and make you question the effort vs. return of the hard work of writing.
My Solution: To paraphrase Dory from the Pixar films, “Just keep writing. Just keep writing.” It’s true. This works. When I force myself to write, I quickly remember why I love doing it. It’s ultimately for my enjoyment and the sales become secondary. Sure, I’d like to set up a fun retirement business, but the writing is the thing that keeps me doing it.
Lack of motivation: I don’t have a publisher or an agent waiting for me to write a book. I’ve already written more than many authors write in a lifetime. Why not just quit and do something fun like coin collecting or yoga?
My Solution: Having a blog is a great thing. I’ve created a self-imposed series of deadlines. I try to post original content each day. I also tried locking myself in to creating new fiction each week in the form of short stories and serials, but I’ve suspended that for a while. There are a few readers out there that count on this content, and that keeps me going.
Rejection: As I mentioned in the opening, each rejection letter, each less than stellar review and other things like my unsuccessful Kindle Scout campaign chip away at the self confidence that I’ve carefully put together into an extremely fragile ego surrounded by a razor thin layer of self-confidence.
My Solution: Look for the positives. You can learn from rejection letters, poor review, and even a failed Kindle Scout campaign. Constructive criticism helps one become a better writer. The Kindle Scout campaign gave me much data to analyze and a great deal to think about for future book releases.
So what do you do when your passion wanes? Do you have coping mechanisms and little tricks to get you going? Please share.
This was quite a nice blog Don Massenzio. And it’s very true that there are times when you are totally blank about what to write and even sometimes feel very discouraging when the outcomes are not that good but then you realize that you love writing and outcomes become secondary. In fact “intent alone is very powerful, so attachment to outcome becomes negligible…” This is what I am reading nowadays THE SEVEN SPIRITUAL LAWS OF SUCCESS and I thought this is somewhere connected to what you have written in your blog as well.
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Thanks for your thoughts on this. I’ll have to check that out.
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ya sure…you can check that out on my blog i have been narrating that out in a series. Here’s the link if you want to check anytime…
https://booksenstuff.wordpress.com/2019/01/26/narration-the-law-of-intention-and-desire/
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I’m still struggling through the lack of motivation and self confidence phase. Reading that you go through the same helps me. I’m not alone in the struggle and knowing there is hope to go on helps. Thank you.
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We all go through this (except Stephen King).
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😂
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good advice. thanks Don.
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Thanks, Libby.
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Great advice. Also, I now have Dory singing, “Just keep writing,” going around and around in my head.
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Thanks. Mission accomplished. 🙂
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Reblogged this on DSM Publications and commented:
Check out this post from my author blog.
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I like your ideas, Don. I think all writers have THOSE TIMES, and it’s important to have some strategies to keep going. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
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Very well put, Margot. There are times when I’ve worked a 12 hour day and I’m traveling when I don’t feel like writing a single word and, sometimes, I don’t. I just read a bit and fall asleep. It’s okay to do this occasionally, but I try not to make it a habit.
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Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
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Thanks for sharing this, Chris.
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Welcome, Don 😃
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Reblogged this on Legends of Windemere.
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Thanks for sharing this, Charles
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You’re welcome.
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I love this blog. I have times where I can’t manage to accomplish anything and have realized that it’s okay to struggle. I take each day individually and just keep moving forward.
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Thanks. I hope it’s helpful
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Reblogged this on Anna Dobritt — Author.
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Thanks for sharing this, Anna
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I allocate a set time of day for writing and even if I can’t think of anything I just do
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Great post, Don. I’ve been suffering the ‘why bother’ blues lately, as well. One thing I found helps is to get a cover made as soon as I can (sometimes before I even start the book), I find this helps to inspire my writing.
Another thing I do is to set up the preorder when I’m about a third of the way into the story. Now, I don’t have a choice- it’s either get the thing done, or suffer KDP’s wrath! 🙂
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Thanks. Glad it was helpful
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Glad to know I am not alone when I have those days where I am less motivated to write. Thanks for sharing. ✨😊✨
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Something that worked when I was writing my most recent novel was to give myself a deadline for each chapter by committing to have the next one ready for the monthly meeting of my critique group. It’s risky to put an early draft before readers, but it motivated me to do some polishing, so what the group saw wasn’t draft 1.0 but maybe draft 1.2. Once it was complete, I brought back some problematic sections to the group. I’m pretty sure without this, I’d still be struggling with draft 1.0.
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That’s a great idea. I did this on my blog by writing weekly serials. This has turned into three books.
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Hmm. Maybe I’ll try writing a serial someday. There would certainly be motivation — not to let the readers down, however few they might be. Thanks for the idea, Don!
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My pleasure
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Excellent post, Don!
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Thanks so much
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You’re welcome!
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Reblogged this on Motown Writers Network . . . Michigan Literary Network.
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Thanks so much for sharing this
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When my passion goes away I know I shouldn’t do this but sometimes I wait for it to return. Or I search for something to stimulate it. I remind myself why I need to do this in the first place. I envy people who love to write because I wish I could have a passion for writing. I think its because I doubt my ability or I don’t like the voice that I use to explain the things in my head. What really drives me, is my thoughts yet I can’t quit explain them like I want to. Thats why I started a blog. hoping it will help me voice those thoughts that maybe others don’t know how to express.
This sounds crazy as well but sometimes when I need inspiration to write. I just listen to myself. I listen to my higher conscious tell me the things that I need to hear and maybe don’t want to hear. I get inspired and I write down everything that resonates with me, because it hit me in a spot that means something to me. Music is another way I get inspired. Anything that can possibly make me think in a way that will build up that adrenaline I accept.
Also coffee helps to motivate me! 🙂
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All of those things work. Sometimes, a hot shower jars thoughts loose in my brain.
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I write because I love to tell stories. But there are times it’s a struggle. When that happens, I slip into job-mode. If I tell myself I have a deadline and have to meet it, I can power through. Those first words might not be fabulous until I regain my joy with the process, but that’s one of the (many) reasons we edit rather than publish our first drafts, right?
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Great insight, Staci. Thanks for sharing your process
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Pingback: How do you keep the passion for Writing Going? – By Don Massenzio – Writer's Treasure Chest
Hi Don, So many writers can sympathize, I’m sure…I’m usually happier when writing, but now and then, when my muse is dozing, I do get a bit down, which fortunately doesn’t last long. I have to write a weekly column for our local newspaper and that keeps my on my toes. Usually… Onwards and upwards. Cheers.Joy x
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Deadlines that make you exercise your writing muscle can be very effective. Thanks for chiming in, Joy
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Pingback: Author Inspiration and This Week’s Writing Links – Staci Troilo
Great article, Don, although I have to admit that when the passion wanes, I just let it fade out. I know it will be back eventually. And yes, rejections can be very discouraging. They always have me asking, “Why am I doing this?” The answer is, of course, obvious: for love.
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Shared to a couple of writer’s site, Don.
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Thanks so much. I appreciate it.
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Don, thank you for sharing the discouragements most of us have experienced. Your blog is a gift to writers everywhere. Keep at it!
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Thanks for the kind words, Wanda
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I get it. Rest is underrated. Sometimes I have to take day-long breaks from the computer screen, and when I get back into it, things usually improve. Also, I never edit anything when I’m tired.
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Good insight. Editing makes me tired. 🙂
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