Maintaining Momentum: Are You a Yo-Yo Writer?

Before I begin, let me say that this blog post definitely falls under the category of, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Or better yet, learn from my mistakes. One of the things I struggle with the most is gaining momentum in my writing process. And once I have momentum, treating it like something precious and amazing. Writing consistently is essential to turning out great books, but many of us find that real life intrudes too often and too forcefully. Our writing time gets pushed aside by sick kiddos, pressing e-mails, and the zillion other demands made on our time. It’s almost like being a yo-yo dieter. We establish a writing schedule, we fall off the wagon. We renew our commitment, we get distracted. Sound familiar?

I’ve found that, as with any new routine, gaining momentum after a break is a difficult task. Once I’m rolling along with my story, I get into the characters and the storyline, and I look forward to writing. That enthusiasm shows through in the new prose I create, which in turn makes me want to write more often. As I write more frequently, the characters have a chance to grow and develop a life of their own. We all know how much fun it is when our characters are able to surprise us! And it’s not just the characters that are set free… plotting feels less like a chore and more intuitive. Instead of getting hung up on small details, I’m able to launch into new territory with all my plot points fresh on my mind.

Really, there’s no down side to momentum. The trick is maintaining it and getting it back if you lose it. So, how does one do those things?

According to my friend, one of the best book cover designers UK has, one of the best ways to maintain momentum is to recognize its importance. Remind yourself of all the great things it will do for you and your writing. Think back on times when your writing schedule was consistent and your writing was fluid. How amazing did that feel? It was probably hard to get there, but once you struggled through, didn’t you feel great?

Be willing to sacrifice. Sometimes, there really isn’t enough time and something’s got to give. Let it be something else.

Enlist a support network. Tell other people your goals so you’ll feel accountable, and then accept whatever censure or encouragement your friends have to dish out. A writer’s group that meets consistently can help you set a page count goal that you’ll feel pressured to meet. Or perhaps you can arrange a chapter exchange through an on-line forum. Anything that pushes you to write daily.

Give yourself stickers. I mean, come on… why should kids be the only ones getting rewards? I know, I know. You’d probably rather give yourself brownies, but stickers have less calories.

And last, but not least, when things come up that are unavoidable – like losing an entire writing week to your sick child’s bronchitis (do you see a theme here?) – remind yourself of where your writing fits on your priority list. Sometimes, there are things that are more important, and that’s okay. Momentum can work for you in wonderful ways, but life is life. When you just can’t write, let it go. There will be plenty of time to climb back on that wagon tomorrow.


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