Finding the right way to write (Part 3)...
Right... writing, writing & more writing!
Getting Inspired!
How can you get motivated to write?
Motivation, inspiration and incentive looks very different depending upon the person. Personally, I'm often quite fortunate in that I always have lots of ideas of things that I want to write about (as I thought about writing and what I would write for about 10-15 years!) before I even put pen to paper (or fingers to the keyboard!). Therefore, I don't often struggle to think about what to write but I can sometimes struggle to create a calm and cohesive routine - or environment - to elicit a worthwhile writing session...more on this later!
However, if you are keen to write but don't know what to write or how to start, please see the list below of some tried and tested methods to get the creative juices flowing!
Possible Creative Stimuli:
Pick a favourite or famous painting and use that to set the scene, create a mood or inspire a story line.
Pick a favourite song and use that story or perspective as a starting point.
Look at current affairs or an issue within society that you are particularly passionate about and use your writing to reflect the message you want to voice.
Pick an object and write about it from far away and then up close- try not say what the object is!
Use creative writing prompts (often available online or you can purchase creative writing prompt books with various tasks and exercises).
Journal or keep a diary.
Write from your stream of consciousness for 10-15 minutes. Put a timer on and then write whatever comes into your head for that whole time- every thought however random!
Get outside and describe a landscape in that particular season- autumn is a great time to write descriptively about as you can incorporate so much colour imagery and figurative language.
Write semi-autobiographically. Pick a moment in your life (it could be something dramatic, random or even the boring and the ordinary) and write a short story about it.
Pick a favourite writer, poet or playwright and try to write in a similar style to them. This can be a less intimidating way to get started as you become focused on using a similar tone and structure to them along with applying their themes, motifs and use of characterisation.
Honesty is the best policy!
So in all honesty and with full transparency, I've actually really struggled to write in the past couple of months and I think it could be for a myriad of different reasons. It's not that I can't think of anything to write (as I always have lots of ideas) but more about issues with motivation, routine, purpose and fatigue.
I often (and unhealthily) equate my value as a person my with ability to be productive but what happens when I start feeling burnt out? I struggle to pause and take a break and instead start setting even more goals: placing unrealistic expectations of what I want to achieve! I then don't know how or where to even begin and then when I don't start, it turns into a toxic cycle of: procrastination, guilt, self-criticism, loss of motivation, forgotten purpose followed by fatigue...
I know that I now need to take some of my own advice and think about a realistic routine that isn't too demanding. I need to think about my environment and make it an inviting writing space. I need to think about my purpose and what it gives me in the moment instead of worrying about what I want it to give me in the future.
Therefore, I am now keen to get started again... But slowly... Over the next week or so, I'll aim to do a little writing here and there... Small steps as opposed to gigantic leaps... Enjoy the process instead of worrying about the result...
Trust the journey and forget the destination.
If you've not checked out the prequels to this set of blogs, you can look back at parts 1 & 2- enjoy!
Thank you for reading my blog and hopefully see you soon!
xxx
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