Hi there, viewers! You can read an adapted text version of this video on Medium: medium.com/@quotidianwriter/how-to-motivate-yourself-to-write-every-day-67ba7ef9f6e8
I find that the daydream moment - that ‘flow’ - is the best moment to tap the keg and write. The problem is, the flow happens at about 2-4am in the morning. :/
"The root of the problem is perfectionism. Sometimes we're so in love with our stories that we want them to be born into the world as perfect beings." Wow, that sums me up more than I want to admit.
took me 2 months to learn to endure my drafts having holes. I always try to keep my works logical but upon rereading it multiple times i start deleting it and going back in the start to fix everything. which leads to not having any questions to ask for later...
As a writer myself, I find that we suffer from resistance. Our brains are wired to avoid risk or take chances. Our own thoughts work against us because of fear. Recently I had to purge distractions. I deleted a few video games that were sucking my time, and stop debating politics on Facebook. No one will write for you. If you want to finish your novel you have to stay disciplined and focused, removing distractions ruthlessly, then you need to sit down and actually write.
"We know we are supposed to write, but instead we watch TV" ...or video essays on TH-cam, full of really great writing advice, so I can tell myself that I am not wasting my time, since I am watching something that helps me learn how to write. The worst lie I tell myself every day for years now >.< (this is NOT a jab at your video! It's amazing! :) )
YES, I do that all the time! I call it "productive procrastination," haha. On a semi-related note: Once, while browsing a bookstore, I picked up a book entitled something like _How to Stop Spending Money_. So, I put the book down and walked away. :P Thank you for watching!
Brabbel93 Me too , club. I am always educating myself on some thing and I suppose knowing lots of things and making connections is eventually going to help me write my novel. The fact is I am scared. I have thought about waiting until until my parents are dead, in case they see themselves in any characters. But then, hum, wait until everyone I want to composite character is dead? I will be dead then too. I write every day. I do. In my journal, online. Commenting on videos. It’s brilliant stuff. I read every day too.
I find it’s best to commit to only write one sentence per day. This is an easy goal and you won’t have trouble sticking to it. This helped me to write my novel. When I sat down to write the one sentence, it often turned into paragraphs.
As an author with 20 books under my belt, traditionally published and self-published, I can absolutely state the "writing every day" is the worst advice if you have a life, a job, a family. Set weekly targets. Then it doesn't matter if you miss a day. And it will keep you motivated.
I'll be honest- my motivation for everyday writing is the need to have power over anything (fictional world) and the fact that I have hardly any friends and writing is the only thing I'm pretty good at.
This genuinely brought me near to tears. Trying to push blindly through blocks that have lasted from just a month to well over two years has honestly destroyed my confidence as a writer. This video is an incredible breath of fresh air. This may be five years late, but thank you.
I tell myself, I can do this, I have a story to tell, and that I have the skills. You have to believe in yourself. These tips were very helpful. You have to find the help and motivation wherever you can find it.
Here the reason why night owls always do things at night there never been enough hours in the days cause most of the day is spend is at work or school and we always get tried of always hearing getting up early
Me too! My brain decides to come up with all the best ideas and connects dots in the story on its own at night time whereas morning my brain just wants to ramble on the page.
It would be nice if I could make a friend that was really into writing. My motivation hasn't been that well lately, but I think if I had a friend that loved to write and encourage me, I could be motivated to continue writing. I do try to ask my friends how one of my chapters sound and all I get is a simple "Oh, I really love it! You shouldn't change a thing," which is good for a confidence boost, but not that good when I'm looking for constructive criticism to improve my writing. I've always had a problem with making and staying on a schedule, but I'm definitely going to try some of the tips on here, as I'm tired of sitting at home all day not wanting to do anything productive. It's really frustrating when you want to finish a big project, but you don't feel like it! So, thanks for the video, I'll try these! 😊
Ive run into the same problem, literally noone ik writes and its kinda hard to deal with. Usually if i even tlk abt my novel they all just look board or tell me its great but thts all. Id love someone tht actually bothered to check up and see if ive written anythg and id love to do the same for anyone else. Wat can we do uk?
You can easily make writing friends on Wattpad, you can even join a bookclub where you read the book of so. else and he reads your book. Then you give each other recensions. Very helpful! I started there too with a reylo ff.
I used to write as I will, with no routine and I enjoyed writing. Then I started trying to push myself hard, I guess I pushed way too hard and I stopped enjoying what I was doing. It started feeling stressful and frustrating when I couldn't finish it. Now I flushed my routine down the drain and was brainstorming happily after a long while. I don't know what to say for a situation like this. It had started feeling like I would have to cut out the small pleasures of life if I wanted to be a writer.
My problem is I read so many amazing novels with brilliant writing that I’m used to reading quality. I read stuff that’s been drafted, revised, and written by someone who has been practicing constantly. Meanwhile, when I read what I’ve written myself I end up cringing. It doesn’t meet the mental standard I have when reading. Eventually I end up getting demotivated from starting up writing again. I end up thinking about all my mistakes instead of just continually practicing and revising. It’s a big chore to plow through the mental roadblock of not constantly stressing over the bad, and to just keep writing until it’s good.
Yato's Jumpsuit - I had the same problem. Then somebody gave me the best advice. Don't let your bar be the best writers. Your bar should be your own personal best. There will always be writers who are better than you and worse than you. Judge yourself by your best, not somebody else's. Even those "best" writers follow this advice. They know and accept that there are better writers than them, but write anyway.
The one part I disagree with is morning-writing. I'm sure this is a great tip for some, but this is the worst for me. I cannot write in the morning because my mind is cloudy and I'm usually planning out my day with everything I have to do and in what order. What I'll have for breakfast, what time I have to go to work, etc. Making time in my already busy morning would be unproductive because it only pushes off my bigger responsibilities and I would stress the entire time about other things. Writing before bed is the best for me because it's easier to stay up another half hour to do my goal of writing than go to sleep early thinking I'll have to write first thing in the morning.
I completely agree! Plus, I try to save my morning for a host of other activities I regularly procrastinate, like exercising and meditation. If I tried to add everything to my morning...then I'd procrastinate going to bed to sabotage my effort in getting up early. I'm a night-owl and honestly night writing is my best time. It's so much easier to just write an hour or two before I go to sleep than to work up early.
Your reason for not writing in the morning is why I love writing in the morning. I like my brain a little foggy. I get good stuff that way. But it rebels if I try writing in bed unless it's a flash of inspiration. At 3am. Ha. You do you. Whatever gets the words on the page. ❤
@@malissahyatt2425 whichever time of day works for you is what is good to stick with! I wrote consistently for two months at night before bed, getting an end total of 40k words on the page. If I chose a different time I *know* I wouldn't have lasted that long. Many nights my brain was foggy, too, because it was the end of the day. I get what you mean about wanting to write when your brain isn't clear (sometimes thinking gets in the way of the writing flow).
I am 13 and I used to have a very bad problem with getting my self to write.I used to write at school but now that summer is here I am bored all the time.Thanks a lot!
i never considered stopping just when i know what will be happening next. that is so helpful. normally, i just write what i know, and then the next day, i'll stare at my laptop screen unsure of where to go next.
This is an excellent list and channel. Thank you. Number 4 proved utile when I was in graduate school, stuck writing my thesis. One advisor, Roger Sheffer, who could carry on conversations while composing prose, “I wrote 1,200 words while we spoke...” told me I needed more icons. I had recently finished our sole written MFA exam comprised of thesis panel questions pertaining to my chosen “major and minor” authors in both prose and poetry. “You mean I need to be a fan of more authors?” I asked. “No. More icons on your computer desktop. Every day you open your novel and if that’s not flowing, you feel stuck and stop. Write a children’s book or collection of poems for your father. Write elaborate thank you notes you’ve been procrastinating. Write anything that doesn’t have a deadline. Write sentences that make you happy but have no purpose. Just give yourself space.” I love Roger Sheffer.
I like to motivate myself by watching talks from writers I admire. Ideally, their passion for writing and the quality of their stories will spark my enthusiasm and ambition and get me to want the same. And it will remind me that the only way to get there is to write.
I usually write during my free hour at college. Sit down in the cafeteria and my thoughts just flow through my hands onto wherever I’m writing. My routine goes into writing short stories of about 3,500 words every day during that free hour, forcing myself to come up with something different, different vocabulary and etc. Once I start writing, I get swallowed by my imagination. I set myself in the shoes of the characters and makes me feel so inspired and motivated that I simply can’t stop writing! Sometimes I really love using prompts and from there pull off such story. Finally I consult with my ex- english teacher (since I already graduated from high school) so she could help me out with better suited words and such. Normally I get my ideas during the night. I lock myself in a room and imagine it as if it was my reality. I set myself in the character’s place and play out their way of talking, judgement and such. I’d recommend you guys to try some of these methods since they’ve helped me out so much!
"Night owls are going to hate this, but morning is the best time to write" As a night owl, I definitely do not hate this. Early morning feels like late evening for me, so I get the benefits of comfortably writing towards the end of the "day", but also get the benefits of writing at a time where I don't have distractions. It's perfect! Also, to some degree I find myself disagreeing with the music thing. I'm not a picky listener, though, so it doesn't really take all that long for me. Thing is, I personally have to have some kind of white noise because I have an overactive mind. Even if it's some lo-fi buzz that means nothing to me, it works far better than silence because my brain starts messing around with me. "Hey, remember when baby shark was making its rounds around the internet? Well you do now, and you're going to have that song stuck in your brain now until you finally cave and put some music on." "Oh, hey, working on a scene there? Lets think about all the next scenes instead of this one so we can run ourselves into a writing corner!" For me, listening to music means that I can shut off my main brain and let my subconscious do the work. I'm a decent beta reader so when I've gotten the content down, I can refine it later. Works best for me, especially as a pantser who actually finds it less beneficial to plan ahead!
Early hours are early hours my friend. If it's the kind of time where I can talk to someone and they'll tell me "Oh you're up early!" then it's the kind of time for me lmao. And at this point, I have such a track record for being asleep in the day that that's basically any time before 12pm and after 12am :3
Someone that understands. Thank you. Now I feel quite normal. Perfectionism for my ideas is definitely one of my faults. ;c A lot of good tips for writing. But I absolutely love the story of the painters at the end. :)
Your voice is so relaxing I love it. I could listen to you read the dictionary and it would still be great. I’m listening to your videos at 2am, laying in bed, and as I’m listening, all I keep thinking about is how relaxed and intrigued I am by your videos.
Thank you a million times for this! I would of never though; your writing doesn't have to be perfect, just write. Can you say this is probably the BEST tip I ever heard. So simple, yet nobody has ever mentioned. Thank you
As soon as I stopped procrastinating and made a routine of writing it became such an enjoyable process. I don’t even watch TV or play games anymore. Just write.
A little here and a little there goes far. I started writing at least 30 minutes a day beginning in January of 2018. I’ve written a total of 381 total pages so far!
What helped me a lot was, becoming a DM, I kind of do maybe to much for the sessions from time to time, but since I do it, my Writing improved by A LOT. Would be my tipp for everyone:D
I've just finished watching your new video and now I'm in the process of going back to relearn (rehash) some of your past lessons that I've taken to heart, the ones that have served me well when it comes to self-improvement as an amateur and writing everyday is one of the most important. Writing daily keeps a certain level of "flow" maintained. I write using a keyboard only, never really did the pen and paper thing, at least not that much to were it would matter. Nevertheless, learning to type as fast as I think has helped me stay "in the moment", capturing the power of improvising as well as spontaneity that has added to my skills in producing content. Now the object is to make sure that, that content is good, meaningful as well packed full of emotion. Thanks for putting out a new video, your writing channel is by far my favorite, it has inspired me at times when I've run out of "fuel" to write and I hope to see more "new stuff" soon!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!! even though I'm now a 4th-year highschooler I still can't come up anything for my future, but then it hit me I realize that I enjoy reading things and yes I admit I mostly read anime manga and other stuff b, but every time I read that I seem to have no interest on reading a book somewhat makes me feel complete and then I realize it, I finally found what I want in my future is to be a novel author I realize being a novel author is not an easy job, and I also realize that it can also consume my time, but then my mother suggested something to me, she told me "Why not just make your dream of being an author as a side career?" I was surprised at first, but I think my mom is actually right so that way to choose a course that will suit my taste so that's I'm thinking to choose the journalism course, that's right I will challenge myself to get the life I always wanted. sorry if I took your time by reading this
I love the idea where you stop riding at an exciting scene so that way you won't get stuck also like to write early in the morning good. Good advice thank you
I am the 3,333rd person who will be watching this. I wonder, if the next couple of years, this video will got many views, and also how many people will be needing this. Thank you! :D
@@QuotidianWriter I"m viewer #214,254 so this video is almost timeless in the age of the Internet. But seriously--thank you for great advice. Will share with my writing friends and meetup group!
These are all very good suggestions. However, writing in the morning is not "the best time to write." It is a good time for MANY people to write, but certainly not me. Inspiration comes to me as the day gets later, and then I'm more motivated to write. I don't have the drive to get up in the morning and DO anything, even when I've been up for a couple of hours, and even when I try to force myself to do so. Otherwise, the video was very well done and informative. I frequently write while summoning demons. :)
Yes, you should absolutely do what works best for you! My advice in this video comes across as too declarative, but it's all opinion. ;) Thank you so much for watching.
I've heard that you're most creative late at night, but honestly I'm falling asleep by 11pm, so 9am is a good time for me. It's sorta night owl vs early bird.
Legit, most of ours minds are groggy in the morning. As Sheriff Jim Hooper from Stranger Things once said, “Mornings are for coffee and contemplation.”
Actually, I write every 3 days, and each day I write about 3 chapters. But sometimes I forget about my writings (or feel too lazy) and I end up not writing for months! Just because I missed a single day, doesn't mean I'll get back to writing anytime soon. I lose motivation easily when it comes to writing stories. I usually also write in an app, Notepad, before actually writing them on online websits. Sometimes, I tend to feel like all of my time writing is wasted and I feel like a piece of crap for writing all of the useless things. Once a new idea comes up in your mind, you'll find anyway to jot that down in your story as soon as possible. That's why I use up all of my ideas and lose motivation easily and quickly. Your video's very helpful to someone like me! Thank you, you're a book saver❤
The greatest tip I ever encountered to motivate me to write everyday is from Pramoedya Ananta Toer (one of the greatest Indonesian writers). When asked whether he's ever experienced a writer's block, he simply said no. He further explained that it's because back when he started working as a journalist, he's so poor that if he didn't write, there would be no food on the table. Simple as that.
I'm so glad I found this video! It's just so timely as I have to write a novel as my thesis. And as a Creating Writing major, your channel helped me a lot. You just gained another subscriber. More power to you and to your channel!
Wow, the 2 painters analogy hit me hard. I'm so freaking obsessed with making sure the writing is top-shelf that sometimes it can take me an hour to write 3 sentences. It doesn't take a genius to realize that will never lead anywhere. I love that you encourage writers to allow themselves to write sub-optimal content. It is such a hard thing to do for some of us but absolutely vital for growth and maturity as a writer. I imagine it almost always leads to important new discoveries and qualities about your writing and storytelling that you didn't even know you had. My biggest problem is throwing everything away after only a few pages because I think it's garbage. So I start over new and the cycle continues. You give such lucid and coherent guidance that it becomes impossible to argue with your logic. Thank you so much for this channel. You keep me going.
I have written “journals” for years and years! I bet there’s a million words in there and I’m sure plenty of “crap” as well. But hey, I at least have written. Now? Still no a consistent plan. Need to write in the morning. Thank you for these tips.
The best part about my personality is that I use writing as the excuse for procrastination. I'll write for a few hours after I told myself I would go to sleep. Not sure if that's the best thing, but it certainly helps!
I got my start writing short stories and really honed my craft in the years that I started writing fanfic. Some really great work has been written as fanfic so I always encourage others to explore the world of fandom when it comes to honing their craft.
This is really fantastic! So many helpful tips and exciting ideas. Presentation is clean, clever, and visually appealing. Thanks for the inspiration! I can't wait for the next video.
My daughter loves you. She's close to 13. Below is what she has to say. Hi Diane, I finished writing a small fantasy novel for girls and all your writing tips helped a lot. I realized quite a few mistakes in my own book and its great to have someone who gives all the right advices about writing. I thought there was basically nothing wrong with my book but I just realized that I have a lot to learn in the writing field. Thank you so much for all the fun facts, cool narration and beautiful videos. Love, Shailee
Please tell Shailee that I truly appreciate her kind words, and I hope that she'll keep writing for many years to come! Thank you for taking the time to post this comment on her behalf and for encouraging her to pursue writing. :)
Being a freelance writer, I put out anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 words per day. My problem is that I'm stuck in client-content mode. I spend so much time caring for paying clients that I rarely get time to write. That, and laziness. Laziness has been a big problem for me outside of client content. Hopefully, I can get back into being more creative. But for now, I've got bills to pay. Just need to "Establish a routine" and figure out a way to balance everything. Good advice here, Diane. I subscribed. :)
I hate writing FOR people. Im very much a free thinker and like ny ideas to be mine. I sure take indpiration but my short storiesni make as original as possible. Gor example, im working on a short horror, concerning Lycans. But. Instead of traditional lycams, the wolf-creatures take the face of their prey and it fuses into their skull. They can mimic the voices of their victim's and the faces collect on the wolf's skull But god forbid if someone orders me to make something ill porcratinate forever
@@sirbricklord8074 I understand completely. I don't mind being paid to write, and I am very good at jumping from one subject to the next while creating unique content. But, I would so love to put more time and effort into my own creations. I hope that when everything stabilizes in my new position, I'll be able to put more time into creative works. Unfortunately, my client loves the work I do, so now they want more of my time. :) Eh...it's money.
I always have to have my favorite music playing in the background as I'm writing. It's like working out or lifting weights, having music speeds up the time a lot faster than if there's little to no noise. I don't consider that as a distraction but an accompanying piece for my brain.
I don't write much but in place of that, I introspect and speak to myself just like I'm explaining something to person. As I'm talking to myself, the process is very fast as compared to writting where you have to have a strong perseverance. I know writting is very crucial but dubious about wheather my self talk is ok or should I write more.
"You're not playing Dungeons and Dragons!" Buuuut you can also play Dungeons and Dragons... Honestly, I find that being a DM (or even playing in someone else's campaign) makes my creative juices flowing in a very worry-free way. I have to plot loosely, worldbuild, create interesting NPCs, etc. Since it's "just a game" I'm not worried about it being perfect, so very often I come up with very cool and original ideas because I don't get stuck feeling like it needs to be the best thing since sliced cheese. It's helped me learn how to take the pressure off of creative work.
I carry a notebook and pen EVERYWHERE. Since I am immersed in my story, ideas occur often. At slow times at work, on break, and so on, I jot down notes; bits of dialogue, descriptions, physical scene structure, etc. with arrows tying the notes together. I try to write at least 3 type-written pages per day. Converting these messy notes to prose usually makes the 3 pages go quickly. If I come up short, I tell myself, "Only 3/4 of a page to go." Works for me.
I'm working on a plethora of different stories, some of my own creation and some from books and movies that I love. My most recent work is about J.K.R's Harry Potter series. I am trying to imagine it differently than it was written in outcomes , trying to imagine the "what if's" that could make the story more interesting while following the storyline and keeping true to the characters. I'm finding it hard to write anything these days, not sure if I'm blocked or not but I am trying to work through it! These tips will be a sure fire way to help me through that!! Can't wait for your next video!!
I look forward to your uploads and think they're probably the best inspirational tutorials out there. I find that the way you deliver and construct the whole piece is exceptional and the tone of your voice is like listening to a relaxation CD. I'm attempting to write a trilogy. I know where it begins and how it finally ends with detailed episodes in-between but I just can't seem to string them all together or focus on how each individual book ends and leads into the next - do you have any advice that may be of some help? Keep up the amazing work and I look forward to the next 👍😊
Thanks for putting this up. My challenge is to try and keep up writing daily. With multiple jobs and multiple hobbies, getting a routine down is tricky. I appreciate the advice - I may have to try the "don't break the chain" method.
Thank you! That's exactly how it feels, I thought at first that it was burn out and I was the only one to feel so. But I wasted a month plus because I just can't get myself to write.
Yeah same here like late at night I will go plug my phone up and sit down with a wife of paper. It really helps my brain come up with some crazy events 😅
My living situation inadvertently set a schedule for me that allows me to write every day. I have a small target to hit, 200 words and having such a small target makes me feel better when I shoot past it and write 300-600 words like I normally do. I suggest it to everyone
This helped me more than I expected. I thought I already understand about writing enough but not effective for me. It turned out, I still a lot more to learn. Hopefully, after this I could write daily.
Ah perfectionism, any creative person’s downfall. That hit me the most cause I do try my best to write everyday or indulge in creative hobbies that used to keep me so happy but we can all get into our own heads and judge our abilities way too harshly. This is definitely a very helpful guide to at least find a starting point in how you can motivate yourself into writing more cause my goodness do I myself need this video
Thanks for the advice I was able to write down a lot today. I wish I wrote for a longer period of time but I was able to get a lot off my chest and I feel better now like I can actually write without having writers block
This is such gold! I was doing 3 - 4 of these, but it's nice to have 'em refocused. Your graphics, editing, and esp your voice and enunciation are wonderful! I'm glad I subbed. Thank you!
I always carry a blue wipable marker with me whenever I go to the bathroom for no.2, sitting there doing the nature's job and also writing few sentences and whatever the hell I like on the shiny marble walls But you know, there's this one truth that no can deny, I had always found bathroom as the best place to concentrate on anything and everything. May be because of it's small space and with literally nothing inside it, we get less distracted and get our brains on point.
I can't seem to write unless I leave the house nowadays, but that might have always been the case. When I first started writing I was in middle school and write during classes, on the bus, and at home, and I was doing great all the way until I transferred to a four year university where I got distracted by all the activities, learning how to draw, and pretty girls and almost stopped writing completely. When I graduated and couldn't find a job I spent most of my time either fucking around on the internet, playing video games, and watching Netflix. I got too comfortable and writing started to feel like a chore. Back when I was in school I would think about my stories while walking or during classes and I think it was also a way for me to escape the pain I was dealing with in school, but once I got to college and had shit to keep me busy when I got out I think I lost the passion to write. I managed to finally almost write my third book finally after like 3 years, but I think I didn't plan it well and I can't figure how to end it how I want to end it if that makes sense. Like, previous events in the story makes the ending I want to write conflict with that. I really want to get this book done with and go into the editing stage so I can get this published.
It mever distracts me. I usually prepare a playlist of vocal-less soundtracks and i can ho for hours. I dont even realize jow long its been till i realiz etheres silence and i need to loop tge list. Then its been 1500 words
Honestly ever since I found my first video of you I found myself writing from morning to my bed time, minus the breaks for eating, chores, and affection exchanges with my family. Your voice is absolute perfection, easy to listen, learn, write, and even think to. The very moment I wake up I look through your videos to find something i'm stuggling with or know i'll struggle with in the future, once I find one I sit at the kitchen table and just listen as I figure out the languages i'll use and where I want the story to go from where I am at the moment. You've motivated me to write, and I thank you for that. Even if you never see this😊.
Thank you so much for your kind words and for leaving such a thoughtful comment! I'm so glad that my videos have inspired you to write, as that's what I aspire to do with my channel. Keep writing! :)
The lady of the hour I write at night when the kids are sleeping. The music i choose is the instrumental La petite de la mer. From vangelis. Its helps my mind flow better.
And listen on stranger's conversations. I haven't started writing yet but these days when colleges are closed I'm spending most of my winter days basking under sun in park. And hearing loud conversations often give me ideas for stories and charactes and even plots. You could also use newspaper clippings to turn a news about some local event into a story. After all it's all about how it's narrated and constructed.
@Diane Callahan - This is a very good video. Kudos for putting this together for your viewers! One of my best friends was a professional writer. He's started writing in the 70's and has worked with some of the most well known directors in Hollowood. I went to him to ask about what to do about the writer's block or how to stop myself from deleting 12 chapters and starting over. He told me to sit down for an hour ever day and just write crap. It doesn't even need to be related to the main story, just write down everything that comes to your mind. He told me to get rid of all distractions, to never edit, don't check spelling, don't worry about punctuation, create a deadline of 90 days for a rough draft and most of all, shut up and sit down and write. Unfortunately he won't be around for the completion of my deadline. I had hoped he would be my editor, but I last spoke to him three days ago as he lay in a bed dying from ALS. I have been told by his son that he can't eat anymore and that he is going to pass on in the next few days. He is now with Hospice waiting for his passing. In his honor, I have created a character which represents what he meant to me and I am going to dedicate my book to him for teaching me how to write, and also to my father who taught me to use my imagination. I'm not sure who will get top billing though!
That's a wonderful way to honor him, and it sounds like you had a fantastic best friend and writing mentor. I hope that you can soon share your story with the world!
Hi there, viewers! You can read an adapted text version of this video on Medium: medium.com/@quotidianwriter/how-to-motivate-yourself-to-write-every-day-67ba7ef9f6e8
Just found out your channel. Just loving it
Thank you so much, very useful info!
1. Establish a routine
2. Write everywhere
3. Set Daily Goals
4. Try Alternative Forms of Writing
5. Enter Writing Contests
Great advise. Also, I think your username is a reference to Harry Potter? If it is, hello fellow Potterhead. :)
lol thanks for summing it up
Ell yay potterheads
It is nice to have this outline, but there is more in this video than what is listed here.
6. Be in Jail and follow the above steps
There's nothing wrong with daydreaming. Daydreaming is our deepest imagination on flow, but action has to also take place.
There’s a time for everything.
Daydreaming is great if you're interested in philosophy
I find that the daydream moment - that ‘flow’ - is the best moment to tap the keg and write.
The problem is, the flow happens at about 2-4am in the morning. :/
@@DeadDancers No problem: You only set your alarm one hour later for each day. In six days you’re in sync with office hours!
Very true
"The root of the problem is perfectionism. Sometimes we're so in love with our stories that we want them to be born into the world as perfect beings."
Wow, that sums me up more than I want to admit.
Yeah she really hit the bullseye
took me 2 months to learn to endure my drafts having holes. I always try to keep my works logical but upon rereading it multiple times i start deleting it and going back in the start to fix everything. which leads to not having any questions to ask for later...
Yeah, I felt personally attacked 😂
Kind of like people but just remember if you love something or someone, you've got to accept them "Warts and all".
yup... pretty much on point
"You have to be okay with ugly babies." I Haven't laughed so hard in a while XD
lmao me too
Hera disagrees
best thing is that phrase is really helpfull
I laughed too it caught me off guard
As a writer myself, I find that we suffer from resistance. Our brains are wired to avoid risk or take chances. Our own thoughts work against us because of fear. Recently I had to purge distractions. I deleted a few video games that were sucking my time, and stop debating politics on Facebook. No one will write for you. If you want to finish your novel you have to stay disciplined and focused, removing distractions ruthlessly, then you need to sit down and actually write.
"We know we are supposed to write, but instead we watch TV"
...or video essays on TH-cam, full of really great writing advice, so I can tell myself that I am not wasting my time, since I am watching something that helps me learn how to write.
The worst lie I tell myself every day for years now >.<
(this is NOT a jab at your video! It's amazing! :) )
YES, I do that all the time! I call it "productive procrastination," haha. On a semi-related note: Once, while browsing a bookstore, I picked up a book entitled something like _How to Stop Spending Money_. So, I put the book down and walked away. :P
Thank you for watching!
Diane Callahan oouuuh savage!!
Brabbel93 Me too , club. I am always educating myself on some thing and I suppose knowing lots of things and making connections is eventually going to help me write my novel. The fact is I am scared. I have thought about waiting until until my parents are dead, in case they see themselves in any characters. But then, hum, wait until everyone I want to composite character is dead? I will be dead then too.
I write every day. I do. In my journal, online. Commenting on videos. It’s brilliant stuff. I read every day too.
2:25 Definition of irony: "Eliminate distractions such as the internet" - advice gathered from a video on the internet. ;)
Story of my life lol
I find it’s best to commit to only write one sentence per day. This is an easy goal and you won’t have trouble sticking to it. This helped me to write my novel. When I sat down to write the one sentence, it often turned into paragraphs.
🎯thanks!
What's your novel called??
I will try it
I would never have thought of that! Definitely a stress reliever~
Great advice, thanks for sharing!
As an author with 20 books under my belt, traditionally published and self-published, I can absolutely state the "writing every day" is the worst advice if you have a life, a job, a family. Set weekly targets. Then it doesn't matter if you miss a day. And it will keep you motivated.
That sounds like a fantastic idea! Thank you - writing every day advice was killing me.
@@fankaoliviilivki Thomas Emson, How To Write A Novel In 6 Months. He's the guy behind it. Was an Eureka! moment for me.
Can you name some of the books you wrote? I would love to check em out
@@MoonchildDontCry yeah ! i would like to know too ! please tell us!!
Pls name the traditionally published books you wrote. I would like to check them out...
I'll be honest- my motivation for everyday writing is the need to have power over anything (fictional world) and the fact that I have hardly any friends and writing is the only thing I'm pretty good at.
This is too relatable
This genuinely brought me near to tears. Trying to push blindly through blocks that have lasted from just a month to well over two years has honestly destroyed my confidence as a writer. This video is an incredible breath of fresh air. This may be five years late, but thank you.
Who'll are watching it in 2020 after four years from which the video is made?
I'm here in the quarantine time!!
I tell myself, I can do this, I have a story to tell, and that I have the skills. You have to believe in yourself. These tips were very helpful. You have to find the help and motivation wherever you can find it.
I can't do early. I do my best work from midnight to 3am.
Setting daily goals is good. I like rewards after, too. (candy)
Same here, I write best at night, always have.
Here the reason why night owls always do things at night there never been enough hours in the days cause most of the day is spend is at work or school and we always get tried of always hearing getting up early
@@XenoRaptor-98765 yeah!
Not getting enough sleep will shorten your life. So write fast!
Me too! My brain decides to come up with all the best ideas and connects dots in the story on its own at night time whereas morning my brain just wants to ramble on the page.
It would be nice if I could make a friend that was really into writing. My motivation hasn't been that well lately, but I think if I had a friend that loved to write and encourage me, I could be motivated to continue writing. I do try to ask my friends how one of my chapters sound and all I get is a simple "Oh, I really love it! You shouldn't change a thing," which is good for a confidence boost, but not that good when I'm looking for constructive criticism to improve my writing.
I've always had a problem with making and staying on a schedule, but I'm definitely going to try some of the tips on here, as I'm tired of sitting at home all day not wanting to do anything productive. It's really frustrating when you want to finish a big project, but you don't feel like it! So, thanks for the video, I'll try these! 😊
th-cam.com/video/p8xGH7Xl2E4/w-d-xo.html
Ive run into the same problem, literally noone ik writes and its kinda hard to deal with. Usually if i even tlk abt my novel they all just look board or tell me its great but thts all. Id love someone tht actually bothered to check up and see if ive written anythg and id love to do the same for anyone else. Wat can we do uk?
You can easily make writing friends on Wattpad, you can even join a bookclub where you read the book of so. else and he reads your book. Then you give each other recensions. Very helpful! I started there too with a reylo ff.
Lol my sister is an award winning author so yeah I have a writing friend whos work waay outdoes mine.
Anybody wants to be my writing buddy lol? New fiction author here.
I used to write as I will, with no routine and I enjoyed writing. Then I started trying to push myself hard, I guess I pushed way too hard and I stopped enjoying what I was doing. It started feeling stressful and frustrating when I couldn't finish it. Now I flushed my routine down the drain and was brainstorming happily after a long while. I don't know what to say for a situation like this. It had started feeling like I would have to cut out the small pleasures of life if I wanted to be a writer.
My problem is I read so many amazing novels with brilliant writing that I’m used to reading quality. I read stuff that’s been drafted, revised, and written by someone who has been practicing constantly. Meanwhile, when I read what I’ve written myself I end up cringing. It doesn’t meet the mental standard I have when reading. Eventually I end up getting demotivated from starting up writing again. I end up thinking about all my mistakes instead of just continually practicing and revising. It’s a big chore to plow through the mental roadblock of not constantly stressing over the bad, and to just keep writing until it’s good.
Yato's Jumpsuit - I had the same problem. Then somebody gave me the best advice. Don't let your bar be the best writers. Your bar should be your own personal best. There will always be writers who are better than you and worse than you. Judge yourself by your best, not somebody else's. Even those "best" writers follow this advice. They know and accept that there are better writers than them, but write anyway.
The one part I disagree with is morning-writing. I'm sure this is a great tip for some, but this is the worst for me. I cannot write in the morning because my mind is cloudy and I'm usually planning out my day with everything I have to do and in what order. What I'll have for breakfast, what time I have to go to work, etc. Making time in my already busy morning would be unproductive because it only pushes off my bigger responsibilities and I would stress the entire time about other things.
Writing before bed is the best for me because it's easier to stay up another half hour to do my goal of writing than go to sleep early thinking I'll have to write first thing in the morning.
OMG same
I completely agree! Plus, I try to save my morning for a host of other activities I regularly procrastinate, like exercising and meditation. If I tried to add everything to my morning...then I'd procrastinate going to bed to sabotage my effort in getting up early. I'm a night-owl and honestly night writing is my best time. It's so much easier to just write an hour or two before I go to sleep than to work up early.
Your reason for not writing in the morning is why I love writing in the morning.
I like my brain a little foggy.
I get good stuff that way.
But it rebels if I try writing in bed unless it's a flash of inspiration.
At 3am. Ha.
You do you. Whatever gets the words on the page. ❤
@@malissahyatt2425 whichever time of day works for you is what is good to stick with! I wrote consistently for two months at night before bed, getting an end total of 40k words on the page. If I chose a different time I *know* I wouldn't have lasted that long.
Many nights my brain was foggy, too, because it was the end of the day. I get what you mean about wanting to write when your brain isn't clear (sometimes thinking gets in the way of the writing flow).
Plan the next day at night
I struggle so much with perfectionism. It’s so annoying. I really appreciate this!
Writing competitions work wonders.
I joined a writing competition this year on fanfiction, and I wrote 75k words I wouldn't have otherwise.
Fanfiction, where ????
I am 13 and I used to have a very bad problem with getting my self to write.I used to write at school but now that summer is here I am bored all the time.Thanks a lot!
Really an original and imaginative presentation. Will bring a lot of creative matter out and thanks a lot for sharing the stuff.
Keep Going.
I'm happy to be a source of inspiration! I've been working on a three-part series about point of view, but work gets in the way, of course.
i never considered stopping just when i know what will be happening next. that is so helpful. normally, i just write what i know, and then the next day, i'll stare at my laptop screen unsure of where to go next.
The best part of Diane is she replies, thanks, involves and appreciates her viewers. Nice video as usual. It worked!!!
This is an excellent list and channel. Thank you. Number 4 proved utile when I was in graduate school, stuck writing my thesis. One advisor, Roger Sheffer, who could carry on conversations while composing prose, “I wrote 1,200 words while we spoke...” told me I needed more icons.
I had recently finished our sole written MFA exam comprised of thesis panel questions pertaining to my chosen “major and minor” authors in both prose and poetry.
“You mean I need to be a fan of more authors?” I asked.
“No. More icons on your computer desktop. Every day you open your novel and if that’s not flowing, you feel stuck and stop. Write a children’s book or collection of poems for your father. Write elaborate thank you notes you’ve been procrastinating. Write anything that doesn’t have a deadline. Write sentences that make you happy but have no purpose. Just give yourself space.”
I love Roger Sheffer.
Wow! Wonderful advice, especially "Write sentences that make you happy but have no purpose." Thank you for sharing that anecdote. :)
Write while summoning the dead. 😂😂😂
That sounds like the start to a completely different story lol!
I like to motivate myself by watching talks from writers I admire. Ideally, their passion for writing and the quality of their stories will spark my enthusiasm and ambition and get me to want the same. And it will remind me that the only way to get there is to write.
Perfectionism has affected me for so long!
I'm in the same spot, and I feel like I'm on chains.
I usually write during my free hour at college. Sit down in the cafeteria and my thoughts just flow through my hands onto wherever I’m writing. My routine goes into writing short stories of about 3,500 words every day during that free hour, forcing myself to come up with something different, different vocabulary and etc. Once I start writing, I get swallowed by my imagination. I set myself in the shoes of the characters and makes me feel so inspired and motivated that I simply can’t stop writing!
Sometimes I really love using prompts and from there pull off such story. Finally I consult with my ex- english teacher (since I already graduated from high school) so she could help me out with better suited words and such. Normally I get my ideas during the night. I lock myself in a room and imagine it as if it was my reality. I set myself in the character’s place and play out their way of talking, judgement and such. I’d recommend you guys to try some of these methods since they’ve helped me out so much!
"Night owls are going to hate this, but morning is the best time to write"
As a night owl, I definitely do not hate this. Early morning feels like late evening for me, so I get the benefits of comfortably writing towards the end of the "day", but also get the benefits of writing at a time where I don't have distractions. It's perfect!
Also, to some degree I find myself disagreeing with the music thing. I'm not a picky listener, though, so it doesn't really take all that long for me.
Thing is, I personally have to have some kind of white noise because I have an overactive mind. Even if it's some lo-fi buzz that means nothing to me, it works far better than silence because my brain starts messing around with me.
"Hey, remember when baby shark was making its rounds around the internet? Well you do now, and you're going to have that song stuck in your brain now until you finally cave and put some music on."
"Oh, hey, working on a scene there? Lets think about all the next scenes instead of this one so we can run ourselves into a writing corner!"
For me, listening to music means that I can shut off my main brain and let my subconscious do the work. I'm a decent beta reader so when I've gotten the content down, I can refine it later. Works best for me, especially as a pantser who actually finds it less beneficial to plan ahead!
I’m the exact same way. It often makes me wonder if I’m undiagnosed ADHD. Lol. Music just helps me focus on one thing.
Same here!! Well, for me, soundtracks help A LOT!!!
Allow me to doubt you status as a night owl, since night owls have no idea what morning is. They're never awake to experience it.
Early hours are early hours my friend. If it's the kind of time where I can talk to someone and they'll tell me "Oh you're up early!" then it's the kind of time for me lmao. And at this point, I have such a track record for being asleep in the day that that's basically any time before 12pm and after 12am :3
Someone that understands. Thank you. Now I feel quite normal. Perfectionism for my ideas is definitely one of my faults. ;c A lot of good tips for writing. But I absolutely love the story of the painters at the end. :)
I am a painter, great comparative!
The metaphor about the painters is so good. I’m a painter as well and it hit me really hard. Now I can apply it to writing
Writing your first draft as a script can be a useful option. That way you will not write slow or get stuck.
I can relate to everything you mentioned.. it feels good to find someone who understands.
Your voice is so calming, I'm watching video after video just because it's lovely to listen.
Your voice is so relaxing I love it. I could listen to you read the dictionary and it would still be great. I’m listening to your videos at 2am, laying in bed, and as I’m listening, all I keep thinking about is how relaxed and intrigued I am by your videos.
Thank you a million times for this! I would of never though; your writing doesn't have to be perfect, just write.
Can you say this is probably the BEST tip I ever heard. So simple, yet nobody has ever mentioned.
Thank you
As soon as I stopped procrastinating and made a routine of writing it became such an enjoyable process. I don’t even watch TV or play games anymore. Just write.
Why am I in love with your voice?😍
Thank you so much! :) I'm pretty self-conscious about it, so I really appreciate the support!
It's melodious and intimate. Plus her enunciation is perfect.
haha same
@@QuotidianWriter Actually I loved listening to your voice, made me want to watch more videos!
@Robert Kaufmann what kind of comment is that?
That 'perfectionism' and 'painter' part really hit me hard XD
I'm really glad I saw this video
A little here and a little there goes far. I started writing at least 30 minutes a day beginning in January of 2018. I’ve written a total of 381 total pages so far!
What helped me a lot was, becoming a DM, I kind of do maybe to much for the sessions from time to time, but since I do it, my Writing improved by A LOT. Would be my tipp for everyone:D
Another excellent lesson. Always clear, concise and professional. You are appreciated, Diane.
I've just finished watching your new video and now I'm in the process of going back to relearn (rehash) some of your past lessons that I've taken to heart, the ones that have served me well when it comes to self-improvement as an amateur and writing everyday is one of the most important. Writing daily keeps a certain level of "flow" maintained. I write using a keyboard only, never really did the pen and paper thing, at least not that much to were it would matter. Nevertheless, learning to type as fast as I think has helped me stay "in the moment", capturing the power of improvising as well as spontaneity that has added to my skills in producing content. Now the object is to make sure that, that content is good, meaningful as well packed full of emotion. Thanks for putting out a new video, your writing channel is by far my favorite, it has inspired me at times when I've run out of "fuel" to write and I hope to see more "new stuff" soon!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!
even though I'm now a 4th-year highschooler I still can't come up anything for my future, but then it hit me I realize that I enjoy reading things and yes I admit I mostly read anime manga and other stuff b, but every time I read that I seem to have no interest on reading a book somewhat makes me feel complete and then I realize it, I finally found what I want in my future is to be a novel author I realize being a novel author is not an easy job, and I also realize that it can also consume my time, but then my mother suggested something to me, she told me "Why not just make your dream of being an author as a side career?" I was surprised at first, but I think my mom is actually right so that way to choose a course that will suit my taste so that's I'm thinking to choose the journalism course, that's right I will challenge myself to get the life I always wanted.
sorry if I took your time by reading this
I love story writing! I got to a creative writing group and it's so fun and also really interesting to see other people's work too!
What a soothing voice. It made listening to this video very relaxing.
Such are heaven voice ,I always like such voice soothing and relaxing,giving hope love affection to a male
I love the idea where you stop riding at an exciting scene so that way you won't get stuck also like to write early in the morning good. Good advice thank you
I watched this years ago and I'm surprised how much of this advice stuck with me all that time. Thank you!
I know it's an "old" video, but I come back to this video often! So thank you!
Thank you so much for watching! I truly appreciate that. Keep writing, Natalie! :)
I am the 3,333rd person who will be watching this. I wonder, if the next couple of years, this video will got many views, and also how many people will be needing this. Thank you! :D
I sure hope so! Storytelling is such a universal calling. Thanks for watching! :)
@@QuotidianWriter I"m viewer #214,254 so this video is almost timeless in the age of the Internet. But seriously--thank you for great advice. Will share with my writing friends and meetup group!
Your voice is really relaxing and is like AMSR. I just sit back and relax, yet I'm learning and remembering 🙏
These are all very good suggestions. However, writing in the morning is not "the best time to write." It is a good time for MANY people to write, but certainly not me. Inspiration comes to me as the day gets later, and then I'm more motivated to write. I don't have the drive to get up in the morning and DO anything, even when I've been up for a couple of hours, and even when I try to force myself to do so.
Otherwise, the video was very well done and informative. I frequently write while summoning demons. :)
Yes, you should absolutely do what works best for you! My advice in this video comes across as too declarative, but it's all opinion. ;) Thank you so much for watching.
I've heard that you're most creative late at night, but honestly I'm falling asleep by 11pm, so 9am is a good time for me. It's sorta night owl vs early bird.
Legit, most of ours minds are groggy in the morning. As Sheriff Jim Hooper from Stranger Things once said, “Mornings are for coffee and contemplation.”
@@atlasprime6193Put your contemplations on paper will having coffee!
Actually, I write every 3 days, and each day I write about 3 chapters. But sometimes I forget about my writings (or feel too lazy) and I end up not writing for months! Just because I missed a single day, doesn't mean I'll get back to writing anytime soon. I lose motivation easily when it comes to writing stories. I usually also write in an app, Notepad, before actually writing them on online websits. Sometimes, I tend to feel like all of my time writing is wasted and I feel like a piece of crap for writing all of the useless things. Once a new idea comes up in your mind, you'll find anyway to jot that down in your story as soon as possible. That's why I use up all of my ideas and lose motivation easily and quickly. Your video's very helpful to someone like me! Thank you, you're a book saver❤
"SHUT UP, MOM!" I'm fucking dead lol
The greatest tip I ever encountered to motivate me to write everyday is from Pramoedya Ananta Toer (one of the greatest Indonesian writers). When asked whether he's ever experienced a writer's block, he simply said no. He further explained that it's because back when he started working as a journalist, he's so poor that if he didn't write, there would be no food on the table. Simple as that.
I'm so glad I found this video! It's just so timely as I have to write a novel as my thesis. And as a Creating Writing major, your channel helped me a lot. You just gained another subscriber. More power to you and to your channel!
Wow, the 2 painters analogy hit me hard. I'm so freaking obsessed with making sure the writing is top-shelf that sometimes it can take me an hour to write 3 sentences. It doesn't take a genius to realize that will never lead anywhere. I love that you encourage writers to allow themselves to write sub-optimal content. It is such a hard thing to do for some of us but absolutely vital for growth and maturity as a writer. I imagine it almost always leads to important new discoveries and qualities about your writing and storytelling that you didn't even know you had. My biggest problem is throwing everything away after only a few pages because I think it's garbage. So I start over new and the cycle continues. You give such lucid and coherent guidance that it becomes impossible to argue with your logic. Thank you so much for this channel. You keep me going.
I have written “journals” for years and years! I bet there’s a million words in there and I’m sure plenty of “crap” as well. But hey, I at least have written. Now? Still no a consistent plan. Need to write in the morning. Thank you for these tips.
The best part about my personality is that I use writing as the excuse for procrastination. I'll write for a few hours after I told myself I would go to sleep. Not sure if that's the best thing, but it certainly helps!
I got my start writing short stories and really honed my craft in the years that I started writing fanfic. Some really great work has been written as fanfic so I always encourage others to explore the world of fandom when it comes to honing their craft.
This is really fantastic! So many helpful tips and exciting ideas. Presentation is clean, clever, and visually appealing. Thanks for the inspiration! I can't wait for the next video.
Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
My daughter loves you. She's close to 13. Below is what she has to say.
Hi Diane, I finished writing a small fantasy novel for girls and all your writing tips helped a lot. I realized quite a few mistakes in my own book and its great to have someone who gives all the right advices about writing. I thought there was basically nothing wrong with my book but I just realized that I have a lot to learn in the writing field. Thank you so much for all the fun facts, cool narration and beautiful videos.
Love, Shailee
Please tell Shailee that I truly appreciate her kind words, and I hope that she'll keep writing for many years to come! Thank you for taking the time to post this comment on her behalf and for encouraging her to pursue writing. :)
@@QuotidianWriter
🙏🙏💕
Never. Stop. Writing. Young one. 💙
Being a freelance writer, I put out anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 words per day. My problem is that I'm stuck in client-content mode. I spend so much time caring for paying clients that I rarely get time to write. That, and laziness. Laziness has been a big problem for me outside of client content. Hopefully, I can get back into being more creative. But for now, I've got bills to pay.
Just need to "Establish a routine" and figure out a way to balance everything.
Good advice here, Diane. I subscribed. :)
I hate writing FOR people. Im very much a free thinker and like ny ideas to be mine. I sure take indpiration but my short storiesni make as original as possible. Gor example, im working on a short horror, concerning Lycans. But. Instead of traditional lycams, the wolf-creatures take the face of their prey and it fuses into their skull. They can mimic the voices of their victim's and the faces collect on the wolf's skull
But god forbid if someone orders me to make something ill porcratinate forever
@@sirbricklord8074 I understand completely. I don't mind being paid to write, and I am very good at jumping from one subject to the next while creating unique content. But, I would so love to put more time and effort into my own creations.
I hope that when everything stabilizes in my new position, I'll be able to put more time into creative works. Unfortunately, my client loves the work I do, so now they want more of my time. :) Eh...it's money.
I always have to have my favorite music playing in the background as I'm writing. It's like working out or lifting weights, having music speeds up the time a lot faster than if there's little to no noise. I don't consider that as a distraction but an accompanying piece for my brain.
I don't write much but in place of that, I introspect and speak to myself just like I'm explaining something to person. As I'm talking to myself, the process is very fast as compared to writting where you have to have a strong perseverance. I know writting is very crucial but dubious about wheather my self talk is ok or should I write more.
"You're not playing Dungeons and Dragons!"
Buuuut you can also play Dungeons and Dragons...
Honestly, I find that being a DM (or even playing in someone else's campaign) makes my creative juices flowing in a very worry-free way. I have to plot loosely, worldbuild, create interesting NPCs, etc. Since it's "just a game" I'm not worried about it being perfect, so very often I come up with very cool and original ideas because I don't get stuck feeling like it needs to be the best thing since sliced cheese. It's helped me learn how to take the pressure off of creative work.
I actually started my created writing due to D&D. I began writing backstories for my characters and eventually began writing a novel.
The problem is not creativeness, but putting the words in papers. Sorry for my english.
I just told a friend last night that I wanted to join a game just so I can get better at thinking creatively FASTER in a more spontaneous situation.
As a night owl, some of my best stuff come to me past midnight. It's like my creativity comes alive after the sun sets.
I have Microsoft on my phone for ideas mostly during the night. Having a place for notes on my phone is a must.
I carry a notebook and pen EVERYWHERE. Since I am immersed in my story, ideas occur often. At slow times at work, on break, and so on, I jot down notes; bits of dialogue, descriptions, physical scene structure, etc. with arrows tying the notes together. I try to write at least 3 type-written pages per day. Converting these messy notes to prose usually makes the 3 pages go quickly. If I come up short, I tell myself, "Only 3/4 of a page to go." Works for me.
I'm working on a plethora of different stories, some of my own creation and some from books and movies that I love. My most recent work is about J.K.R's Harry Potter series. I am trying to imagine it differently than it was written in outcomes , trying to imagine the "what if's" that could make the story more interesting while following the storyline and keeping true to the characters. I'm finding it hard to write anything these days, not sure if I'm blocked or not but I am trying to work through it! These tips will be a sure fire way to help me through that!! Can't wait for your next video!!
I look forward to your uploads and think they're probably the best inspirational tutorials out there. I find that the way you deliver and construct the whole piece is exceptional and the tone of your voice is like listening to a relaxation CD.
I'm attempting to write a trilogy. I know where it begins and how it finally ends with detailed episodes in-between but I just can't seem to string them all together or focus on how each individual book ends and leads into the next - do you have any advice that may be of some help?
Keep up the amazing work and I look forward to the next 👍😊
5:40
Ngl that’s kind of a cool idea
Thanks for putting this up. My challenge is to try and keep up writing daily. With multiple jobs and multiple hobbies, getting a routine down is tricky. I appreciate the advice - I may have to try the "don't break the chain" method.
It was so spot on. Rarely happens.
Thank you! That's exactly how it feels, I thought at first that it was burn out and I was the only one to feel so. But I wasted a month plus because I just can't get myself to write.
Late to the party but I just found your video and this is so helpful and informative, without being boring. Thank you for creating this!
Great advice! Tyvm ma'am!
I really like the painting simile. It's a metaphor that's been sticking in my mind recently.
My best time to write is past bed time
You should definitely take advantage of the times that feel best to you!
@twenty øne in future times martinez It's also good for your eyes to get away from electronics..blue light!
Yeah same here like late at night I will go plug my phone up and sit down with a wife of paper. It really helps my brain come up with some crazy events 😅
Your voice is so perfect for this type of content. Love it.
My living situation inadvertently set a schedule for me that allows me to write every day. I have a small target to hit, 200 words and having such a small target makes me feel better when I shoot past it and write 300-600 words like I normally do. I suggest it to everyone
This helped me more than I expected.
I thought I already understand about writing enough but not effective for me.
It turned out, I still a lot more to learn.
Hopefully, after this I could write daily.
Ah perfectionism, any creative person’s downfall. That hit me the most cause I do try my best to write everyday or indulge in creative hobbies that used to keep me so happy but we can all get into our own heads and judge our abilities way too harshly. This is definitely a very helpful guide to at least find a starting point in how you can motivate yourself into writing more cause my goodness do I myself need this video
Thanks for the advice I was able to write down a lot today. I wish I wrote for a longer period of time but I was able to get a lot off my chest and I feel better now like I can actually write without having writers block
A very practical and realistic suggestion on how to be a disciplined writer...
Wow, this is so true for me. I've been rewriting my second book for ten years. Ugg!!
This is such gold!
I was doing 3 - 4 of these, but it's nice to have 'em refocused.
Your graphics, editing, and esp your voice and enunciation are wonderful!
I'm glad I subbed.
Thank you!
"Write while pooping"
i did that once
I always like to read while pooping. Is writing good for constipation?
I always carry a blue wipable marker with me whenever I go to the bathroom for no.2, sitting there doing the nature's job and also writing few sentences and whatever the hell I like on the shiny marble walls
But you know, there's this one truth that no can deny, I had always found bathroom as the best place to concentrate on anything and everything.
May be because of it's small space and with literally nothing inside it, we get less distracted and get our brains on point.
Look people this is too much detail. Lol.
Thank you for the insight! Motivation 💪🏽
I can't seem to write unless I leave the house nowadays, but that might have always been the case. When I first started writing I was in middle school and write during classes, on the bus, and at home, and I was doing great all the way until I transferred to a four year university where I got distracted by all the activities, learning how to draw, and pretty girls and almost stopped writing completely. When I graduated and couldn't find a job I spent most of my time either fucking around on the internet, playing video games, and watching Netflix. I got too comfortable and writing started to feel like a chore. Back when I was in school I would think about my stories while walking or during classes and I think it was also a way for me to escape the pain I was dealing with in school, but once I got to college and had shit to keep me busy when I got out I think I lost the passion to write. I managed to finally almost write my third book finally after like 3 years, but I think I didn't plan it well and I can't figure how to end it how I want to end it if that makes sense. Like, previous events in the story makes the ending I want to write conflict with that. I really want to get this book done with and go into the editing stage so I can get this published.
How I started writing. Took a lit class. Did not understand. Decided "if you can't beat the system, be the system", started writing and can't stop.
I love ...be the system!!!!
I wanna be the system!!!!
You're right that music is a distraction, but I need something to drown out everything. Lately I've gotten very into White Noise.
It mever distracts me. I usually prepare a playlist of vocal-less soundtracks and i can ho for hours. I dont even realize jow long its been till i realiz etheres silence and i need to loop tge list. Then its been 1500 words
I use music to keep my short attention span occupied.
Honestly ever since I found my first video of you I found myself writing from morning to my bed time, minus the breaks for eating, chores, and affection exchanges with my family. Your voice is absolute perfection, easy to listen, learn, write, and even think to. The very moment I wake up I look through your videos to find something i'm stuggling with or know i'll struggle with in the future, once I find one I sit at the kitchen table and just listen as I figure out the languages i'll use and where I want the story to go from where I am at the moment. You've motivated me to write, and I thank you for that. Even if you never see this😊.
Thank you so much for your kind words and for leaving such a thoughtful comment! I'm so glad that my videos have inspired you to write, as that's what I aspire to do with my channel. Keep writing! :)
Thanks for the tips. I can use these tips to keep me motivate to write my novels and short stories.
Two painters was just the analogy I needed.
The lady of the hour
I write at night when the kids are sleeping.
The music i choose is the instrumental
La petite de la mer. From vangelis.
Its helps my mind flow better.
And listen on stranger's conversations. I haven't started writing yet but these days when colleges are closed I'm spending most of my winter days basking under sun in park. And hearing loud conversations often give me ideas for stories and charactes and even plots.
You could also use newspaper clippings to turn a news about some local event into a story. After all it's all about how it's narrated and constructed.
beautifully delivered... Really stirs and sparks the vibes of writing in me. Thankyou. I'm just starting my own writing from today!!!
@Diane Callahan - This is a very good video. Kudos for putting this together for your viewers!
One of my best friends was a professional writer. He's started writing in the 70's and has worked with some of the most well known directors in Hollowood. I went to him to ask about what to do about the writer's block or how to stop myself from deleting 12 chapters and starting over. He told me to sit down for an hour ever day and just write crap. It doesn't even need to be related to the main story, just write down everything that comes to your mind. He told me to get rid of all distractions, to never edit, don't check spelling, don't worry about punctuation, create a deadline of 90 days for a rough draft and most of all, shut up and sit down and write.
Unfortunately he won't be around for the completion of my deadline. I had hoped he would be my editor, but I last spoke to him three days ago as he lay in a bed dying from ALS. I have been told by his son that he can't eat anymore and that he is going to pass on in the next few days. He is now with Hospice waiting for his passing.
In his honor, I have created a character which represents what he meant to me and I am going to dedicate my book to him for teaching me how to write, and also to my father who taught me to use my imagination. I'm not sure who will get top billing though!
That's a wonderful way to honor him, and it sounds like you had a fantastic best friend and writing mentor. I hope that you can soon share your story with the world!
You have a really attractive voice and soothing way of reading. You do good work!!
Thank u so muxh for this beautiful and informative video.
Its click my heart.these all are best ideas for new writers.