on writing: consistency
on writing series
"There are two of you. One who wants to write, and one who doesn't." – María Irene F.
Maybe you have heard other writers claim that you can’t rely on motivation to get you through writing a book, sometimes you need to force yourself to do it and make a habit of it. I used to scoff at that, found it restrictive and, frankly, boring. What, I’m supposed to turn my passion into a chore rather than keep it a fun activity?
I haven’t lived as long of a life as the biggest writers, but I don’t have to, because all writers figure out their craft all by themselves. And I have worked out that writing is a craft that requires time, dedication, and discipline. It’s all fun and games until you actually have a first draft to finish.
I don’t write full-time, although that would be a dream life, and I lead a busy life like most of you, so it’s often challenging to find the time to nurture that creative pursuit. Let me explain my take on sticking with writing.
Acceptance (The necessity of a baseline)
You’re not always going to be inspired to write.
You’re not always going to be motivated to write, but if you only write when you’re motivated it’s going to take a lot more time than it already would. Forming a habit is annoying at first, but it’s going to enable you to write consistently. The draft builds with progress, even unmotivated and uninspired as progress can get.
Establishing a consistent writing routine is essential for making progress, and it’s theoretical and painful to think about at first, because in a way or another we feel stuck. But maybe you can try and take it as a motivational nudge towards finding what can work for you to get ahead.
I used to only write when I was inspired and could get myself to start writing, and even then I would be inconsistent, taking years to move forward with any project. I would experience writer’s block for months on end. I was terrified of making myself commit. It could be weeks or even months between proper writing sessions. Now I have a baseline, and you’ll find yours, too.
