Fire Up Your Motivation

When you're running on a low energy level and feel sluggish and unmotivated, the last thing you want to do is put the effort into coming up with anything that may be useful. But what if there was something that could immediately boost your motivation levels? Well, there is! And it doesn't cost a single cent! Here are some tips for getting your engine fired up when you have writer's block.

Writer's block can really put a damper on productivity for writers of all types, but most often people in creative professions like writing or editing encounter it. It can sap their motivation and make them feel totally uninspired to get their creative juices flowing and tackle any project they may have started. And then the more they try to force themselves to do something, the less likely they are to do it.

Writer's block happens for a number of reasons, but most often it's caused by some sort of lack of motivation. The creative spark that gets the train rolling just isn't there. But here are eight things you can do right away that will at least get your mind working again so you can begin writing or editing again.

1) Take a Break

The worst thing you can do when you're on a roll is stop and quit! It takes a while to get your momentum again once you've stopped, and sometimes there can be days when nothing really comes out whole cloth. And if you're having a hard time getting past writer's block, coming home and going to sleep will often be the end of your day.

If there is a project that has been playing on your mind, step back from it for a little bit. You need to allow yourself some space so that new ideas can develop. Go for a walk and do whatever you have to do in order to get out of the house and release yourself from thinking about it. Being out in nature can also provide a good amount of relaxation as well as inspiration while you're there. Take some deep breaths and let everything just fade away until you get going again more fresh than ever.

2) Look at Something You Like/Write for Someone Else

When you're stuck, trying to go back over old work or edit something that you've already completed might be the worst thing you can do. Reading what you already had written isn't going to help you become more motivated, and most often it just brings up feelings of wanting to do it differently the next time around. As much as possible, avoid looking at what you've already done and try coming up with fresh ideas. New perspectives and impressions will get things moving again, especially if you're writing under a new genre or style. If all else fails, try writing something for someone else while they read it out loud to you. It's a great way to get the images and thoughts flowing.

3) Play Mozart or Wagner on a CD

Listen to music that you like, but that doesn't really have any lyrics. The sound of strings and horns will really get you excited and motivated when your mind is stuck in neutral. Try listening to Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 (also known as the Pastoral Symphony), or even Bach's Air on the G String for more classical inspiration for writing a poem or short story. Mozart is also a great composer for writing poetry, especially if you're working with rhyme scheme.

4) Pick a Topic to Write About

Don't overthink this one! Just do a Google search for "writing topics" and take the first subject that comes up. Let your imagination go wild and come up with stories that you can use as prompts. It might be something completely new, or it might be something you already know something about—whether it's somebody you know or an event that's going on in your own life right now. If you're having trouble coming up with things, try reading out loud to yourself. It's a great way to get your mind going, especially if you're not used to it.

5) Play a Board Game

I love board games—they can provide hours of fun and a great way to interact both socially and creatively with friends and family. But even if you're just playing by yourself, board games are just a lot of fun for getting your creative juices flowing. The best part about them is that they're often played by multiple people who have different ideas on how to solve problems or accomplish goals—you don't have to force yourself along alone.

6) Write Down What You're Feeling

Turn off the TV or any other distractions, and turn the lights down low. Take a piece of paper and put it on a comfy chair where you can rest your head upon it. Close your eyes, take some deep breaths and try to relax every muscle in your body. When you feel yourself getting relaxed, write down what you're feeling. This will often help you to let go of negative emotion that may have been holding you back from writing or editing things that are important. It will also show others who read what's posted online how much that particular emotion was affecting the creative process at the time.

7) Focus on the Mailbox or the Postal Carrier

If you have a mailbox at your home, sit outside and watch it every day. How big is it? Is it full? Are there any new packages that have come in since yesterday? How many dropped off cards have you received since last week? The mailman could be on his way, and your imagination can help you to think about what he might be bringing in. I'm pretty sure he would love to see something cool today that wasn't there yesterday. Or maybe someone sent him a letter and he has been waiting for you to open it and return it before delivering it to you.

Write about what's going on around you, or at least use your imagination to think about what might be going on with the people you know who are doing things—even if you don't actually see them every day. You can also create moments in your own life as a way of getting started writing and/or editing.

8) Think About Your Favorite Song, TV Show or Movie

I love watching movies and listening to music, but I especially enjoy watching television shows that have a lot of drama in them. It's a great way to unwind and at the same time get something exciting going on that gets my mind working creatively again.

If you love music and you're a songwriter, try putting on your favorite tune or album that really inspires you. Dance around a little bit or just sit back and close your eyes—let yourself go completely free and see what comes out. It's amazing how fast you can get rolling after doing this!

9) Go Outside to Do Something Fun

I'm a pretty serious person, but I also like to get outside with my family whenever I can. We love playing board games and going for walks in the park or at the beach. Just about any type of activity outside is going to help get your mind turned back into writing mode.

Conclusion

When you're stuck, don't let it get you down! Take a break, and do something fun to clear your mind. It will pay off in the long run. You can also use any of these activities to get started again when you begin writing or editing your book.

I hope that these techniques help you as much as they helped me—they really have done wonders for me over the years when I've been stuck creatively.