Self-motivation - Here There Be Grindstones!

[jongibbs]

Much as I enjoy the revision side of writing, it's hard work.  I find it all too easy to let myself get distracted - usually by the Siren call of a good story idea. 

Comments

[kellyrfineman]

I frequently go with accountability to another person - someone who will be supportive of the goal and encouraging, who'll cheer for accomplishments and express a bit of disappointment if I skip my time or whatever, because I tend to be a pleaser, so I really don't want to let other people down (whereas I let myself down all the time).

Have fun in the cave of revision. And I sure hope you qualify for your daily coffee!!

[jongibbs]

I hope so too, or my handwriting's gonna get real shaky by the end of the week :)

By the way, Kudos on the Jane Austen blog club reviews. I can see she's an author dear to your heart :)

[kellyrfineman]

She is indeed. My primary work-in-progress (2 years and counting) is a biography of Austen in verse using period forms. So there's that.

[lindaabdavis]

Go, Jon! We all have different strategies for success. I'm still finding mine :).

[jongibbs]

Lol, me too :)

I'm already having second thoughts about the coffee thing... No! Must be strong :)

[monsura]

Sometimes it's lunch, sometimes watch some TV or a DVD, sometimes I get to go out and 'play,' sometimes just get up. In the last case, it's always a hard deadline and I don't leave my seat until it's done. We all have different carrots.

[jongibbs]

I've done my tasks for today, but the goals get harder by the end of this week. Hard deadline's are fine when someone else is depending on you, but when I'm the only one I'm letting down, I find it harder to push myself.

Hehe, I'm sure there's some psychological self-worth stuff in there somewhere :)

[karen_w_newton]

Connie Willis says she works in coffee shops and the library to avoid the distractions of housework that needs doing. She rewards herself with coffee and pastries.

The biggest motivator there is, for me, is being able to read the damn story/book all the way through.

[jongibbs]

Coffee AND pastries. I like the sound of that :)

Most mornings, I spend about an hour parked outside McDonalds with a large coffee. I'm with Connie on the avoiding distractions thing. I do most of my read-throughs, rewrites, outlines there.

Thanks for sharing :)

confession of a revisions convert

[aalford]

I'm with Karen: the biggest motivator is being able to hold your own story in hand, and say, ah, it's complete at last!

This article has made a convert of me (in terms of going from fearing revisions to looking forward to them):
http://www.glimmertrain.com/fmoct08.html

Taken from the closing paragraph:
"I've found that the moment of revision is in fact the most exciting time...You know much more about what you're doing by that time. Your characters have already revealed so much of themselves to you...."

That familiarity itself is a great motivator.

It's another shot at the ball coming across your plate--only, each time the ball arrives in a straighter line so you can really whack it. Okay, so maybe you fall on your @$$ swinging a little too hard. That happens, too. Speaking strictly for myself: I'm not a natural, so my ONLY shot at the back fences is through revisions...

Re: confession of a revisions convert

[jongibbs]

Interesting article. Thanks for the link :)

I can't say I've feared revisions, but do find writing new stuff so tempting :)

Re: confession of a revisions convert

[aalford]

Fear wasn't the right word.
Dread.

Especially in light of Asimov's(?) observation that one of the experiences new writers must undergo is...watching stories crumble in their (inexperienced) hands.

Re: confession of a revisions convert

[jongibbs]

Hehe. Then it's just as well you've got such an nurturing mentor :)