Tip??

alyssanicolepichardo wrote: »

estherdragonbat wrote: »

Discipline is a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. I can give you some personal experience. It's going to sound off-topic, but bear with me to the end?

I write fanfiction as a hobby. And I used to sort of sit around waiting for inspiration to strike. When it did, writing happened. But then one day, I remembered my university days as an English Lit major, when we had to hand in papers averaging 15-20 pages. General policy was, for every day late without a valid extension, you got docked half a letter grade. So, one day late and the highest mark you could get was an A-; 2 days late meant a B+, etc. And I remembered that, whether I was inspired/motivated by the material or not, writing happened and papers got done. I never once asked for an extension (nor heard of anyone else asking for one) for a reason like, "I wasn't inspired." "I had writers' block". "My muse wouldn't cooperate." "I just couldn't get motivated." Somehow, when there were tangible consequences to not getting it done... it got done.

So I thought to myself, "Can I do that? Impose a writing deadline upon myself; one scene a night? No matter what? Possible day off when I finish a chapter, possible day off to research for an upcoming scene, but something writing-related and usually writing every day?"

That was about eight years ago. I haven't had a day of real writers' block since. I've had days where I knew I was going to have to write outside my comfort zone and wasn't excited about it, but not days where I'd sit in front of a blank page with a blank mind and have no idea what came next.

When I made up my mind to lose weight, I'd just been diagnosed with an obesity-related complication that had me on bed-rest, with daily nursing visits, and multiple courses of antibiotics. I decided that wasn't going to be my life. My vascular surgeon told me clearly that the condition could be managed—by weight loss and compression stockings—but not cured. Suddenly, weight-loss became something necessary. And that same discipline that had me writing a scene a night? Kicked in and has me adhering to my calories. It has me exercising, even when I don't feel like it. Because for me, at this point, how I feel about the process is irrelevant. I need to get to a healthy weight. My motivation is not going back to bed-rest, nurse visits, and a weeping wound on my leg that takes months to heal. Yes, my wants play a part. I've chosen a way of eating that I enjoy and will be able to stick to when the weight comes off, incorporating foods I love. I've chosen exercise I generally enjoy. And some days, I'll change it up a little if I'm bored or have a treat that I normally wouldn't indulge in. But motivation? It's nice when I have it, but I can't afford to let the lack of it trip me up.

estherdragonbat wrote: »

Discipline is a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. I can give you some personal experience. It's going to sound off-topic, but bear with me to the end?

I write fanfiction as a hobby. And I used to sort of sit around waiting for inspiration to strike. When it did, writing happened. But then one day, I remembered my university days as an English Lit major, when we had to hand in papers averaging 15-20 pages. General policy was, for every day late without a valid extension, you got docked half a letter grade. So, one day late and the highest mark you could get was an A-; 2 days late meant a B+, etc. And I remembered that, whether I was inspired/motivated by the material or not, writing happened and papers got done. I never once asked for an extension (nor heard of anyone else asking for one) for a reason like, "I wasn't inspired." "I had writers' block". "My muse wouldn't cooperate." "I just couldn't get motivated." Somehow, when there were tangible consequences to not getting it done... it got done.

So I thought to myself, "Can I do that? Impose a writing deadline upon myself; one scene a night? No matter what? Possible day off when I finish a chapter, possible day off to research for an upcoming scene, but something writing-related and usually writing every day?"

That was about eight years ago. I haven't had a day of real writers' block since. I've had days where I knew I was going to have to write outside my comfort zone and wasn't excited about it, but not days where I'd sit in front of a blank page with a blank mind and have no idea what came next.

When I made up my mind to lose weight, I'd just been diagnosed with an obesity-related complication that had me on bed-rest, with daily nursing visits, and multiple courses of antibiotics. I decided that wasn't going to be my life. My vascular surgeon told me clearly that the condition could be managed—by weight loss and compression stockings—but not cured. Suddenly, weight-loss became something necessary. And that same discipline that had me writing a scene a night? Kicked in and has me adhering to my calories. It has me exercising, even when I don't feel like it. Because for me, at this point, how I feel about the process is irrelevant. I need to get to a healthy weight. My motivation is not going back to bed-rest, nurse visits, and a weeping wound on my leg that takes months to heal. Yes, my wants play a part. I've chosen a way of eating that I enjoy and will be able to stick to when the weight comes off, incorporating foods I love. I've chosen exercise I generally enjoy. And some days, I'll change it up a little if I'm bored or have a treat that I normally wouldn't indulge in. But motivation? It's nice when I have it, but I can't afford to let the lack of it trip me up.

This was the most beautiful thing I’ve read in a long time. Thank you for being inspiring. It’s not about motivation but about the need regardless of what happens to do it!