Many writers slog through the writing of their books. This may be because they are bored with the project before it’s completed or run out of ideas on how to finish up.

Or perhaps we may have trashed everything we’ve written and find ourselves back at square one, tired, anxious and lacking in self-confidence.

Some of us don’t want to finish a novel because we don’t know where we will go from there. Also, there’s a finality to completing your work which may make writers very anxious.

Some worry that no editor or publisher will ever look at their work, so why bother finishing? May as well start something new and then we can finish the work later.

All of these ways of procrastinating and not wanting to finish up your book can only lead to a filing cabinet full of partly completed manuscripts. 

There are a few ways to make sure that we keep inspired to write our novel, from beginning to end.

Here are some proven strategies that will keep you inspired to complete your manuscripts.

• Turn off all your electronics. They are a powerful distracter and a killer of inspiration.  You can use a distraction-blocking app called Freedom blocks social media, browsing, and notifications on devices when you program it. It will ensure you have uninterrupted writing time.

• Create a clutter-free space.  Set aside a room for your writing so you can spread out your work. However, make sure it is tidy and you only have what you need at your desk.

• Establish a strict writing schedule.  Make yourself unavailable during your writing time. Set straight friends and loved ones who assume you’re not doing anything important right now.  Also, if someone routinely has something for you to do just as you are starting to write or while you are writing, learn to say no. You can promise to do something nice with them AFTER you write.

• Do a meditation and a centering exercise before you write. This can be something as simple as taking a few deep breaths to doing a short meditation. There are free meditation apps which are wonderful. One such app is Insight Timer.  It has a lot of variety and it is an invaluable tool for any writer to focus.

• Write before you play but try to play, too. You may want to read a book, find a hobby, take a walk, do an aerobic workout, go shopping, watch a movie, get a massage, invite friends over, or take a brief vacation. All of these outings can help you find new ideas for future works. It’s amazing how many ideas I get while walking on my treadmill for 30 minutes or to sit and read.

• Practise self-care. Do things for yourself, such as take a warm bath, go for a coffee, or just take a walk along the river. The trick is that you need to do something you truly enjoy, and that puts a smile on your face. Ideally, you should do these things alone.

By following these strategies, you will be well on your way to creating an environment where you can be inspired to write regularly.

Try it!

Irene Roth