Keeping up the Momentum

I was thinking today about how exactly does a writer keep their momentum during the writing process. How do we keep our enthusiasm and focus when “real life” is so jam packed with everything that is determined to distract us?

When I was writing my first manuscript I had this undeniable fixation with my writing. I HAD to write. It was a deep burning under my skin that screamed at me whenever I wasn’t writing. And I absolutely loved it. It was Passion, plain and simple - a deep seeded passion for my dream to be a published writer. And I have heard of quite a few other writers having a similar feeling. But they are usually still early in their writing careers – have not yet become complacent with the whole process or jaded by the whole writing/publication industry. Their drive is still intact.

But my question is what happens when the drive dwindles a little. (I’m not saying gone completely because I honestly don’t think that someone who wants to write ever loses that drive completely) How do you keep finding time to write, keep finding those moments of inspiration that lead you to dive head over heels for the keyboard as fast as you can?

The truth is I don’t have a real answer. I have been experiencing my fair share of dying drive syndrome lately. My life has only gotten more chaotic the older my kiddos have gotten – chauffeuring to after school activities, getting what they need for this school project or that game before it’s due, making sure the kids’ homework, my housework, my errands, and everything else is done when its needed. And don’t even get me started on the laundry.

But lets face it folks – being an adult means putting all of your responsibilities before your desires. And that sometimes leads to the death of our dreams. It’s an occupational hazard. So I guess the only real answer is WANT.

If getting published is something you WANT - if it is your dream you have to fight to keep it alive. You have fight for the time, fight for the energy at the end of the day when all you really want to do is drop unconscious.

Fight or Let it Die ….who knew writing was such a Keeping up the Momentum

I was thinking today about how exactly does a writer keep their momentum during the writing process. How do we keep our enthusiasm and focus when “real life” is so jam packed with everything that is determined to distract us?

When I was writing my first manuscript I had this undeniable fixation with my writing. I HAD to write. It was a deep burning under my skin that screamed at me whenever I wasn’t writing. And I absolutely loved it. It was Passion, plain and simple - a deep seeded passion for my dream to be a published writer. And I have heard of quite a few other writers having a similar feeling. But they are usually still early in their writing careers – have not yet become complacent with the whole process or jaded by the whole writing/publication industry. Their drive is still intact.

But my question is what happens when the drive dwindles a little. (I’m not saying gone completely because I honestly don’t think that someone who wants to write ever loses that drive completely) How do you keep finding time to write, keep finding those moments of inspiration that lead you to dive head over heels for the keyboard as fast as you can?

The truth is I don’t have a real answer. I have been experiencing my fair share of dying drive syndrome lately. My life has only gotten more chaotic the older my kiddos have gotten – chauffeuring to after school activities, getting what they need for this school project or that game before it’s due, making sure the kids’ homework, my housework, my errands, and everything else is done when its needed. And don’t even get me started on the laundry.

But lets face it folks – being an adult means putting all of your responsibilities before your desires. And that sometimes leads to the death of our dreams. It’s an occupational hazard. So I guess the only real answer is WANT.

If getting published is something you WANT - if it is your dream you have to fight to keep it alive. You have fight for the time, fight for the energy at the end of the day when all you really want to do is drop unconscious.

Fight or die….who knew writing was such a transient lifestyle. :