Six things you need to know to be a more motivated writer

There are many great reasons to never write.

The problem is believing those reasons.

When sitting at your laptop — the cursor blinks — and it can feel lonely.

Often, we need to refer to little nuggets of support to feel like we're part of something bigger.

A helpful way to stay motivated is referring to little mantras, as I often do when I'm sliding into believing it isn't worth it:

1. You aren't expected to love the outcome of every little thing you write. Sometimes it feels unsatisfactory. 

   Sometimes your words will seem a bit cringe.

   Do what you can to tidy things up, but you need to be biased to getting material OUT into the world.

   Share, even if you don't love what you wrote.

2. Writing should be a cathartic experience. 

   See it like a daily yoga practice. In the moment, you let go to something greater than your small thoughts.

   You let go, connect, and channel the beauty running through everything. It's magic, and you get to be a part of that.

3. Writing isn't supposed to be easy, though it gets easier when you write more.

   The first phase of anything features resistance; you need to know to expect it if you plan to go further.

   Sit with the resistance, let it float through you, and you will get through it.

4. The only thing you need to be concerned about when you write is to write with a sense of freedom and fun.

   If this is absent, it's because your critical voice is still calling the shots from the back room, and it makes everything suck.

   Let that voice do its thing later, in the editing stage, but that's not for now.

   Relax and write.

5. Write to make your future self happy.

   Don't let three months go by without writing, because future you will regret it. Write like it's a gift for a future, happy you, because it is.

   Writing now will bring opportunities like you can't imagine coming down the pipeline.

6. Write with a kind of determined pride.

   While everyone else chases shiny things and can't sit still, and never produces anything significant, you're back at your desk writing (again).

   You keep this up for months, and you have accumulated something special that can be used in a hundred different ways.

   Your skills are sharpened, you have value people need, and you can be thankful you kept it simple by writing consistently.

If you'd like to develop a rock-solid writing habit without feeling so alone, you'll want to be a part of my exclusive newsletter upgrade: Ember.

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