#I hope I can keep the deadline I stablished this time…

[thecoolerspringbon-t]

So tired, so stressed, so busy! but progress has been made… and that’s good, I think!

I just finished drawing the endings with the more people in them! (Epilogue, Skip Button & Zending) But if you ask me the Countdown Ending was a delight to draw among the others! Everyone in it is panicking and trying to turn the bomb off, it’s just looks so funny! I might do a little comic with them all, we’ll see… we’ll see…

Here’s our little Spring taking a break in the pink room:

She has been looking for her co-workers for a month now, hang in there Spring! I’m sure you’ll find them very soon! 💖

#sorry for the lack of content #I haven’t been able to draw the things I want to… I soon will though! #I hope I can keep the deadline I stablished this time… #special thanks to my friend who lended me their spare computer in order tl finish the event #<3<3<3 #hope everyone is doing well #the stanley parable

[bookishdiplodocus]

I've been following you for a while and I really enjoy reading your posts. I have a question, if you don't mind. What keeps you motivated through the whole writing process? I always lack motivation when it comes to writing, and it has become really complicated to stablish a schedule.

How to find motivation to write

Hi Anon. Thanks for your question. I used to have issues with this too. A few things helped for me:

Write with other writers. Each of us is working on their individual stories, but at the same time and preferably in the same space. This is the main reason I gathered some friends into a writing club. And, hand on my heart, I would probably still be mucking around with the first few scenes if it weren’t for them. The first few months, it was the thought: “A meeting on Saturday? Has it been a month already? I have to make sure that I write at least once, because I don’t want to have to admit that I haven’t done anything all month.” And later, when I got into the rhythm, we started having Shut Up and Write sessions and they were sooo beneficial, so inspiring.

It becomes easier when you do it more often. Inspiration comes more easily, and you fall into a comfortable rhythm. The threshhold to write gets lower the more often you write. Honestly, I think I changed the most profoundly as a writer once I started writing more often. Establishing a writing habit is more important than the number of words you write. Think of it as with any hobby you start, be it running or playing the piano. It gets easier if you do it a few times a week. If you have to pick up the thread every few months, you never get past the difficult parts.

Find the wasted moments in your day and think of them as writing opportunities. Sitting on the train? Write a paragraph and email it to yourself. Cooking diner? Jot down a few lines while waiting for the water to boil. Waiting for the doctor? Boom. Write. It surprised me how much I could get done in my commute and lunch break. In a way, it was more freeing to write with a tight deadline - “got to make the most of this 13 minutes” - than to have hours and hours in front of me.

I realised this is what I want to do with my life, rather than watching tv or scrolling through *cough*tumblr*cough*. This helped me realise my priorities. Is this really what you want? If so, you are the only one who can make it happen.

And I almost forgot another thing I strongly believe in. Allow your first draft to be absolute rubbish. Get something down. It’s SO much easier to get inspired and write garbage and get back to it to later to polish it. If you have been following me, you know I am a professional editor. Let me assure you: none of the great writers ever publish their first draft. They always do some editing afterward.

This does not mean that you can’t have a plan. By all means, make an outline. I’m all for outlines (unless they are too detailed and stifle your inspiration.) Two posts that can help you: How I turned an idea into an outline and How I never have to face an empty page when I write.

I hope this is helpful. If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to ask! I hope you find your rhythm. Happy writing!

#ask bookishdiplodocus #writing #writing advice #writing tips #writeblr #sanne #how to tell me a story