How I Stay Motivated to Write

Writing is a tough gig. Developing an entirely new, believable world and characters, in a plot that engages the reader is, quite simply, hard.

Finding the time and creative energy to write can also be tough.

Then there's alpha and beta readers, self and professional editing, and when your book is finally published—reviews.

And as a independent author, I have to do all my own marketing.

All this can be daunting. At times, it feels a little disheartening—and I have pretty thick skin!

I think what keeps me motivated writing is that I'm just interested in writing. Business reports or creative writing—I really enjoy it.

I’m also interested in becoming a better writer. I don’t think I’m a terrible writer; I mean professional development. I enjoy reading but one of the reasons I started reading consistently again was so I could analyze writing mechanics and storytelling to help my own development. I made an earlier post about changing my reading habits here: Reading Insights from an Author.

I understand to become a better writer, I have be open to constructive feedback. As an independent author, I get to make the final decisions on my story, but I give consideration to all the feedback I get along the way.

And making my work public means that it's open to criticism by the public. Reading is subjective. Some people will love my story. But it may not resonate with others. It's just the way industry works.

This career is a marathon with a lot of setbacks and ultimately, I need to feel proud of my work. I do.