Help! I'm running low on motivation...

Bennu
Help! I'm running low on motivation...

50,029 / 50,000
Joined: sept. 23, 2009
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 140
Posted on:
nov. 7, 2009 - 16 59

Will all my Red Stick Wrimo friends please help me? I have been doing magnificently this week (just broke 20K today.) And, as I said in an earlier post, I just ordered a shirt, so I HAVE to finish the novel now.

But I am just so tired and drained! It's not that I don't know where my novel is going--far from it. It seems to me that, for all the hard work and time I have put into this novel, I should be a lot further along than 20K. My husband is on a business trip, and has been since Thursday morning before I got up. He won't come home until Monday or Tuesday--maybe even Wednesday, in the worst case scenario. That leaves me in sole charge of our three year old. I am just so tired and lonely, and I feel like nobody is going to care about my characters and my wonderful book but me. That makes me very sad.

Where does a second wind come from when you need it? Please help me get motivated--pumped up and rearing to go again!
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Her Brother's Keeper
Number of deaths: 4
Number of chapters completed: 23/23

BakerGirlGlowing Halo

16,173 / 50,000
Official Participant
Joined: oct. 20, 2009
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 15
Posted on:
nov. 7, 2009 - 17 06

Since you have a large padding of words to keep you ahead for a few days why don't you just take it easy tonight? Rot your brain a little with some trashy tv and play with your kid. I've found that when I'm not consciously thinking about the novel I get inspiration for where my novel is going.

If you over think things it will start to seem impossible. Make some tea or hot chocolate and put your feet up. Or, head over to one of the many websites on writing to read about others opinions and experiences. Anything that takes your mind directly off your plot for a few hours.

My favorite: http://www.inkygirl.com/

Good luck! I wish I had your cushion, I'm still trying to catch up to where I should be!

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dmanuel08

26,190 / 50,000
Official Participant
Joined: sept. 11, 2008
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 28
Posted on:
nov. 7, 2009 - 17 21

Bennu, I won't say 20K in one week is inhuman... I'm pretty sure I passed that milestone the last week of last November... but I was under severe time constraints. That monstrous output was produced by my own second wind. I think you should just go ahead at whatever pace is comfortable at this point. You'll get inspired again soon.

leighladyGlowing Halo

35,114 / 50,000
Municipal Liaison
Joined: oct. 26, 2007
Location: The Red Stick
Posts: 93
Posted on:
nov. 7, 2009 - 19 09

Goodness, I'm not supposed to have to send out the "Running out of motivation" pep talk for another week. You're a week ahead literally! You could not write for an entire week and still be on track! Don't forget that. You are doing great! Being tired and drained is not a good thing. You don't want to work so hard that you burn out before the end.

When running a race one of the things they focus on is pacing yourself. If you start off too fast you aren't going to be able to keep up the pace and you're going to have to stop running and walk some, or possible hurt yourself and have to drop out of the race all together.

I think Bakergirl has the best advice take some time for yourself. Watch some TV, or even better read a great book. What better way to get motivated then to read another wonderful book? You don't have to stop writing all together but don't force it! You will not finish if you are tired and drained. First you have to be refreshed before you can be re-motivated!

Once you are rested a bit it's a good chance your motivation will come back to you in spades! And if it doesn't you'll have an easier time making yourself move along if you're well rested. :)

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***Courtney

Red Stick WriMos' Municipal Liaison
redstickwrimo@gmail.com

EDYboo08Glowing Halo

46,006 / 50,000
Official Participant
Joined: juill. 20, 2009
Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Posts: 17
Posted on:
nov. 11, 2009 - 20 48

Bennu, you are a girl?
How did I miss that...
I've been having my own personal competition with you since this thing started. I tried to keep ahead of you, but you caught up, and I am happy for you :)
I just always assumed I was competing against a guy! I don't even remember why now :)
You can do it though! I was getting a little worn out myself. So yesterday (Tuesday), I took a day off from writing and read instead. It got my mind away and today, when I sat down to write, the words flowed easily.
Sometimes you have to sit a night out, I'm thinking.
Good luck!

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"I like rudeness a great deal better than flattery" ~Jane Eyre

2009- Leader---in progress

Bennu

50,029 / 50,000
Official Participant
Joined: sept. 23, 2009
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 140
Posted on:
nov. 12, 2009 - 07 13

EDYboo08--Yep, I'm a stay at home mom to a toddler. I guess most people don't notice the "u" in Bennu and think of me as Benny or something...

I understand that some people need competition with other Nanoers to keep themselves going, but--did I do anything to gain your personal enmity/make myself a target?

I know that I will probably have to take most of a day off this weekend, and I'm trying to get as far along as I can before I'm forced to do that.

(I just wish I had another 5K day in me, but I don't think that's in the cards.)

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Her Brother's Keeper
Number of deaths: 4
Number of chapters completed: 23/23

Bennu

50,029 / 50,000
Official Participant
Joined: sept. 23, 2009
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 140
Posted on:
nov. 13, 2009 - 10 12

BakerGirl wrote:
Since you have a large padding of words to keep you ahead for a few days why don't you just take it easy tonight? Rot your brain a little with some trashy tv and play with your kid. I've found that when I'm not consciously thinking about the novel I get inspiration for where my novel is going.

If you over think things it will start to seem impossible. Make some tea or hot chocolate and put your feet up. Or, head over to one of the many websites on writing to read about others opinions and experiences. Anything that takes your mind directly off your plot for a few hours.

My favorite: http://www.inkygirl.com/

Good luck! I wish I had your cushion, I'm still trying to catch up to where I should be!


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Her Brother's Keeper
Number of deaths: 0 (yet)
Number of chapters completed: 16/22

Thanks BakerGirl! I am loving Inkygirl's cartoons. I can (sometimes) get myself through a tough writing day by promising myself that I will get to see the day's cartoon as a reward. :) (Definitely bookmarked.)

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http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2623/4009837578_cd52debacf_o.png

Her Brother's Keeper
Number of deaths: 4
Number of chapters completed: 23/23

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