staying Motivated to Finish a novel

The process of editing and finishing a novel means there has to be many changes and revisions to my initial draft. This has been somewhat of a curve for me; I am great at writing all day and spewing ideas, but I find editing is a much slower and taxing process on my brain. Yet at the same time, I find myself looking forward to the result of all of my hard work.

There are a few things that keep me moving: 

1. Knowing that even though it’s not perfect now, the only thing I can do is make it better than it was before. This means cutting or transforming unnecessary and awkward scenes into something cohesive and moving. I enjoy seeing this process, even when it is long and difficult to push through. It is months, if not years, of my hard work turning into something I will be proud for doing. Know that the most valuable motivation will come after you make yourself start. 

2. Consistency is key. In writing, most people judge their success by how many words they can get out in a day. But, realistically, many people won’t be able to crank out 3,000 words every day. For me, sometimes all I write is one word. It may be the most nonsensical continuation of the draft, but it is one more word than I had before. In writing, you have to learn to lose your fear around being a bad writer and let yourself make mistakes. Let yourself not plan everything perfectly. In fact, I have practiced, on purpose, the worst writing I can manage. It teaches me what flaws in writing look like, and how to correct them.

3. Relating to the story, for me, is essential. The story, the characters, the psychology of everything, is something that resonates with me deeply because of my life experiences. The best writers I know write with their personal battles in mind. From a character exclaiming she grew up with only half of her father to the guilt and shame surrounding loss, 12/19/23 explores topics I wish I read when I was struggling with grief of my own. 

It is all easier said than done to keep yourself moving through your work, but the payoff is worth every difficulty.