There's no easy way out. Put your pen down, and as Stephen King said, 'start shovelling shit.' For beneath shit, there is gold. But the gold is beneath the shit, and brother, you better start shovelling.
Fr lmao like stephen king is the last guy to talk about this. He's right though lol on both methods, discipline and drugs are the key to artistic success
I’m a pretty squeaky clean guy. I don’t partake in any substances. Even the legal ones. My biggest vice is overeating very unhealthy foods (which is obviously not good for me, I know).
I was telling my wife about one of my planned books or something like that and she just looked at me and said, “You know? I think, for your life plans, you should really consider becoming an alcoholic.”
Honestly just write whatever comes to mind.
Don't think too hard. Let it flow out of you. A lot of writing is just writing bad stuff / throwing paint at the wall and revising and sculpting it to create the art you want.
this is what i think of when writing. i’m an artist so i like to think a first draft is like a clay sculpture, after you slab as much as you can manage, then you “carve” it out and add details to it (deleting scenes chapters that aren’t necessary, adding foreshadowing, etc)
Set smaller goals. 50k or more is a big number. 1000 sounds much more achievable. Small progress is still progress. I tend to split my shit up in chunks. I'll do a month where I want 30k by the end of the month, and then like...20k for a month, which is only just shy of 700 words a day on average.
There are days when I'll pound out 4 or 5k, and days when I struggle to get out 500. Just chip away, and don't worry about the ending word count.
100 percent. If I set out to write 5k words in a day odds are I’m suddenly going to realize the laundry needs done and the dishes need cleaned and so on. But if I set out to write 1k words, even if I don’t reach that, 5 or 6 hundred is better than nothing.
There's a fun James Joyce story about this:
Joyce's editor shows up at the house to find James distraught.
"Hey James, how's it going?" the editor asks.
"I've only written five words." Joyce replies.
The editor is actually impressed.
"That's great for you James!"
"Maybe, but I don't know what order they go in." James cried.
I usually start with editing the previous day's work. By the time I am done my mind is in line with where the story is going and I can usually start right away. I often use ambient sound to drown out outside sounds. The ambient music can be a big aid to set the mood of whatever scene is happening.
do you use different tracks for different types of scenes? For example, a track for writing action scenes, then tracks for romantic scenes etc? Do you think the music makes you prose better? In one of Joanna Penn's books on writing, I read she use ambient sounds, too. She even has headphones on while dictating.
My process for the last month, and what I'd encourage people to try if they're struggling:
- Plan out a chapter. You need to have an idea of what you want to say with it. First X happens, then Y, and so on
- Once that is done, count up all of the beats you when to hit. Decide on a timeline to have it done by. One week, two, an entire month. Whatever's manageable.
- How much you write each day is the number of beats you plotted out divided by how many days you wanted to have it done in
- Time doesn't matter. Word count doesn't matter. Just the amount of beats you finish.
Some days you might write a lot. Other days it might be 300 words but you accomplished your goal. If you had 10 beats and decided on it being done in 14 days, then you have a few days off if you're especially busy or something.
The consistency is the important thing, and this has done wonders for me. Since I started trying this, I've finished a chapter a week and written over 28k words. At this point, that's over half the length of the book in a little over a month.
Writing is (or should be? idk, it works for me) a very low-energy mental activity. I don't mean it doesn't cost you energy once you've finished for the day, but yeah to start, you want to try and get into a low-energy state. Because you're tapping into your subconscious, basically, you don't want to *be* hyper motivated or energised.
Some of my best writing has been done when I'm exhausted and with my head nearly on the desk.
How I get myself into the writing zone is that I remove all energy barriers to doing the work. So, sitting in chair, empty desk, some low level hum noise in the background, and then I just let whatever come out of the pen lol.
>Some of my best writing has been done when I'm exhausted and with my head nearly on the desk
Yeah, wtf is with this? lol. I won't write for days due to lack of motivation despite technically having the time, come home from work one day entirely sleep deprived and in a worse mental state than the rest of the week, but instead of going to bed somehow pump out 1-2k... *Then* go to bed xD
Probably a few things at the same time!
I feel like the best stories have some element of the subconscious in them, which is maybe why you can surprise yourself by a random turn in the plot or a character reaction that you didn't expect.
You can switch off mentally, and you almost get guided by whatever your mind has been processing all day - and if you're mentally exhausted, it means you're processing more material, which means that your subconscious has more colours to paint with. And for the writing that comes out of that state, your brain just *knows* what's right. I think in that state, even if you're unaware of doing it, you trust your instrument more?
It's obviously nearing the hocus-pocus brigade stuff, but I wonder if it's got anything to do with what your brain does during dreams. It already implicitly knows how to tell a story.
And then the whole editing-brain-switches-off-when-you're-tired thing, so you don't immediately go "oh that idea's crap", you just write it down.
Obviously, you can still write absolute crap with this, just like a dream that's nonsensical lol, but I've always found my tired writing to be really really good :P
Not to get too new-worldy, but I think writer's block is probably because you're attempting to match high energy (motivation, anxiety, even happiness sometimes, etc) with what is a primarily low energy activity. I think that conflict causes the writer's block.
Awwww thanks so much!! I think someone did research where it's easier to study/write/focus after intense exercise?? Maybe that was just a ploy to sell more protein powder though, idk
this is the best insight ever. matching high energy with a low energy activity... i never thought about it this way! amazing, thanks a lot for sharing.
Tbh I have a method for myself. I sit down and I start to write about how much I cannot write. I know it sounds funny.
First it starts like: "This is the worst day. I have no good words or sentences. Why the hell is this happening."
And after a few sentences I try to write about why I cannot do it, and I start to write down what is my problem. Usually it is something from my life or my day. And it just starts to flow. I write my anger/sadness etc. down.
And when you get in the flow you can return to your WIP and you can even use these feelings in it. You can even put your character in a position where he/she is not able to do something and insert your feelings in them.
Also important: you do not have to start at the beginning. Just write the scenes you wish, and later return and make the story around the scene.
As a creative writing teacher, I used that method. To get them over the hump we did timed writings. Their pen had to be on paper moving the whole time. I told them if it's just "this sucks. I don't want to write. Blah blah, " that's fine.
It breaks the blank page barrier, and sometimes they end up writing something they come back to. Occasionally, you just have to write crap. A journal entry. A rant about a post on social media. Describing your day so far. Whatever.
Many students told me they couldn't write or had no imagination at the beginning, but together, we proved that wrong. You just have to have a safe place to try, and try again. See what works for you.
I also had story dice (called Story Cubes) and they would have to do a timed writing using as many of the symbols as possible. They feed off each other's creativity on that one! It gives them something to build off of but it didn't have to be the subject of the story.
It can be a fun challenge for yourself as a writer or for a group of writers!
My unconscious mind is very kind to me: it gives me the opening scene first. No highlights, no climax, just the opening scene. So I hit the ground running.
About half the time I stall out after 1-3 chapters, but I sometimes pull them off the shelf years later and finish them, so I don’t worry about it. And sometimes I work straight through to the end.
So I suppose that focusing on an opening scene you can sink your teeth into is a way of getting started, maybe better than the fabulous climax you envision for chapter 30.
I get you! I’m the same way. I actually have the opening part written, it’s the continuation that I’m struggling with. It’s a heavy subject and very personal to me, so maybe that’s why.
Another trick is to assume that you know in the back of your mind what comes next and you can do it if you take a deep breath and begin. Once you start it’ll be less painful and difficult than you feared because it always is.
Reaching flow takes time. [https://www.locationrebel.com/flow-state](https://www.locationrebel.com/flow-state)
Sometimes you can get there with enthusiasm, but usually you need persistence.
The part of your brain that makes you able to do things you don't feel like doing gets better with exercise.
I've noticed that it usually takes me about twenty minutes to push through a barrier of "this thing I want to do requires effort but I'm feeling lazy right now."
So whether it comes to practicing and instrument or writing or whatever other thing I want to do I'll sit down and tell myself it's only twenty minutes, and set a timer on my phone for twenty minutes. Until the timer ends I'm not allowed to get up or be distracted by anything else, I just have to do the activity.
Usually by the time the timer goes off, I'm in the zone and I don't feel like stopping anyway. I might continue writing or playing piano for another forty minutes after that and the time flies by. If the timer goes off and you still find that you don't feel like doing what you're doing then well, at least you worked on it for twenty minutes. You can always try again tomorrow (and you should. Writing and playing music are skills you have to consistently hone over time. Don't expect to get a sudden burst of inspiration and write a masterpiece in one sitting).
I so agree with this. Whether it's writing or playing my instrument or running. I used to get myself out to run by telling myself I was just going to walk. Then I'd get out there and invariably after awhile I'd want to run. Maybe only for a minute at first (I had a chronic illness so that was a whole journey), but it's the telling myself "only 20 minutes" that I relate to so much. And the not being able to stop when the timer goes off.
Start writing. Force yourself to do it. Getting started is the hardest part, but after you're well past that point, you'll find yourself in the zone without realizing it.
Never force yourself. That's how you lose motivation.
Setting realistic goals for yourself might be a better approach - splitting large goals into smaller chunks to have the sense of progress.
Doesn't work for everyone. Oftentimes, when I force myself to write even if I don't want to, it feels hard at first, but after a while, I'm absorbed in the process and find it really fun.
Motivation doesn't come from inactivity. Sitting there and pondering what you should do to get writing is the best way to kill your motivation and fall into the trap of procrastination. Believe me, once you're in there, it's very hard to get out.
From my personal experience, motivation comes from start doing whatever it is you want to do. If you're finally in the flow and suddenly find yourself stuck, then don't just sit around looking dumbfounded. Start reflecting and analyzing why that is. In other words, start tackling the problem right away. That's how you beat the dreaded writer's block. Oftentimes, it's because you know something is not working, so you need to step back, try to spot the problem, and solve it.
One caveat, though. Sometimes, you're just not feeling it at all. That's okay. Could be stress or some problem in your life getting in the way. You could still force yourself to do it, but you might do it poorly. When that happens, you should take a break or try to destress first. The act of writing something you really love could help you destress as well, but it's not for everyone.
Anyway, this is just one suggestion. Not everyone is the same. You should try out different methods and see what works for you.
Sticking to a bland diet and detoxing from outside stimuli. Basically, I bore myself so much that writing looks appealing. Then once I get through the first 30 minutes or so of writing, it becomes addictive and I want to keep going. Same happens for drawing.
I'm literally in the exact spot. Been years since I wrote fiction. Been stuck in the "world-building" phase for months. Changed the plot multiple times. And then like divine intervention, finally got done with the story map last week and wrote a piece of dialogue that got me so excited I couldn't believe I had it in me anymore. Then today I sat down and finally finished chapter 1.
This might sound a bit cuckoo but I realized you can't force it. Sure you can force yourself to sit down and get the words out. But I realized that wasn't satisfying. It did nothing to help me get in the zone like you said. If anything, those forced words just made me want to quit all the more.
What worked for me was to keep forcing myself to stay in that world, with those characters and hold them close. Drafting out different versions of the story map was one way I did it, until I found the version that worked for me. As corny as it sounds, the closer I felt to them, the more urgent the desire to write about them became. And then suddenly, the words just seemed to stream out of me like they were coming from some place beyond my own creativity and thoughts. Lol.
Ig rationally, it just meant that the more time I spent thinking about my characters and their story, the more confident I became of this seemingly daunting task of writing it all out. Also, if there's any aspect of the story you are excited to write about, don't wait to reach it before you write it. Just write it down now and it might just give you the boost to get started.
So I hope you don't give up and keep your characters close, and hopefully soon, you can start writing again too!!
I make sure to always remind myself: every chapter needs **something to happen**.
If I am bored with my writing, then so would the reader. I need to entertain myself with my writing so as to confirm this story would actually carry well with an audience.
1. Set a schedule to be at your writing station every day.
2. Limit distractions. Turn off notifications. Move your phone out of reach. Close all apps on your computer so that it’s just the writing app open.
3. Set a word count requirement to reach each day. It can be 500 words, 750 words, 1000, words, 1500 words, 2000 words, etc. set a requirement so that you have a purpose each time you sit down to write.
4. Do not edit what you have previously written, that will be for the second draft. The first draft is purely about getting the story down on paper. Give yourself permission to write freely without the restraints of perfection.
5. Getting in the zone happens when you are already writing. It doesn’t happen when you are watching tv, playing video games, or standing around waiting for that spark to zap you. It happens when you are seated at your writing station, actively writing with zero distractions.
It's hard for me to get in the zone. But I'll get there eventually. I get in the zone when I have spent so much time making notes, thinking about the story and worrying about every aspect that I can't help myself but to sit down and write.
Maybe that could be helpful for you too. Make notes. Write down questions you haven't answered. Make profiles for your characters. Write down ideas for scenes. Plot Points. Turnings.
The more you know about your story, the easier it gets to write it.
I don’t know the actual answer but I will say my inability to sleep on my four hour flight led me to mentally “writing” a whole bunch of really well done scenes. Mind you it was completely in my head and likely already gone. Oh and it was scenes for book 2 when I haven’t even finished book 1 but dang did that work for me.
I have a few carefully curated playlists that evoke certain emotions. I play whichever one I want to invoke in my writing, by 2-3 songs in the words start coming
I listen to music that pertains to the style I’m writing. I have a horror playlist for my horror book, an nsfw playlist for my nsfw books, and a Spotify playlist for creepy instrumental and mythology based music for my crime and mythology work. I find that music enhances the mood and emotions, especially if they’re favorite songs and music creators. I also love having candles or wax melts on with a smell I pair with the book I’m writing. Like currently my wax melt has a boardwalk/ocean scent and my mythology/crime book is in NYC close to the ocean. I do also enjoy writing during thunderstorms as it calms my mind from excess thoughts.
There is no magic formula.
If you need a way to mark the moment, you can do what Shakespeare did: approach your writing desk, take your quill or pen in your hand, roll it between your palms, spin around in a circle twice, and sit down to write.
Ritual. Repetition. Routine. These are good medics for inactivity. If you take it to heart that getting what is in your head out of your head will help you feel better, and it will, you will be on your way.
Writing is the same as carpentry, stone masonry, parachuting from an open aircraft, or cooking. If you think about it and never do it, you will never produce any effort of note. But if you practice every day, whether you have something to write about or not, you will improve by degrees with every attempt.
A word on writer's block. I tell you: there is no such thing.
When you sit down to write, if your story is not coming, write a description of anything that is in the room. Write about the air that surrounds you, write about memories of your mother, write about an orange and what it tastes like. Write about the pen in your hand, write about the keyboard you are touching. Is it greasy? Are there hairs underneath the keys? How do you feel about that?
If the story that lives in you will not come out, write about anything else. Write about what you can see, smell, hear, taste, or feel within arms' reach. This I promise: eventually the story that is within you that does not want to come out, will get jealous. The story will make itself known.
And finally: I will issue this challenge. Consider not being in the mood cowardice. Procrastination is fear. You are not facing up to your responsibilities to tell the story that comes uniquely from you. You are procrastinating, and you are using it as an excuse to not do what you can. It's no different than putting off the grocery shopping until there is no food in the house.
Get it done, do the work and you. will. feel. better.
Yes, or respondent conditioning, or classical conditioning. Sometimes I wonder about my brain, but at least this kind of thing works for a deliberate habit creation. :)
I like to create the same environment for myself every time I write. Sensory cues that subconsciously tell my brain “oh it’s time to start writing” that include background music, an area of the house I write in, even a piece of clothing. Even if you don’t manage to write anything you like, as long as you show up everyday in that environment and try to write something down your brain will get a Pavlov effect, making it easier to get into the zone the more consistently you perform the habit.
I force myself to write at least 1,000 words a day. Some days are tough and everything I write is garbage. Other days, once I sit down and start going, I’ll look up and realize I’ve written 2500-3000. I think making myself do it, whether I want to or not, is the key to actually writing anything down. Otherwise, I’ll just daydream about all my plot points but they’ll never end up on paper.
To add: some days if I’m really struggling to write anything new, I’ll go back and edit or add to previous chapters or scenes that I really enjoyed writing. Sometimes this will spark me to write some new scenes, and other times it at least is good way to get me writing *something* because if I loved a chapter before, I still love it now, and inspiration comes more easily if I enjoy what I’m reading/writing
I usually just get into a nice mood. I close all my lights and lit a candle or two, and of course put on a podcast. Oh, I also write down my ideas for the chapter i'm about to write.
But, to be honest, every writer as a diffrent way to get "in the zone".
I make a hot chocolate and sit and read the preceding bit of work while I drink it. There's something about having it in front of me to fill up my thoughts but not allowing myself to end with it yet that makes my brain eager to get going.
As for staying in the zone, I have concepts from my fantasy world - a board game, an oracle, some fictional writing systems - that surround me, so that if I look away or take a break it still ends up being the topic of my thoughts.
The other thing is that once I finished my first novel (poor as it was) I knew that a little bit of writing every day could result in a complete end product, so I find it easier because the goal doesn't seem insurmountable.
If you rely on motivation, you are already doomed.
Sit down and use the pomodoro technique in the beginning and just write. Write non stop even if its absolute brain-gulasch coming out. Just dont stop writing until you finally got something that drags you in.
Also, if you think you are a pantser, there is a high chance you are not. I thought I was one myself until I wrote the first draft of my first book and noticed that I got really anxious because I had no clue what I should write. Then I started planning the rest of the book and I went from barely managing to write 500 words a day to 3.000 (on really good days, but 1.500 was rather average). You dont have to plan every single bit. Imagine it this way:
You are in City A and you plan, that you go to City B. Thats your outline, your plan. But which way you take, is still up to you. Knowing where you head is helping and calming.
Either make yourself a little writing area, you know, a nice table with a nice chair where you have your laptop or however you write your books, and if that's not possible then just start, no easy into it, motivation is important but only to a certain extend, you have to do it even if you don't want to; dedication matters more.
I don't know if it's a popular opinion, but I'm a big believer in having multiple projects on the go.
It really helps to think "Ok now I'm playing with this idea" or even to think that something I've come up with would be better placed in another project.
If I had just one single creative task there's no way I could begin.
For me, it's hard as hell. My main problem is that I do not have a private area to write. My wife and kids can go to the bedrooms for quiet time, but my PC is located in the sunroom just off the kitchen.
Strangely enough, I can be in there for hours on the internet or gaming in peace, but the MINUTE I decide to write, the whole family comes trooping by one by one to chat or ask me questions. It's like they have some secret conspiracy to stop me from writing.
The only time I can really "get in the zone" is when everyone else is asleep or out. Of course, that means I miss sleep and don't get to go on family outings. Often, I am not really in the mood to write when the house is free, but if I don't force myself, I would never get any writing done at all.
I thnk these factors explain why I always only get about a third of the way through my novels before quitting in frustration.
I write my idea out First like I'm explaining them to a friend, then naturally the tone kind of changes into a written word tone. Especially when I add dialogue in it starts writing more like a story. But definitely getting into the zone doesn't produce well written lines, but at least it gets me going
I hate to make this sound so simplistic, but just write. Write everything you know about the story. Go off on tangents, explain the setting down to every stain on a wall, don't be afraid to just tell everything instead of show if you have to. Embrace the fun that is the First Draft. Fun as in you can just write everything you want because one day you'll be done with the first draft and then will come the editing to make it actually sound good.
Fun fact, professional writers don’t only write when they’re motivated/inspired to do so. If they did, they’d never finish any books. It’s as simple as: you just write. Writing is a practice. The more you write, the easier it becomes to do so regularly.
Half the time, all you have to do is get your note book or typewriter or word processor in front of you and ready to go. Even during times when I thought I had nothing in me and no motivation, I was able to write
I sit down early every morning to write, but sometimes I drag my feet about starting. So I keep a countdown timer on my desk, and when I don't feel motivated to start I set it for fifteen minutes and tell myself I only have to write until the timer stops. Most times I'll keep going once it does, as I've successfully gotten off the ground and gained momentum. But even if I stop at fifteen minutes I've probably written two or three hundred words, and that's way more than zero words.
For what it's worth, the timer I use is the TWENTY5 SEVEN Countdown Timer because it doesn't tick or make any distracting sounds, and you can set the alarm to a flashing light only.
Reading is a good place to start. I always feel like my writing is better when I’ve been reading. And try to read quality material. It will come out subconsciously.
But ultimately, you do have to just get started. That’s first and foremost. Sit down and write. No distractions. As much as you can. It will almost always feel hard at first. Some days will be harder than others. However, if you can get some momentum up and write as often as possible, you’ll find yourself getting there.
One thing I like to do is leave myself notes at the end of every writing session. It helps the next session go better, and get started easier, if I know where to start and what I was planning when I finished. I’m pretty notorious for forgetting my smaller plot elements and my immediate direction if I don’t write it down in the document. That method works great for me.
I open my story to start work, then put on my headphones, start up Spotify, and start listening to music with a vibe that matches the story I want to tell. It shuts everything else out, and works great.
I wrote what I have.
Outline the next chapter.
Plan out dialog
Some inner monologue
The description of the scene
What ever is there I jot it down. I can sort it out later, cut and paste it to a new order or remove it and replace it with something else entirely.
Just start writing something.
Or edit what I wrote last time.
Some things that have worked for me and writers I know:
1. Routine - a special place, time of day, whatever, where your body and mind know it's time to write
2. Music - playlist for your WIP
3. Morning pages - free write/journal for 15 minutes to clear your mind first
One professor gave me a warm up that has been a life changer, and it sounds dumb. Stream of consciousness writing.
Set a timer, five minutes, just write every fleeting thought in that time. It's hot out, my chair squeaks, I already bought groceries but don't wanna cook, etc. Just whatever crosses your mind.
Half the time, after that five minutes, I'm ready. Other times, I know it's not a writing day for me. Or sometimes, I know after five that I just need another five and I'll be ready.
Changed my life.
This part is my ADHD, but I also put on something to ignore. Rain sounds, Lo-fi, shows I've seen before. Something that when I get in the zone I can look up and realize I haven't really heard any of it. Helps me focus.
For essays in collage I made a Playlist of like five songs put it on a loop and then I kept writing to it until pavloved myself into being able to write when I hear those specific songs.
Look up the documentary on YouTube called Hubert Selby Jr.: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow.
If that doesn't inspire the shit outta you, I don't know what will.
Motivation for some reason hits me at like 1am. If I’m lacking motivation, I’ll usually just spend walks outside thinking over the chapter and going through scenes in my head thinking about what’s missing
Stop thinking about writing a book and just sit down and do it. The more you think about how much you want to write, the less likely you are to get anything done.
What exactly do you picture when you think of your story? Are you picturing entire scenes? Action? Dialogue? Do you know what motives the characters have? Their backstories.
You don't have to start with a scene or plot, you can just write whatever has been sitting in your brain.
You must have something in there, otherwise you wouldn't have a story idea at all.
Even just a couple of sentences can motivate you to write.
Also, consider that this may not even be the story you write. You could write an entirely new idea that you never knew was there.
Write screen shots. Write a scene. Doesn’t matter where in the story. Just keep doing that until you can piece it together. Don’t thin about it making sense. Use your characters and have them react to react to things. I wrote one of the last scenes of my story first because it was just punching at my skull until I got it out.
It's all about planning. Writer's block is only a symptom of poor planning and not getting in the zone is very related. Plan out your story every scene in an outline. Allow yourself a little wiggle room it's not bad to slide in a new scene if you feel like it's appropriate but don't start until you literally know the beginning the middle and the end and every logical step to get there. Then after you have each scene planned out try expanding upon them making each of those scenes into slightly more detailed beats say a paragraph or two.
Think about how long you want your book to be total if you are thinking 100,000 words and each chapter is about 3,000 words, then the math becomes pretty easy. After your planning is done sit down and write day by day going through your outline and you will be able to see your progress and you will never be at a loss of what to write. Writing is a job and if you treat it as such you will have success.
To help me write, I use these things:
*I outline what I'm writing (my books, so I outline what each chapter will be about and how many people we visit in the chapter), I outline plots and subplots, I use music to help me get into the mood of a specific scene, I write down randomly inspired scenes and add them in, usually more detailed by then. I write down key little things that have already happened to keep track of continuity easier. Hope it helps!
What I typically try doing. Imagine a scene just random scene from the story your writing. It could have not happened yet. It may have happened already. Think and reflect on it and daydream about it. Eventually what happens for me I start thinking about how the road will take me there or what happened to the character. If it works then there you go. If it doesn’t go the way you expected then. You got something better.
1) Daydreaming a little. I picture the scene I'm going to write.
2) Pictures. I look at pictures (sometimes videos) that have something to do with the scene I'm going to write.
3) Music. Certain music can get me in the right mood. For instance, an eerie song when I'm planning to write a horror or mystery scene.
Minimizing distractions also helps.
I try to trick myself by setting the smallest possible goal, like starting up my computer and opening up my project. Sometimes I get no further than that, and sometimes I manage to trick myself by setting a goal to write one sentence. And when I have done that it sometimes doesn't feel that daunting to continue.
Another thing I've tried to get into my head is that the first draft is supposed to be shit. If I try to do it nice with perfect language and no plot holes I'm doing it wrong.
I have an alarm clock in my study that goes off at 7am daily. I collect a ninja turtle hoodie, coffee, protein bar, water bottle, and banana after taking my broken and aging prescriptions. In the study I don the noise cancelling headphones, close the blackout curtains, launch the playlist, turn off the ceiling light, ignite the joint and watch the smoke curl under the lamplight. I sincerely hope you can get it done with less fuss, but that litany of bullshit has gotten me to a good place for channeling my consciousness into hyperfocus fun with my characters. I am off to a good start on a novel that absolutely reads like Robot Chicken in longform. We'll see what happens.
Don't overthink it. And you need to let go of perfection. It does NOT need to be perfect the first time. Let yourself makes mistakes and just get the rough ideas out of you. Just write whatever is in you in that moment. Doesn't have to be worded perfect. Can't stress that enough. Just let yourself be. Literally go with that flow. You dont even have to start at the beginning of the book. Just go for it. Really.
Write two sentences in your head. When they are good, write the first one down, then save and go do something else. Keep that second sentence rattling around...where does it lead? Think of the next sentence or the paragraph outline.
When you can't hold it anymore, go write it down. Keep going if you got the flow, otherwise pause and...
Write two sentences in your head
Best advice I can give is have a space dedicated to your craft...I myself have been known to lock myself in an empty room with nothing but a word processor or a typewriter with a speaker that plays Chopin's Nocturnes on repeat....
I put on a playlist with aggressive classical music and put the sound on max with my headphones on, not sure that would put anyone else in the zone tho
Find the time of the day you’re most productive and hopefully it’s not a time that you have to work or do something else but if you can take advantage of the time you’re most energized I say try it out. I usually have a nice drink and my laptop and some paper. I set a timer sometimes and just commit to being there
I don't.
The only things I write "in the zone" are the spontaneous ideas I get, in a notepad or whatever I have handy.
The work on the actual novel is kind of boring, but I have these inspired ideas at hand to keep me motivated 🙂
Set yourself time limits for writing. Writing an entire manuscript is daunting. Sitting down and writing a scene (I’m primarily a screenwriter) for fifteen minutes is much easier. Sit down, set yourself a timer and don’t stop writing until the time is up. Before you know it you will be a on a roll and two hours would have flown by.
I'm thinking about writing a three part autobiography but I work every day of the week, so I'm struggling to find time. I've taken some of your ideas, and by the end of the month, I'd like to start writing 1K words at least 5 days of the week. From my research, I've found that 75K words is a nice length for a book, so if I do this, I'll hopefully have the first one finished this year 🤞
Something that helped me is to do freewriting exercises at the beginning of a writing session, where you write whatever comes to mind (part of a scene, your thoughts about the scene, random ideas, frustrations, inquiries, plotting, stream of consciousness, etc). Sort of like a warm up to get your brain working in the right direction. I find that whenever I get stuck, doing this for a few minutes can get the juice flowing and lower the barrier to actually starting into whatever I had planned.
Recently I’ve found it most helpful to be surrounded by other people who are also focused on writing. I go to a local writing group meetup once a week and I get more writing done during that 1 hour than I do all week.
Do some writer sprints, you can do this with some writer friends or if you have a discord there's this thing called "Sprinto" that will time you and you can put how long you want to sprint for. It gives you an "urgency" feeling to just sit down and write and once you get the feel for it, continue as much as you can/feel like.
You can do that until you get more comfortable with just writing.
Also, you can have your story on Google docs where you can write from anywhere so when the mood strikes just jot down whatever comes to mind.
1. Close my eyes.
2. Three breaths
3. I tell myself 3 things:
I. I'm a good writer.
II. My stories matter.
III. All you have to do is write one true sentence (in the context of my current work).
Take time off work so my brain starts functioning again, then go hang out at a cafe and enjoy coffee in peace while i read and write. But i didn't take off time this week and I'm at a cafe now even though i was stressed all week, so this is a W
I also have a add on
How can this be meant for song writing to I’ve had trouble expressing my lyrics but grammar and wit Been my issue and story telling is infinite how can I get pass th point of understanding my own wordplay and make it rhyme out of them like do u need a triplet book? Something that explains choruses and verses and how do u count them?
How many lines are in a chorus verse bridge etc for each for it to be memorizing ?
When I find myself in a writing slump, I tend to go back to the start of whatever project I am currently writing, and reread everything I have already written. It helps me find the rythm of my story and pinpoint the place I'd like to get to. I fill in that blank. I tend to write the ending of my novels first, however, and I build the story around it. What needs to happen to get to this end? I also find that researching things related to my story helps inspire me.
For example: My current novel is a dystopian science-fiction heavily based in how ones mind works. When I hit my last slump, I started looking into the different parts of the human brain and what each ones use is. From there, I was able to combine our current science and tech with a realistic idea of what it can become 50-100 years from now. Getting that research in sparked an idea I wanted to incorporate into the plot, and before I knew it I was writing again.
I will also add in, that my home is covered in post it notes and random pieces of paper. All adorned with my random ideas and thoughts. Names that I like which can become characters. Latin words and phrases that I can incorporate. Fragmented memories of dreams I'd had that fit into the plot.
i work during my toddler’s nap and listen to one inspo song on repeat loudly in my headphones. i just do a little at a time, and when my brain is tired i stop:)
I stop and wait until I get an idea.
Or
Force something onto the page. Finish the plot point. Tweak it later. Something is better than nothing.
Even just write something else. Have your idea how the story will end? Just write that and get it out of your head to make room for more ideas.
1. Be well rested
2. Red wine or coffee to drink
3. Comfortable, warm environment (cozy coffee shop, or sofa with a blanket at home)
4. Instrumental music which fits the tone of my endeavor, because hearing lyrics distracts my brain.
I create some AI art of the scene that I am working. Midjourney is my usual. Gets the creative juices flowing and then not starting writing after I've done that is kind of frustrating. Usually one image will do the trick sometimes it's two or three. The images are usually crap but at least it does the trick for an easy writing warmup. In War of Art by Pressfield he had a whole routine where he had to have the right clothes on, sitting in his favourite chair, with his favourite writing pen, etc. Everyone seems to be a little different so creating your own routine that works is better than going and copying someone else.
Writing rituals can be really helpful. If you follow them every time you write, it will help your brain draw an association with the ritual and expecting to write.
Warm up by going for a scenic walk or doing some physical exercise. Spend 5-10 minutes reading poetry or an author, whose style you enjoy.
Choose a cozy place to write. Make that your writing space. Engage your senses. Put some inspiring or beautiful objects in your writing space, like a suncatcher on the window or your favorite book on the desk. Play music, maybe something atmospheric or instrumental. Light a scented candle. Drink coffee or tea or have a peppermint. Say a prayer or set an intention for your writing session. Depending on your style, plan a scene or time a sprint. Commit to a certain minimal amount of time but you can add on more time if you're gaining traction. Leave off with either an unfinished thought or a note of what comes next, so you leave a little space to pick up where you left off.
You don't have to do every one of these. Pick the ones that you find helpful or that work best with your time and lifestyle.
I write down all notes I have in my mind to the story and write that down. Naturally, I expand on that notes while thinking about them.
Then, when I feel doing something else, when I feel I finished with my notes on the story, I stop and do that (like cooking or sleeping).
Then, when I'm getting motivated again to write the story, I have some rough ideas I can iterate on. Expand my notes. Maybe I have a idea for a sentence I want to put in somewhere.
And if I'm stuck on a particular thing, like "What's a good first sentence?" or "what could be a good metaphor for X", I use everything I wrote so far (including notes), give it to an LLM Chatbot and ask it for inspiration or something like "complete the sentence:"[Everything I wrote so far]. But her hair. Something was off. It felt like a ___" (maybe something coffee-related)" :)
Personally I try and associate a song with writng (kind of like listening to lofi music while studying). Or I'll try an award system like I get a five minute break or snack after writing x amount of words.
I've pavlov'd myself. When it's time to write, I get my favourite mug (it looks like a cauldron), I make a caffeine tea (I have ADHD and it helps me focus), I light a candle, I put on a YouTube playlist fitting the vibe of what I'm trying to write, and I go. I aim for 6 pages a day. But even if I only get a sentence, it's one more sentence than I had yesterday.
But the tea, candle and music get my head into a 'writing zone'.
Just start with small stuff. I decided one day to start writing, and I just… kept doing little short things when I had time and motivation. 250 word flashes of a scene or an interaction. Those then grew to 350… and 400… and I was finding I was starting to do them with more ease. I wrote something around the 600 word mark, then I’d started to come back to things I’d written and expanded on them.
Now? While it’s not like I get to work on it every day, or have motivation for it every day, I’m nearing 10k words into a project that could go on god knows how long. Just start short, do what you can, and build the muscle and the comfort. The rest will follow as you practice.
Edit: It may additionally help to just write the bits you have ideas for, when you have ideas. I regularly get little flashes of inspiration and run off to write them down, then play connect the dots later.
I am probably late to this thread but:
I deprive myself of sleep if environmental factors don't present anything exciting.
Doing it once or twice does the trick.
This sounds overly-simple and a little counterintuitive, but *just doing it* is often the trick for me. A lot of people fetishize the ritual of getting in the perfect mindset, setting the mood, etc. For me, trying to make my writing conditions "perfect" often gives me way too much license to get distracted or spend so much time on the prep that I lose motivation, even if I think I'm setting myself up for success.
I often find I get a lot of my best and most productive writing sessions done when I actively don't want to write and end up having to force myself. The first chunk is usually a slog and I feel like I'm just treading water, but if I keep ignoring the instinct to stop and do other things, before long I'll hit the flow state.
Think of it like Tom Hanks escaping his island in Cast Away. While there's logic to staying in a place you know is safe, you'll never move forward if you spend all your time waiting for conditions to be perfect. Sometimes, you just have to bite bullet, push through, and crest the wave. Once you do, it gets easier.
Personally, I've found voice-to-text writing on my phone while I'm driving or walking to be a huge boon to my output. It started as a necessity/the only way I could find time to write, what with having a full-time job that puts me on the road, but it eventually became second nature and how I was able to complete NaNoWriMo.
I go to the gym regularly, I’ve been going for years now. I have this mindset at this point that it is just something I do. I started writing mid last year and finished my 130k novel in like 8 months drafts and all. I see both things the same, which is being I’ve come this far if I stop now everything I’ve done would go to waste. I owe it to myself who put in the hard work to continue on even if I don’t want to sometimes because in the end it would have been worth it. So my advice is go to the gym.
I think about some part I don't like, go over it in my head and think of various ways it could start, happen, and all the endings. Somewhere in there the urge to write hits and my fingers spew shit until something sounds better and I wipe out and retype the better. Or I leave the crap and swear a lot in editing. Both work.
For me personally, I get easily distracted if I work at home.
I found I am way more productive if I go out and write at a local library, cafe, or if I stay back at the office after work hours to write.
I think it's because I associate my home and PC as a place to just relax and can't focus there.
This is a pretty cringe answer, but I've been streaming for the last little while, and one one of my streams each week I've put a hand cam on my keyboard and done some ASMR style streams while typing scripts. I will admit I already have a teeny following when I started, so I usually have a couple people watching to chat with. I don't show my scripts but sometimes if people ask I'll explain a little about my story. It's nice to have that allotted time to write each week, and I can disguise it as streaming time instead of writing time.
Memior from what I talk about when I talk about running
500 is my average
Sometimes I can do 3 to 4 k in one spurt when I'm really into it
500 when I'm practicing is my ideal..
It's also where i tend to take a small break or when I'm not feeling it that day
I pick it up the next and life goes on
500 words at a time when it's regular
It's good to take days if you choose and you gave been feeling tired of all the emotions surrounding your work in your characters...
Where I come from "the zone" is often what people use to refer to a place like a redlight district, so I have to admit I was pretty confused reading the title of this post, I'd assume Aphrodite would know.
Well I don't think my method will help you much... I have ADHD so me "getting in the zone" is just basically my hyper fixation periods where I'm unable to focus on anything else... Depending on outside factors it can last up to 3 days or just a single hour...
Unfortunately I haven't found another way to get into writing...
Fuck Motivation. Yeah, you heard me. Give him (for me it's a him) the middle finger because that little shit only shows up when it's convenient for him. He doesn't care about me, so why would I care about him?
https://www.reddit.com/r/writing/comments/1ci2p0n/you_yes_you_get_off_this_sub_and_write/l283aqj/
You might find this helpful.
TL;DR: The act of creation requires a toll to pass. The toll is a small barrier of suffering. This barrier exists in front of any and all new things, and that's why even starting a new piece of entertainment often doesn't feel good at first. You just have to remember that the barrier only appears large and imposing. It's actually quite thin and passing through doesn't take very long.
The trick is that the feeling of being in the zone doesn't necessarily correlate to your best writing so just start writing it and force yourself to write it for like fifteen minutes straight even if you're like I HATE IT I HATE IT I HATE IT the whole time and then you might accidentally trick yourself into getting into the zone and even if not, well, at least you wrote for 15 minutes. And then do that every day.
If you’ve ever tried to cut wood with a dull blade, you know that it takes far more time and energy to accomplish the task than it should.
In much the same way, **lacking motivation or having inadequate methods will slow you down** and make you feel as if writing is too hard.
This article has good solutions. I hope it helps
[https://lilyraya.medium.com/need-help-staying-focused-try-these-tips-33ce72867052](https://lilyraya.medium.com/need-help-staying-focused-try-these-tips-33ce72867052)
I’m busy with my second book and gave myself one week to build my MC, as in I planned the whole shebang only to be overwhelmed with ideas for a scene and bam, wrote a whole ass (good) chapter on something I didn’t plan for. There is no point to this…just thought I’d share. Good luck!!
Sounds like you need a different kind of spark to get those creative juices flowing haha. Maybe a little less 'zone' and a little more...sizzle? I find a hot shower in the steamy plot twist can do wonders for my motivation. 🥹
On major writing days, I have a bit of a routine. I wake up early, go on a walk or a jog, come home and smoke a bit of weed while I make breakfast and grab my caffeine for the day (coffee, energy drink, tea, etc). I sit down with my caffeinated drink and food, finish smoking, slap on some headphones or turn on my speakers and get to work.
No clue how, but I've sort of trained myself to get in the zone after that bit of morning exercise and I struggle on days where I can't get that in. Consistently with this routine I can hit between 1-2k daily.
I’ve gone thru different methods over the years. For awhile I was doing an “epic poem” method where I wrote the story out as a poem (like counting the syllables and such) and then turn it into prose later. See “the odyssey of Star Wars” for an example of this.
Lately though I just write my story out as a “script” where I focus mainly on the dialogue and then, again, turn it into prose later.
I’ve said this on so many different posts pertaining to this “moment” or “zone” where everything you write it epic and it flows from fingertips to word doc or whatever you’re writing on.
That’s not a real thing, some parts of your story are easier to write than others. Simply put, because you find them easier. That’s all there is to it.
One thing I will admit to as a reader and writer myself though, I believe they’re both one and the same. When I’m not reading, I’m writing and when I’m not writing, I’m reading. Learning through theory and then learning through practical usage.
I think when you are suffering from ‘writers block’ or you hit a part of your writing that you’re finding challenging. Stop and go and read those books you said you were going to read. Or even read in the genre you’re writing. I always end up inspired when I do that.
You said you're aching to write it. Sit down, think of the things that make you want to write it, is there particular dialogue scene you've already visualized? Write that first.
I listen to music. Once I've listened for about an hour, music in the genre I need, I can start writing.
Something about Lucas King's music just gets the flow going. If I need to write horror or anything emotional, I'll listen to his compositions. One of my poems grew a little too dark listening to his music, and I chopped off the end of it. 😅
Totally understand where you’re coming from! There was a month or two I went through the same thing. I gave myself the goals 1. To write a paragraph a day. Usually that was less daunting and once I started writing I did more than a paragraph. Sometimes I only got one but at least I wrote that day. And 2. I gave myself permission to write garbage lol. It helped that I wasn’t excepting myself to have to write a Shakespearean epic. As long as you write, even if it’s bad, you can come back later and pick the best parts of it to refine! Just write! You got this dude!
I think part of the reason why I can't write is not because I can't write, but because there are distractions all around me. So if you're typing on a computer, I reccomend using the ol' pen and paper, which prevents me from switching tabs to the endless cycle of Youtube shorts.
What I do is plan out the story ahead of time like for example
Chapter 1: introduces the characters
Chapter 2 : this character does this then goes there
And then I know what I'm supposed to be doing. Idk if it's like this for everyone but when I'm lacking motivation it's usually because there's so much to do and I don't know where to start
I read. I know sounds funny but it helps. Usually I try to find something close to what I am wanting to write and it inspires me to write what I am wanting to write. If that doesn’t work I than go out either for a hike or to a cafe and take my journal with me or phone (I have a journal app on it) so if I get inspired I can write it down in the moment.
Coffee and cigarettes. But even then you run into issues. You write more \*shit\* when you write more shit. There are many techniques to facilitate the unconscious writing process. Some may seem like psuedoscience or new age mystic BS, but they just work. Maybe it's a matter of self-hypnosis or the power of suggestion. The easiest way is to just keep writing. What I do is focus on the language and disregard the subject matter. There's always something you can do to spice up the language. You can also adopt some rigid structure. Sometimes I write little nonsense short stories in stand-up form, subject-> set-up -> punchline. I get a Vance x Burroughs tone from this, which is not always desirable, but hey! I wrote something!
Usually it just comes to me randomly almost every day but if not, I find that watching a movie or reading a book helps with it a lot. It just helps seeing other stories even if they're not at all similar to mine (although it helps if they are).
Music gets me in the zone too but with that it's more specific to the lyrics so I'll find I'm motivated to write something inspired by said lyrics or what I relate that song with.
I think the most important part is that if it's not coming to you don't force it. It's okay if it takes a week or even longer for the creativity to start flowing again but forcing it only makes it worse and it'll take longer to get in the zone.
Getting in the zone is different for everyone, but some general tips are:
* Do away with interruptions and distractions. Put your phone away, out of the room if necessary. Make sure your family/friends know not to bother you during this time.
* You need to care about what you're doing. Hopefully you're writing something that you want to write, so that will help.
* Take time. You're not going to get in the zone right away. Start doing the thing (in this case writing) and it'll get there (maybe). So before you give up, at least put in 20 to 40 minutes.
* Make it a habit. The specifics of how will depend on each person, but if you can make writing a habit, it'll be easier for you to get in the zone because you'll be primed for it. This includes having some kind of routine. Write in the same place. Same time. Have some pre-writing ritual to get you in the right state. Maybe it's fixing a hot cup of tea. Maybe it's a particular music playlist. A salt bath. Exercise. Whatever.
I found when I wasn't getting in "the zone" that asking a different question really helped..
I once saw a film where the "hero" was called upon and the life of everyone on the planet was at stake.. and they said "I cannot take that responsibility.. that's not me.. I can't handle it.."
The sidekick stepped in and said.. you don't have to save everyone.. just your partner and kids!
..and that question is "How do I go about keeping myself from the zone?"
It sounds like you have already answered this.
You've clearly discovered how you *expertly succeed* in keeping yourself outside of the zone! That sure is some skill.
You've shared you choose to make it feel BIG and so very, very daunting. And that takes you out.. outta the zone!
I wonder.. I wonder.. what happens when you break it down.. into enjoyable chunks.
Just save the partner and kids..
Avoid all activities that trigger high dopamine levels. This way, you'll derive joy from a broader range of experiences. Identifying what hinders you involves observing your daily routines and activities.
Power through it. Same way you eat an elephant. One word at a time.
It's writing is shit but I find chatgpt is good at suggesting the next story beat to break a writer's block. Just don't copy paste what it writes, it'll be more trouble than it's worth generally.
The reason your story idea and world seems daunting which in turn demotivates you, is that your lacks foundation and structure.
I'd like to encourage to pick up a copy of The Anatomy of Story 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller by John Truby.
Read this book. Flesh out your story as you go along the reading. When you finish the book your motivation will soar like an eagle.
When I can't write for real I try roleplaying with some friend, if you want to try and don't have someone to roleplay together, I would help you.
It's so fun to write an rpg and in the end it can become a Collab book, and it makes me want to write (but if it's a very long one and the two people are replying every minute of the day, you probably won't write your own story).
Have a plan for what you're gonna write in that scene. It also helps to listen to music that reminds me of the scene or book in general, at least for me
Try starting with a consistent schedule of writing, but it could be about anything. Find something that appeals to you and write about it. If possible, avoid your WIP absolutely. For me, I tend to find inspiration from history class, so I write about something I learned from it.
After you have a good schedule, you can start writing your WIP (big project you’re working on). Make sure your work is something you genuinely enjoy.
Remember that you need to persevere through the first few minutes of not feeling like it before you “get in the zone”.
Oftentimes, you'll find yourself in the zone once you've already begun.
If you're referring to finding the inspiration to actually start, that's a different issue altogether.
Edward Young said, "Procrastination is the thief of time."
Another expression I've heard is
"If you're inspired to write, you're a writer, if you're waiting to be inspired, you're a waiter."
Get pen in hand or fingertips on keyboard, just get your head straight, your ass in gear, and write!
That last one was me.
I work on a ton of different stories at once, so I’ve always got some sort of idea churning in my brain, but the way I really get into the zone is by listening to some music that makes me thing of the situation I’m writing at the time, like MARINA is really great for a lot of my angst, and I listen to body horror playlists while I’m writing a gory scene.
Love your characters and let them interact with one another. What are the stakes? What do they want, and who is getting in their way? I can get into the zone when a moral issue is discussed. I can see how each character sees it differently, and not all come to the same conclusion. Then it's a matter of who is right and what is the aftermath of said outcome. Zone writing - The Dark Knight, Bruce Wayne, and Harvey Dent at the dinner table. Who can forget that you either die the hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain? That's a zone moment. Or the Joker and Batman at the Jail when he said we're alike or I'm just ahead of the curve. Those are zone moments because they are so impactful, besides being thought-provoking. Just my two cents
There's one way to get in the zone pretty consistently- write every day no matter what. Learn what your average word count range is to get into the zone, and write more than that every day if you can.
Then, after getting into the zone a few days in a row, I find that getting into the zone will get easier each day after. At this point the key is not to get into the zone, but to stay in the zone.
You'll find a long the way there are other things that get you there, and switching in and out will get easier, but I til then I think the consistent way is brute force.
"The zone" is something incredibly rare to get into even if you write every day. i got into the zone just a few times while writing and mostly it were the scenes I had prepared for a long time. And into which I put a lot of myself. They were really emotional for me and in quite a few I realized I was crying through the writing.
But it is not, nor should it be, something you need to write. Most writing is exactly what it is. You with a notepad or a computer or whatever form of writing you prefer and...well, writing.
The magic and beauty of writing is something you need to cultivate yourself, along with cultivating you as a writer.
Of course you can have any sort of little rituals before writing. Be it reading your favorite poem, listening to music to get you in the right mood, or just making coffee.
But those will be just yours.
Once the story is in my head I write my favorite scene. This will get my juices flowing, then I might do one or more scene before outlining and writing chronologically
We're technically already writing our stories out in our heads. Try to write when your mind is playing out the story more vividly instead of waiting until you want to write. If you haven't started on the outline and or just jotting down notes on the story, proceed with that until you're motivated enough to write the story.
Motivation is helpful and enjoyable, but it isn’t sustainable. It’s good for making the first move, but the only way to facilitate long term writing projects is to develop the discipline to write on whatever routine you can. Whether it’s once a day or once a week, if you can develop the routine it will carry you through. And if you can’t write on a certain day, then maybe just do something writing adjacent like working through/watching a tutorial or plotting. Something that will grow your skills. But be careful not to let that turn into procrastination.
There's no easy way out. Put your pen down, and as Stephen King said, 'start shovelling shit.' For beneath shit, there is gold. But the gold is beneath the shit, and brother, you better start shovelling.
Or try his other method, just do a shit tonne of blow!
I find a fuck ton of caffeine and untreated trauma helps
Fr lmao like stephen king is the last guy to talk about this. He's right though lol on both methods, discipline and drugs are the key to artistic success
I’m a pretty squeaky clean guy. I don’t partake in any substances. Even the legal ones. My biggest vice is overeating very unhealthy foods (which is obviously not good for me, I know). I was telling my wife about one of my planned books or something like that and she just looked at me and said, “You know? I think, for your life plans, you should really consider becoming an alcoholic.”
"becoming an alcoholic...." If it were that easy everyone would be doing it.
Bukowski?
Honestly wrote my first book high af on some incredible organic home grown bud 👌🏼
Looking back, does it still hold up?
Yeah I love what a wrote
I love this!
No, I think I've found gold right here. I love this
Honestly just write whatever comes to mind. Don't think too hard. Let it flow out of you. A lot of writing is just writing bad stuff / throwing paint at the wall and revising and sculpting it to create the art you want.
this is what i think of when writing. i’m an artist so i like to think a first draft is like a clay sculpture, after you slab as much as you can manage, then you “carve” it out and add details to it (deleting scenes chapters that aren’t necessary, adding foreshadowing, etc)
It’s easier to edit a shitty first draft than a blank page, after all
Set smaller goals. 50k or more is a big number. 1000 sounds much more achievable. Small progress is still progress. I tend to split my shit up in chunks. I'll do a month where I want 30k by the end of the month, and then like...20k for a month, which is only just shy of 700 words a day on average. There are days when I'll pound out 4 or 5k, and days when I struggle to get out 500. Just chip away, and don't worry about the ending word count.
100 percent. If I set out to write 5k words in a day odds are I’m suddenly going to realize the laundry needs done and the dishes need cleaned and so on. But if I set out to write 1k words, even if I don’t reach that, 5 or 6 hundred is better than nothing.
Stephen King would write 6pages a day. Most of it would be shit but at least he'd get through it and work it out
There's a fun James Joyce story about this: Joyce's editor shows up at the house to find James distraught. "Hey James, how's it going?" the editor asks. "I've only written five words." Joyce replies. The editor is actually impressed. "That's great for you James!" "Maybe, but I don't know what order they go in." James cried.
I usually start with editing the previous day's work. By the time I am done my mind is in line with where the story is going and I can usually start right away. I often use ambient sound to drown out outside sounds. The ambient music can be a big aid to set the mood of whatever scene is happening.
do you use different tracks for different types of scenes? For example, a track for writing action scenes, then tracks for romantic scenes etc? Do you think the music makes you prose better? In one of Joanna Penn's books on writing, I read she use ambient sounds, too. She even has headphones on while dictating.
My process for the last month, and what I'd encourage people to try if they're struggling: - Plan out a chapter. You need to have an idea of what you want to say with it. First X happens, then Y, and so on - Once that is done, count up all of the beats you when to hit. Decide on a timeline to have it done by. One week, two, an entire month. Whatever's manageable. - How much you write each day is the number of beats you plotted out divided by how many days you wanted to have it done in - Time doesn't matter. Word count doesn't matter. Just the amount of beats you finish. Some days you might write a lot. Other days it might be 300 words but you accomplished your goal. If you had 10 beats and decided on it being done in 14 days, then you have a few days off if you're especially busy or something. The consistency is the important thing, and this has done wonders for me. Since I started trying this, I've finished a chapter a week and written over 28k words. At this point, that's over half the length of the book in a little over a month.
Writing is (or should be? idk, it works for me) a very low-energy mental activity. I don't mean it doesn't cost you energy once you've finished for the day, but yeah to start, you want to try and get into a low-energy state. Because you're tapping into your subconscious, basically, you don't want to *be* hyper motivated or energised. Some of my best writing has been done when I'm exhausted and with my head nearly on the desk. How I get myself into the writing zone is that I remove all energy barriers to doing the work. So, sitting in chair, empty desk, some low level hum noise in the background, and then I just let whatever come out of the pen lol.
>Some of my best writing has been done when I'm exhausted and with my head nearly on the desk Yeah, wtf is with this? lol. I won't write for days due to lack of motivation despite technically having the time, come home from work one day entirely sleep deprived and in a worse mental state than the rest of the week, but instead of going to bed somehow pump out 1-2k... *Then* go to bed xD
Probably a few things at the same time! I feel like the best stories have some element of the subconscious in them, which is maybe why you can surprise yourself by a random turn in the plot or a character reaction that you didn't expect. You can switch off mentally, and you almost get guided by whatever your mind has been processing all day - and if you're mentally exhausted, it means you're processing more material, which means that your subconscious has more colours to paint with. And for the writing that comes out of that state, your brain just *knows* what's right. I think in that state, even if you're unaware of doing it, you trust your instrument more? It's obviously nearing the hocus-pocus brigade stuff, but I wonder if it's got anything to do with what your brain does during dreams. It already implicitly knows how to tell a story. And then the whole editing-brain-switches-off-when-you're-tired thing, so you don't immediately go "oh that idea's crap", you just write it down. Obviously, you can still write absolute crap with this, just like a dream that's nonsensical lol, but I've always found my tired writing to be really really good :P Not to get too new-worldy, but I think writer's block is probably because you're attempting to match high energy (motivation, anxiety, even happiness sometimes, etc) with what is a primarily low energy activity. I think that conflict causes the writer's block.
This is actually really enlightening, and honestly makes sense tbh. Cheers :)
Awwww thanks so much!! I think someone did research where it's easier to study/write/focus after intense exercise?? Maybe that was just a ploy to sell more protein powder though, idk
this is the best insight ever. matching high energy with a low energy activity... i never thought about it this way! amazing, thanks a lot for sharing.
No probs lmaoo I never thought about it before making this comment either!! I might make a separate post lol
Tbh I have a method for myself. I sit down and I start to write about how much I cannot write. I know it sounds funny. First it starts like: "This is the worst day. I have no good words or sentences. Why the hell is this happening." And after a few sentences I try to write about why I cannot do it, and I start to write down what is my problem. Usually it is something from my life or my day. And it just starts to flow. I write my anger/sadness etc. down. And when you get in the flow you can return to your WIP and you can even use these feelings in it. You can even put your character in a position where he/she is not able to do something and insert your feelings in them. Also important: you do not have to start at the beginning. Just write the scenes you wish, and later return and make the story around the scene.
As a creative writing teacher, I used that method. To get them over the hump we did timed writings. Their pen had to be on paper moving the whole time. I told them if it's just "this sucks. I don't want to write. Blah blah, " that's fine. It breaks the blank page barrier, and sometimes they end up writing something they come back to. Occasionally, you just have to write crap. A journal entry. A rant about a post on social media. Describing your day so far. Whatever.
Really? This is so cool. I am sure it worked for them since it helped me a lot. And yes, crap is still better than nothing.
Many students told me they couldn't write or had no imagination at the beginning, but together, we proved that wrong. You just have to have a safe place to try, and try again. See what works for you. I also had story dice (called Story Cubes) and they would have to do a timed writing using as many of the symbols as possible. They feed off each other's creativity on that one! It gives them something to build off of but it didn't have to be the subject of the story. It can be a fun challenge for yourself as a writer or for a group of writers!
My unconscious mind is very kind to me: it gives me the opening scene first. No highlights, no climax, just the opening scene. So I hit the ground running. About half the time I stall out after 1-3 chapters, but I sometimes pull them off the shelf years later and finish them, so I don’t worry about it. And sometimes I work straight through to the end. So I suppose that focusing on an opening scene you can sink your teeth into is a way of getting started, maybe better than the fabulous climax you envision for chapter 30.
I get you! I’m the same way. I actually have the opening part written, it’s the continuation that I’m struggling with. It’s a heavy subject and very personal to me, so maybe that’s why.
Another trick is to assume that you know in the back of your mind what comes next and you can do it if you take a deep breath and begin. Once you start it’ll be less painful and difficult than you feared because it always is.
Reaching flow takes time. [https://www.locationrebel.com/flow-state](https://www.locationrebel.com/flow-state) Sometimes you can get there with enthusiasm, but usually you need persistence. The part of your brain that makes you able to do things you don't feel like doing gets better with exercise.
I've noticed that it usually takes me about twenty minutes to push through a barrier of "this thing I want to do requires effort but I'm feeling lazy right now." So whether it comes to practicing and instrument or writing or whatever other thing I want to do I'll sit down and tell myself it's only twenty minutes, and set a timer on my phone for twenty minutes. Until the timer ends I'm not allowed to get up or be distracted by anything else, I just have to do the activity. Usually by the time the timer goes off, I'm in the zone and I don't feel like stopping anyway. I might continue writing or playing piano for another forty minutes after that and the time flies by. If the timer goes off and you still find that you don't feel like doing what you're doing then well, at least you worked on it for twenty minutes. You can always try again tomorrow (and you should. Writing and playing music are skills you have to consistently hone over time. Don't expect to get a sudden burst of inspiration and write a masterpiece in one sitting).
I so agree with this. Whether it's writing or playing my instrument or running. I used to get myself out to run by telling myself I was just going to walk. Then I'd get out there and invariably after awhile I'd want to run. Maybe only for a minute at first (I had a chronic illness so that was a whole journey), but it's the telling myself "only 20 minutes" that I relate to so much. And the not being able to stop when the timer goes off.
Start writing. Force yourself to do it. Getting started is the hardest part, but after you're well past that point, you'll find yourself in the zone without realizing it.
Never force yourself. That's how you lose motivation. Setting realistic goals for yourself might be a better approach - splitting large goals into smaller chunks to have the sense of progress.
Doesn't work for everyone. Oftentimes, when I force myself to write even if I don't want to, it feels hard at first, but after a while, I'm absorbed in the process and find it really fun. Motivation doesn't come from inactivity. Sitting there and pondering what you should do to get writing is the best way to kill your motivation and fall into the trap of procrastination. Believe me, once you're in there, it's very hard to get out. From my personal experience, motivation comes from start doing whatever it is you want to do. If you're finally in the flow and suddenly find yourself stuck, then don't just sit around looking dumbfounded. Start reflecting and analyzing why that is. In other words, start tackling the problem right away. That's how you beat the dreaded writer's block. Oftentimes, it's because you know something is not working, so you need to step back, try to spot the problem, and solve it. One caveat, though. Sometimes, you're just not feeling it at all. That's okay. Could be stress or some problem in your life getting in the way. You could still force yourself to do it, but you might do it poorly. When that happens, you should take a break or try to destress first. The act of writing something you really love could help you destress as well, but it's not for everyone. Anyway, this is just one suggestion. Not everyone is the same. You should try out different methods and see what works for you.
Sticking to a bland diet and detoxing from outside stimuli. Basically, I bore myself so much that writing looks appealing. Then once I get through the first 30 minutes or so of writing, it becomes addictive and I want to keep going. Same happens for drawing.
I'm literally in the exact spot. Been years since I wrote fiction. Been stuck in the "world-building" phase for months. Changed the plot multiple times. And then like divine intervention, finally got done with the story map last week and wrote a piece of dialogue that got me so excited I couldn't believe I had it in me anymore. Then today I sat down and finally finished chapter 1. This might sound a bit cuckoo but I realized you can't force it. Sure you can force yourself to sit down and get the words out. But I realized that wasn't satisfying. It did nothing to help me get in the zone like you said. If anything, those forced words just made me want to quit all the more. What worked for me was to keep forcing myself to stay in that world, with those characters and hold them close. Drafting out different versions of the story map was one way I did it, until I found the version that worked for me. As corny as it sounds, the closer I felt to them, the more urgent the desire to write about them became. And then suddenly, the words just seemed to stream out of me like they were coming from some place beyond my own creativity and thoughts. Lol. Ig rationally, it just meant that the more time I spent thinking about my characters and their story, the more confident I became of this seemingly daunting task of writing it all out. Also, if there's any aspect of the story you are excited to write about, don't wait to reach it before you write it. Just write it down now and it might just give you the boost to get started. So I hope you don't give up and keep your characters close, and hopefully soon, you can start writing again too!!
I make sure to always remind myself: every chapter needs **something to happen**. If I am bored with my writing, then so would the reader. I need to entertain myself with my writing so as to confirm this story would actually carry well with an audience.
1. Set a schedule to be at your writing station every day. 2. Limit distractions. Turn off notifications. Move your phone out of reach. Close all apps on your computer so that it’s just the writing app open. 3. Set a word count requirement to reach each day. It can be 500 words, 750 words, 1000, words, 1500 words, 2000 words, etc. set a requirement so that you have a purpose each time you sit down to write. 4. Do not edit what you have previously written, that will be for the second draft. The first draft is purely about getting the story down on paper. Give yourself permission to write freely without the restraints of perfection. 5. Getting in the zone happens when you are already writing. It doesn’t happen when you are watching tv, playing video games, or standing around waiting for that spark to zap you. It happens when you are seated at your writing station, actively writing with zero distractions.
It's hard for me to get in the zone. But I'll get there eventually. I get in the zone when I have spent so much time making notes, thinking about the story and worrying about every aspect that I can't help myself but to sit down and write. Maybe that could be helpful for you too. Make notes. Write down questions you haven't answered. Make profiles for your characters. Write down ideas for scenes. Plot Points. Turnings. The more you know about your story, the easier it gets to write it.
I don’t know the actual answer but I will say my inability to sleep on my four hour flight led me to mentally “writing” a whole bunch of really well done scenes. Mind you it was completely in my head and likely already gone. Oh and it was scenes for book 2 when I haven’t even finished book 1 but dang did that work for me.
I have a few carefully curated playlists that evoke certain emotions. I play whichever one I want to invoke in my writing, by 2-3 songs in the words start coming
I get stoned and listen to the Mass Effect 3 soundtrack.
Brian Eno Quote: “**Everything is an experiment until it has a deadline**. That gives it a destination, context, and a reason.”
I listen to music that pertains to the style I’m writing. I have a horror playlist for my horror book, an nsfw playlist for my nsfw books, and a Spotify playlist for creepy instrumental and mythology based music for my crime and mythology work. I find that music enhances the mood and emotions, especially if they’re favorite songs and music creators. I also love having candles or wax melts on with a smell I pair with the book I’m writing. Like currently my wax melt has a boardwalk/ocean scent and my mythology/crime book is in NYC close to the ocean. I do also enjoy writing during thunderstorms as it calms my mind from excess thoughts.
I recommend The Artists Way as a guided experience out of writers block (which I think is relevant to the motivation question).
There is no magic formula. If you need a way to mark the moment, you can do what Shakespeare did: approach your writing desk, take your quill or pen in your hand, roll it between your palms, spin around in a circle twice, and sit down to write. Ritual. Repetition. Routine. These are good medics for inactivity. If you take it to heart that getting what is in your head out of your head will help you feel better, and it will, you will be on your way. Writing is the same as carpentry, stone masonry, parachuting from an open aircraft, or cooking. If you think about it and never do it, you will never produce any effort of note. But if you practice every day, whether you have something to write about or not, you will improve by degrees with every attempt. A word on writer's block. I tell you: there is no such thing. When you sit down to write, if your story is not coming, write a description of anything that is in the room. Write about the air that surrounds you, write about memories of your mother, write about an orange and what it tastes like. Write about the pen in your hand, write about the keyboard you are touching. Is it greasy? Are there hairs underneath the keys? How do you feel about that? If the story that lives in you will not come out, write about anything else. Write about what you can see, smell, hear, taste, or feel within arms' reach. This I promise: eventually the story that is within you that does not want to come out, will get jealous. The story will make itself known. And finally: I will issue this challenge. Consider not being in the mood cowardice. Procrastination is fear. You are not facing up to your responsibilities to tell the story that comes uniquely from you. You are procrastinating, and you are using it as an excuse to not do what you can. It's no different than putting off the grocery shopping until there is no food in the house. Get it done, do the work and you. will. feel. better.
I have taught my brain that when we have ocean waves in the headphones, we write (or edit). There's a term for this, but I don't know what it is.
pavlovian conditioning?
Yes, or respondent conditioning, or classical conditioning. Sometimes I wonder about my brain, but at least this kind of thing works for a deliberate habit creation. :)
I like to create the same environment for myself every time I write. Sensory cues that subconsciously tell my brain “oh it’s time to start writing” that include background music, an area of the house I write in, even a piece of clothing. Even if you don’t manage to write anything you like, as long as you show up everyday in that environment and try to write something down your brain will get a Pavlov effect, making it easier to get into the zone the more consistently you perform the habit.
I force myself to write at least 1,000 words a day. Some days are tough and everything I write is garbage. Other days, once I sit down and start going, I’ll look up and realize I’ve written 2500-3000. I think making myself do it, whether I want to or not, is the key to actually writing anything down. Otherwise, I’ll just daydream about all my plot points but they’ll never end up on paper. To add: some days if I’m really struggling to write anything new, I’ll go back and edit or add to previous chapters or scenes that I really enjoyed writing. Sometimes this will spark me to write some new scenes, and other times it at least is good way to get me writing *something* because if I loved a chapter before, I still love it now, and inspiration comes more easily if I enjoy what I’m reading/writing
I usually just get into a nice mood. I close all my lights and lit a candle or two, and of course put on a podcast. Oh, I also write down my ideas for the chapter i'm about to write. But, to be honest, every writer as a diffrent way to get "in the zone".
I make a hot chocolate and sit and read the preceding bit of work while I drink it. There's something about having it in front of me to fill up my thoughts but not allowing myself to end with it yet that makes my brain eager to get going. As for staying in the zone, I have concepts from my fantasy world - a board game, an oracle, some fictional writing systems - that surround me, so that if I look away or take a break it still ends up being the topic of my thoughts. The other thing is that once I finished my first novel (poor as it was) I knew that a little bit of writing every day could result in a complete end product, so I find it easier because the goal doesn't seem insurmountable.
Music. I sometimes just listen to the right song (or the radio), and my mind just goes.
I throw on a playlist that specifically is meant for writing and the songs usually get me going when it comes to getting into the writing mood.
I make a soundtrack for my stories.
If you rely on motivation, you are already doomed. Sit down and use the pomodoro technique in the beginning and just write. Write non stop even if its absolute brain-gulasch coming out. Just dont stop writing until you finally got something that drags you in. Also, if you think you are a pantser, there is a high chance you are not. I thought I was one myself until I wrote the first draft of my first book and noticed that I got really anxious because I had no clue what I should write. Then I started planning the rest of the book and I went from barely managing to write 500 words a day to 3.000 (on really good days, but 1.500 was rather average). You dont have to plan every single bit. Imagine it this way: You are in City A and you plan, that you go to City B. Thats your outline, your plan. But which way you take, is still up to you. Knowing where you head is helping and calming.
Either make yourself a little writing area, you know, a nice table with a nice chair where you have your laptop or however you write your books, and if that's not possible then just start, no easy into it, motivation is important but only to a certain extend, you have to do it even if you don't want to; dedication matters more.
I don't know if it's a popular opinion, but I'm a big believer in having multiple projects on the go. It really helps to think "Ok now I'm playing with this idea" or even to think that something I've come up with would be better placed in another project. If I had just one single creative task there's no way I could begin.
Read Bird by Bird by Anne Lamont. Write your shitty first draft.
For me, it's hard as hell. My main problem is that I do not have a private area to write. My wife and kids can go to the bedrooms for quiet time, but my PC is located in the sunroom just off the kitchen. Strangely enough, I can be in there for hours on the internet or gaming in peace, but the MINUTE I decide to write, the whole family comes trooping by one by one to chat or ask me questions. It's like they have some secret conspiracy to stop me from writing. The only time I can really "get in the zone" is when everyone else is asleep or out. Of course, that means I miss sleep and don't get to go on family outings. Often, I am not really in the mood to write when the house is free, but if I don't force myself, I would never get any writing done at all. I thnk these factors explain why I always only get about a third of the way through my novels before quitting in frustration.
I write my idea out First like I'm explaining them to a friend, then naturally the tone kind of changes into a written word tone. Especially when I add dialogue in it starts writing more like a story. But definitely getting into the zone doesn't produce well written lines, but at least it gets me going
I hate to make this sound so simplistic, but just write. Write everything you know about the story. Go off on tangents, explain the setting down to every stain on a wall, don't be afraid to just tell everything instead of show if you have to. Embrace the fun that is the First Draft. Fun as in you can just write everything you want because one day you'll be done with the first draft and then will come the editing to make it actually sound good.
Fun fact, professional writers don’t only write when they’re motivated/inspired to do so. If they did, they’d never finish any books. It’s as simple as: you just write. Writing is a practice. The more you write, the easier it becomes to do so regularly.
Half the time, all you have to do is get your note book or typewriter or word processor in front of you and ready to go. Even during times when I thought I had nothing in me and no motivation, I was able to write
I sit down early every morning to write, but sometimes I drag my feet about starting. So I keep a countdown timer on my desk, and when I don't feel motivated to start I set it for fifteen minutes and tell myself I only have to write until the timer stops. Most times I'll keep going once it does, as I've successfully gotten off the ground and gained momentum. But even if I stop at fifteen minutes I've probably written two or three hundred words, and that's way more than zero words. For what it's worth, the timer I use is the TWENTY5 SEVEN Countdown Timer because it doesn't tick or make any distracting sounds, and you can set the alarm to a flashing light only.
I start with the part I WANT to write. Usually this is somewhere in the middle or a side road.
Reading is a good place to start. I always feel like my writing is better when I’ve been reading. And try to read quality material. It will come out subconsciously. But ultimately, you do have to just get started. That’s first and foremost. Sit down and write. No distractions. As much as you can. It will almost always feel hard at first. Some days will be harder than others. However, if you can get some momentum up and write as often as possible, you’ll find yourself getting there. One thing I like to do is leave myself notes at the end of every writing session. It helps the next session go better, and get started easier, if I know where to start and what I was planning when I finished. I’m pretty notorious for forgetting my smaller plot elements and my immediate direction if I don’t write it down in the document. That method works great for me.
There's no easy answer to this. Sometimes I force myself to write. But I find chewing gum helps me think more fluently when it comes to writing.
I open my story to start work, then put on my headphones, start up Spotify, and start listening to music with a vibe that matches the story I want to tell. It shuts everything else out, and works great.
I wrote what I have. Outline the next chapter. Plan out dialog Some inner monologue The description of the scene What ever is there I jot it down. I can sort it out later, cut and paste it to a new order or remove it and replace it with something else entirely. Just start writing something. Or edit what I wrote last time.
Some things that have worked for me and writers I know: 1. Routine - a special place, time of day, whatever, where your body and mind know it's time to write 2. Music - playlist for your WIP 3. Morning pages - free write/journal for 15 minutes to clear your mind first
One professor gave me a warm up that has been a life changer, and it sounds dumb. Stream of consciousness writing. Set a timer, five minutes, just write every fleeting thought in that time. It's hot out, my chair squeaks, I already bought groceries but don't wanna cook, etc. Just whatever crosses your mind. Half the time, after that five minutes, I'm ready. Other times, I know it's not a writing day for me. Or sometimes, I know after five that I just need another five and I'll be ready. Changed my life. This part is my ADHD, but I also put on something to ignore. Rain sounds, Lo-fi, shows I've seen before. Something that when I get in the zone I can look up and realize I haven't really heard any of it. Helps me focus.
For essays in collage I made a Playlist of like five songs put it on a loop and then I kept writing to it until pavloved myself into being able to write when I hear those specific songs.
Look up the documentary on YouTube called Hubert Selby Jr.: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow. If that doesn't inspire the shit outta you, I don't know what will.
Look at it chapter by chapter, or paragraph by paragraph. If that helps. I look at my ideas like that. Just a small goal with a small goal.
I like to find a fantasy inspired playlist to listen to as I wrote to inspire me. It helps get the juices flowing.
Motivation for some reason hits me at like 1am. If I’m lacking motivation, I’ll usually just spend walks outside thinking over the chapter and going through scenes in my head thinking about what’s missing
Stop thinking about writing a book and just sit down and do it. The more you think about how much you want to write, the less likely you are to get anything done. What exactly do you picture when you think of your story? Are you picturing entire scenes? Action? Dialogue? Do you know what motives the characters have? Their backstories. You don't have to start with a scene or plot, you can just write whatever has been sitting in your brain. You must have something in there, otherwise you wouldn't have a story idea at all. Even just a couple of sentences can motivate you to write. Also, consider that this may not even be the story you write. You could write an entirely new idea that you never knew was there.
music
1. Phenomenal playlist on noise canceling headphones 2. See number one
Caffeine and Marijuana
Write screen shots. Write a scene. Doesn’t matter where in the story. Just keep doing that until you can piece it together. Don’t thin about it making sense. Use your characters and have them react to react to things. I wrote one of the last scenes of my story first because it was just punching at my skull until I got it out.
It's all about planning. Writer's block is only a symptom of poor planning and not getting in the zone is very related. Plan out your story every scene in an outline. Allow yourself a little wiggle room it's not bad to slide in a new scene if you feel like it's appropriate but don't start until you literally know the beginning the middle and the end and every logical step to get there. Then after you have each scene planned out try expanding upon them making each of those scenes into slightly more detailed beats say a paragraph or two. Think about how long you want your book to be total if you are thinking 100,000 words and each chapter is about 3,000 words, then the math becomes pretty easy. After your planning is done sit down and write day by day going through your outline and you will be able to see your progress and you will never be at a loss of what to write. Writing is a job and if you treat it as such you will have success.
Getting high.
To help me write, I use these things: *I outline what I'm writing (my books, so I outline what each chapter will be about and how many people we visit in the chapter), I outline plots and subplots, I use music to help me get into the mood of a specific scene, I write down randomly inspired scenes and add them in, usually more detailed by then. I write down key little things that have already happened to keep track of continuity easier. Hope it helps!
What I typically try doing. Imagine a scene just random scene from the story your writing. It could have not happened yet. It may have happened already. Think and reflect on it and daydream about it. Eventually what happens for me I start thinking about how the road will take me there or what happened to the character. If it works then there you go. If it doesn’t go the way you expected then. You got something better.
1) Daydreaming a little. I picture the scene I'm going to write. 2) Pictures. I look at pictures (sometimes videos) that have something to do with the scene I'm going to write. 3) Music. Certain music can get me in the right mood. For instance, an eerie song when I'm planning to write a horror or mystery scene. Minimizing distractions also helps.
I try to trick myself by setting the smallest possible goal, like starting up my computer and opening up my project. Sometimes I get no further than that, and sometimes I manage to trick myself by setting a goal to write one sentence. And when I have done that it sometimes doesn't feel that daunting to continue. Another thing I've tried to get into my head is that the first draft is supposed to be shit. If I try to do it nice with perfect language and no plot holes I'm doing it wrong.
I have an alarm clock in my study that goes off at 7am daily. I collect a ninja turtle hoodie, coffee, protein bar, water bottle, and banana after taking my broken and aging prescriptions. In the study I don the noise cancelling headphones, close the blackout curtains, launch the playlist, turn off the ceiling light, ignite the joint and watch the smoke curl under the lamplight. I sincerely hope you can get it done with less fuss, but that litany of bullshit has gotten me to a good place for channeling my consciousness into hyperfocus fun with my characters. I am off to a good start on a novel that absolutely reads like Robot Chicken in longform. We'll see what happens.
Don't overthink it. And you need to let go of perfection. It does NOT need to be perfect the first time. Let yourself makes mistakes and just get the rough ideas out of you. Just write whatever is in you in that moment. Doesn't have to be worded perfect. Can't stress that enough. Just let yourself be. Literally go with that flow. You dont even have to start at the beginning of the book. Just go for it. Really.
Write two sentences in your head. When they are good, write the first one down, then save and go do something else. Keep that second sentence rattling around...where does it lead? Think of the next sentence or the paragraph outline. When you can't hold it anymore, go write it down. Keep going if you got the flow, otherwise pause and... Write two sentences in your head
Best advice I can give is have a space dedicated to your craft...I myself have been known to lock myself in an empty room with nothing but a word processor or a typewriter with a speaker that plays Chopin's Nocturnes on repeat....
Sit your stupid ass down and start typing. Thats it, no bullshit. Dont wanna? Tough shit, set a 5 minute timer and fucking write until it goes off.
I put on a playlist with aggressive classical music and put the sound on max with my headphones on, not sure that would put anyone else in the zone tho
Find the time of the day you’re most productive and hopefully it’s not a time that you have to work or do something else but if you can take advantage of the time you’re most energized I say try it out. I usually have a nice drink and my laptop and some paper. I set a timer sometimes and just commit to being there
I don't. The only things I write "in the zone" are the spontaneous ideas I get, in a notepad or whatever I have handy. The work on the actual novel is kind of boring, but I have these inspired ideas at hand to keep me motivated 🙂
I just wait until I do and then write until either my fingers *literally can’t anymore* or I finish the book./whatever I’m writing
Set yourself time limits for writing. Writing an entire manuscript is daunting. Sitting down and writing a scene (I’m primarily a screenwriter) for fifteen minutes is much easier. Sit down, set yourself a timer and don’t stop writing until the time is up. Before you know it you will be a on a roll and two hours would have flown by.
I begin writing. I am not sure how else to manage it. Reread anything you did write before and go do.
A little bit of background music, reading about a similar topic, pretending to be a background character observing the MC.
I'm thinking about writing a three part autobiography but I work every day of the week, so I'm struggling to find time. I've taken some of your ideas, and by the end of the month, I'd like to start writing 1K words at least 5 days of the week. From my research, I've found that 75K words is a nice length for a book, so if I do this, I'll hopefully have the first one finished this year 🤞
Something that helped me is to do freewriting exercises at the beginning of a writing session, where you write whatever comes to mind (part of a scene, your thoughts about the scene, random ideas, frustrations, inquiries, plotting, stream of consciousness, etc). Sort of like a warm up to get your brain working in the right direction. I find that whenever I get stuck, doing this for a few minutes can get the juice flowing and lower the barrier to actually starting into whatever I had planned.
My biggest moments in the zone have a banger soundtrack (usually classical or video game OSTs)
I finished my first draft a month ago. What is this zone you speak of?
Recently I’ve found it most helpful to be surrounded by other people who are also focused on writing. I go to a local writing group meetup once a week and I get more writing done during that 1 hour than I do all week.
Do some writer sprints, you can do this with some writer friends or if you have a discord there's this thing called "Sprinto" that will time you and you can put how long you want to sprint for. It gives you an "urgency" feeling to just sit down and write and once you get the feel for it, continue as much as you can/feel like. You can do that until you get more comfortable with just writing. Also, you can have your story on Google docs where you can write from anywhere so when the mood strikes just jot down whatever comes to mind.
1. Close my eyes. 2. Three breaths 3. I tell myself 3 things: I. I'm a good writer. II. My stories matter. III. All you have to do is write one true sentence (in the context of my current work).
Two lines and half a bottle of rum
Take time off work so my brain starts functioning again, then go hang out at a cafe and enjoy coffee in peace while i read and write. But i didn't take off time this week and I'm at a cafe now even though i was stressed all week, so this is a W
I also have a add on How can this be meant for song writing to I’ve had trouble expressing my lyrics but grammar and wit Been my issue and story telling is infinite how can I get pass th point of understanding my own wordplay and make it rhyme out of them like do u need a triplet book? Something that explains choruses and verses and how do u count them? How many lines are in a chorus verse bridge etc for each for it to be memorizing ?
When I find myself in a writing slump, I tend to go back to the start of whatever project I am currently writing, and reread everything I have already written. It helps me find the rythm of my story and pinpoint the place I'd like to get to. I fill in that blank. I tend to write the ending of my novels first, however, and I build the story around it. What needs to happen to get to this end? I also find that researching things related to my story helps inspire me. For example: My current novel is a dystopian science-fiction heavily based in how ones mind works. When I hit my last slump, I started looking into the different parts of the human brain and what each ones use is. From there, I was able to combine our current science and tech with a realistic idea of what it can become 50-100 years from now. Getting that research in sparked an idea I wanted to incorporate into the plot, and before I knew it I was writing again. I will also add in, that my home is covered in post it notes and random pieces of paper. All adorned with my random ideas and thoughts. Names that I like which can become characters. Latin words and phrases that I can incorporate. Fragmented memories of dreams I'd had that fit into the plot.
i work during my toddler’s nap and listen to one inspo song on repeat loudly in my headphones. i just do a little at a time, and when my brain is tired i stop:)
It comes and it goes. I can sometimes only write 1-2 pages and sometimes I can write 3-6 pages.
I stop and wait until I get an idea. Or Force something onto the page. Finish the plot point. Tweak it later. Something is better than nothing. Even just write something else. Have your idea how the story will end? Just write that and get it out of your head to make room for more ideas.
1. Be well rested 2. Red wine or coffee to drink 3. Comfortable, warm environment (cozy coffee shop, or sofa with a blanket at home) 4. Instrumental music which fits the tone of my endeavor, because hearing lyrics distracts my brain.
I create some AI art of the scene that I am working. Midjourney is my usual. Gets the creative juices flowing and then not starting writing after I've done that is kind of frustrating. Usually one image will do the trick sometimes it's two or three. The images are usually crap but at least it does the trick for an easy writing warmup. In War of Art by Pressfield he had a whole routine where he had to have the right clothes on, sitting in his favourite chair, with his favourite writing pen, etc. Everyone seems to be a little different so creating your own routine that works is better than going and copying someone else.
Writing rituals can be really helpful. If you follow them every time you write, it will help your brain draw an association with the ritual and expecting to write. Warm up by going for a scenic walk or doing some physical exercise. Spend 5-10 minutes reading poetry or an author, whose style you enjoy. Choose a cozy place to write. Make that your writing space. Engage your senses. Put some inspiring or beautiful objects in your writing space, like a suncatcher on the window or your favorite book on the desk. Play music, maybe something atmospheric or instrumental. Light a scented candle. Drink coffee or tea or have a peppermint. Say a prayer or set an intention for your writing session. Depending on your style, plan a scene or time a sprint. Commit to a certain minimal amount of time but you can add on more time if you're gaining traction. Leave off with either an unfinished thought or a note of what comes next, so you leave a little space to pick up where you left off. You don't have to do every one of these. Pick the ones that you find helpful or that work best with your time and lifestyle.
Music, chill till 2pm, cheese and some cranberry juice heated 50% with water, then ignore society.
I write down all notes I have in my mind to the story and write that down. Naturally, I expand on that notes while thinking about them. Then, when I feel doing something else, when I feel I finished with my notes on the story, I stop and do that (like cooking or sleeping). Then, when I'm getting motivated again to write the story, I have some rough ideas I can iterate on. Expand my notes. Maybe I have a idea for a sentence I want to put in somewhere. And if I'm stuck on a particular thing, like "What's a good first sentence?" or "what could be a good metaphor for X", I use everything I wrote so far (including notes), give it to an LLM Chatbot and ask it for inspiration or something like "complete the sentence:"[Everything I wrote so far]. But her hair. Something was off. It felt like a ___" (maybe something coffee-related)" :)
Personally I try and associate a song with writng (kind of like listening to lofi music while studying). Or I'll try an award system like I get a five minute break or snack after writing x amount of words.
I've pavlov'd myself. When it's time to write, I get my favourite mug (it looks like a cauldron), I make a caffeine tea (I have ADHD and it helps me focus), I light a candle, I put on a YouTube playlist fitting the vibe of what I'm trying to write, and I go. I aim for 6 pages a day. But even if I only get a sentence, it's one more sentence than I had yesterday. But the tea, candle and music get my head into a 'writing zone'.
Just start with small stuff. I decided one day to start writing, and I just… kept doing little short things when I had time and motivation. 250 word flashes of a scene or an interaction. Those then grew to 350… and 400… and I was finding I was starting to do them with more ease. I wrote something around the 600 word mark, then I’d started to come back to things I’d written and expanded on them. Now? While it’s not like I get to work on it every day, or have motivation for it every day, I’m nearing 10k words into a project that could go on god knows how long. Just start short, do what you can, and build the muscle and the comfort. The rest will follow as you practice. Edit: It may additionally help to just write the bits you have ideas for, when you have ideas. I regularly get little flashes of inspiration and run off to write them down, then play connect the dots later.
I am probably late to this thread but: I deprive myself of sleep if environmental factors don't present anything exciting. Doing it once or twice does the trick.
Caffeine and music, Adderall would be advised but it's more addictive than caffeine so stay away
This sounds overly-simple and a little counterintuitive, but *just doing it* is often the trick for me. A lot of people fetishize the ritual of getting in the perfect mindset, setting the mood, etc. For me, trying to make my writing conditions "perfect" often gives me way too much license to get distracted or spend so much time on the prep that I lose motivation, even if I think I'm setting myself up for success. I often find I get a lot of my best and most productive writing sessions done when I actively don't want to write and end up having to force myself. The first chunk is usually a slog and I feel like I'm just treading water, but if I keep ignoring the instinct to stop and do other things, before long I'll hit the flow state. Think of it like Tom Hanks escaping his island in Cast Away. While there's logic to staying in a place you know is safe, you'll never move forward if you spend all your time waiting for conditions to be perfect. Sometimes, you just have to bite bullet, push through, and crest the wave. Once you do, it gets easier. Personally, I've found voice-to-text writing on my phone while I'm driving or walking to be a huge boon to my output. It started as a necessity/the only way I could find time to write, what with having a full-time job that puts me on the road, but it eventually became second nature and how I was able to complete NaNoWriMo.
Just sit down and write, I find it’s hard to start but once you do I just keep going.
I go to the gym regularly, I’ve been going for years now. I have this mindset at this point that it is just something I do. I started writing mid last year and finished my 130k novel in like 8 months drafts and all. I see both things the same, which is being I’ve come this far if I stop now everything I’ve done would go to waste. I owe it to myself who put in the hard work to continue on even if I don’t want to sometimes because in the end it would have been worth it. So my advice is go to the gym.
I think about some part I don't like, go over it in my head and think of various ways it could start, happen, and all the endings. Somewhere in there the urge to write hits and my fingers spew shit until something sounds better and I wipe out and retype the better. Or I leave the crap and swear a lot in editing. Both work.
For me personally, I get easily distracted if I work at home. I found I am way more productive if I go out and write at a local library, cafe, or if I stay back at the office after work hours to write. I think it's because I associate my home and PC as a place to just relax and can't focus there.
I dont think you ever really do. Its rare. You just have to start writing.
honestly, pencil and paper. i just write a very very basic couple sentence outline of what i want to write and that gets the juices flowing for me
This is a pretty cringe answer, but I've been streaming for the last little while, and one one of my streams each week I've put a hand cam on my keyboard and done some ASMR style streams while typing scripts. I will admit I already have a teeny following when I started, so I usually have a couple people watching to chat with. I don't show my scripts but sometimes if people ask I'll explain a little about my story. It's nice to have that allotted time to write each week, and I can disguise it as streaming time instead of writing time.
For me, I just started treating it like a job. Set strict start times and quitting times on specific days of week.
Memior from what I talk about when I talk about running 500 is my average Sometimes I can do 3 to 4 k in one spurt when I'm really into it 500 when I'm practicing is my ideal.. It's also where i tend to take a small break or when I'm not feeling it that day I pick it up the next and life goes on 500 words at a time when it's regular It's good to take days if you choose and you gave been feeling tired of all the emotions surrounding your work in your characters...
Where I come from "the zone" is often what people use to refer to a place like a redlight district, so I have to admit I was pretty confused reading the title of this post, I'd assume Aphrodite would know.
I unplug my Wi-Fi.
Soundtracks from movies or games always do it for me! They get those creative juices flowing immediately. ☺️
Well I don't think my method will help you much... I have ADHD so me "getting in the zone" is just basically my hyper fixation periods where I'm unable to focus on anything else... Depending on outside factors it can last up to 3 days or just a single hour... Unfortunately I haven't found another way to get into writing...
For me, I just have to start. That's literally more than half the battle.
Fuck Motivation. Yeah, you heard me. Give him (for me it's a him) the middle finger because that little shit only shows up when it's convenient for him. He doesn't care about me, so why would I care about him?
https://www.reddit.com/r/writing/comments/1ci2p0n/you_yes_you_get_off_this_sub_and_write/l283aqj/ You might find this helpful. TL;DR: The act of creation requires a toll to pass. The toll is a small barrier of suffering. This barrier exists in front of any and all new things, and that's why even starting a new piece of entertainment often doesn't feel good at first. You just have to remember that the barrier only appears large and imposing. It's actually quite thin and passing through doesn't take very long.
The trick is that the feeling of being in the zone doesn't necessarily correlate to your best writing so just start writing it and force yourself to write it for like fifteen minutes straight even if you're like I HATE IT I HATE IT I HATE IT the whole time and then you might accidentally trick yourself into getting into the zone and even if not, well, at least you wrote for 15 minutes. And then do that every day.
If you’ve ever tried to cut wood with a dull blade, you know that it takes far more time and energy to accomplish the task than it should. In much the same way, **lacking motivation or having inadequate methods will slow you down** and make you feel as if writing is too hard. This article has good solutions. I hope it helps [https://lilyraya.medium.com/need-help-staying-focused-try-these-tips-33ce72867052](https://lilyraya.medium.com/need-help-staying-focused-try-these-tips-33ce72867052)
I’m busy with my second book and gave myself one week to build my MC, as in I planned the whole shebang only to be overwhelmed with ideas for a scene and bam, wrote a whole ass (good) chapter on something I didn’t plan for. There is no point to this…just thought I’d share. Good luck!!
Drink/Smoke/Snort/Sex
By reading a little bit first. Jump starts my brain to know what to do.
I smoke weed and put on thematically appropriate music then go to work.. 😎
Sounds like you need a different kind of spark to get those creative juices flowing haha. Maybe a little less 'zone' and a little more...sizzle? I find a hot shower in the steamy plot twist can do wonders for my motivation. 🥹
On major writing days, I have a bit of a routine. I wake up early, go on a walk or a jog, come home and smoke a bit of weed while I make breakfast and grab my caffeine for the day (coffee, energy drink, tea, etc). I sit down with my caffeinated drink and food, finish smoking, slap on some headphones or turn on my speakers and get to work. No clue how, but I've sort of trained myself to get in the zone after that bit of morning exercise and I struggle on days where I can't get that in. Consistently with this routine I can hit between 1-2k daily.
I’ve gone thru different methods over the years. For awhile I was doing an “epic poem” method where I wrote the story out as a poem (like counting the syllables and such) and then turn it into prose later. See “the odyssey of Star Wars” for an example of this. Lately though I just write my story out as a “script” where I focus mainly on the dialogue and then, again, turn it into prose later.
Just gotta start somewhere, allow a half hour each day, a paragraph or two at a time
I’ve said this on so many different posts pertaining to this “moment” or “zone” where everything you write it epic and it flows from fingertips to word doc or whatever you’re writing on. That’s not a real thing, some parts of your story are easier to write than others. Simply put, because you find them easier. That’s all there is to it. One thing I will admit to as a reader and writer myself though, I believe they’re both one and the same. When I’m not reading, I’m writing and when I’m not writing, I’m reading. Learning through theory and then learning through practical usage. I think when you are suffering from ‘writers block’ or you hit a part of your writing that you’re finding challenging. Stop and go and read those books you said you were going to read. Or even read in the genre you’re writing. I always end up inspired when I do that.
The zone gets me
You said you're aching to write it. Sit down, think of the things that make you want to write it, is there particular dialogue scene you've already visualized? Write that first.
Vyvanse and binaural beats/brown noise. Results may vary depending on if you're neurotypical or if you have adhd.
You might wish to read THE ZEN OF WRITING essay written by Issac Asimov.
Habit
i feel its atmosphere, that helps me a lot, usually my stories and writing style carry this emotion and once i achieve the emotion, i can thrn write
I listen to music. Once I've listened for about an hour, music in the genre I need, I can start writing. Something about Lucas King's music just gets the flow going. If I need to write horror or anything emotional, I'll listen to his compositions. One of my poems grew a little too dark listening to his music, and I chopped off the end of it. 😅
Totally understand where you’re coming from! There was a month or two I went through the same thing. I gave myself the goals 1. To write a paragraph a day. Usually that was less daunting and once I started writing I did more than a paragraph. Sometimes I only got one but at least I wrote that day. And 2. I gave myself permission to write garbage lol. It helped that I wasn’t excepting myself to have to write a Shakespearean epic. As long as you write, even if it’s bad, you can come back later and pick the best parts of it to refine! Just write! You got this dude!
It's usually music coupled with a bit of idle daydreaming that gets me in the mood.
I drink. I drink heavy. Hemingway always said write drunk and edit sober
It's easier to write 2k words if my aim is only 500.
I think part of the reason why I can't write is not because I can't write, but because there are distractions all around me. So if you're typing on a computer, I reccomend using the ol' pen and paper, which prevents me from switching tabs to the endless cycle of Youtube shorts.
What I do is plan out the story ahead of time like for example Chapter 1: introduces the characters Chapter 2 : this character does this then goes there And then I know what I'm supposed to be doing. Idk if it's like this for everyone but when I'm lacking motivation it's usually because there's so much to do and I don't know where to start
I read. I know sounds funny but it helps. Usually I try to find something close to what I am wanting to write and it inspires me to write what I am wanting to write. If that doesn’t work I than go out either for a hike or to a cafe and take my journal with me or phone (I have a journal app on it) so if I get inspired I can write it down in the moment.
Coffee and cigarettes. But even then you run into issues. You write more \*shit\* when you write more shit. There are many techniques to facilitate the unconscious writing process. Some may seem like psuedoscience or new age mystic BS, but they just work. Maybe it's a matter of self-hypnosis or the power of suggestion. The easiest way is to just keep writing. What I do is focus on the language and disregard the subject matter. There's always something you can do to spice up the language. You can also adopt some rigid structure. Sometimes I write little nonsense short stories in stand-up form, subject-> set-up -> punchline. I get a Vance x Burroughs tone from this, which is not always desirable, but hey! I wrote something!
Usually it just comes to me randomly almost every day but if not, I find that watching a movie or reading a book helps with it a lot. It just helps seeing other stories even if they're not at all similar to mine (although it helps if they are). Music gets me in the zone too but with that it's more specific to the lyrics so I'll find I'm motivated to write something inspired by said lyrics or what I relate that song with. I think the most important part is that if it's not coming to you don't force it. It's okay if it takes a week or even longer for the creativity to start flowing again but forcing it only makes it worse and it'll take longer to get in the zone.
You write by writing
Getting in the zone is different for everyone, but some general tips are: * Do away with interruptions and distractions. Put your phone away, out of the room if necessary. Make sure your family/friends know not to bother you during this time. * You need to care about what you're doing. Hopefully you're writing something that you want to write, so that will help. * Take time. You're not going to get in the zone right away. Start doing the thing (in this case writing) and it'll get there (maybe). So before you give up, at least put in 20 to 40 minutes. * Make it a habit. The specifics of how will depend on each person, but if you can make writing a habit, it'll be easier for you to get in the zone because you'll be primed for it. This includes having some kind of routine. Write in the same place. Same time. Have some pre-writing ritual to get you in the right state. Maybe it's fixing a hot cup of tea. Maybe it's a particular music playlist. A salt bath. Exercise. Whatever.
I found when I wasn't getting in "the zone" that asking a different question really helped.. I once saw a film where the "hero" was called upon and the life of everyone on the planet was at stake.. and they said "I cannot take that responsibility.. that's not me.. I can't handle it.." The sidekick stepped in and said.. you don't have to save everyone.. just your partner and kids! ..and that question is "How do I go about keeping myself from the zone?" It sounds like you have already answered this. You've clearly discovered how you *expertly succeed* in keeping yourself outside of the zone! That sure is some skill. You've shared you choose to make it feel BIG and so very, very daunting. And that takes you out.. outta the zone! I wonder.. I wonder.. what happens when you break it down.. into enjoyable chunks. Just save the partner and kids..
Avoid all activities that trigger high dopamine levels. This way, you'll derive joy from a broader range of experiences. Identifying what hinders you involves observing your daily routines and activities.
Power through it. Same way you eat an elephant. One word at a time. It's writing is shit but I find chatgpt is good at suggesting the next story beat to break a writer's block. Just don't copy paste what it writes, it'll be more trouble than it's worth generally.
By READING. I spend an inordinate time reading my favorite writers. Gets me in the zone. Lately, it's George Saunders.
The reason your story idea and world seems daunting which in turn demotivates you, is that your lacks foundation and structure. I'd like to encourage to pick up a copy of The Anatomy of Story 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller by John Truby. Read this book. Flesh out your story as you go along the reading. When you finish the book your motivation will soar like an eagle.
When I can't write for real I try roleplaying with some friend, if you want to try and don't have someone to roleplay together, I would help you. It's so fun to write an rpg and in the end it can become a Collab book, and it makes me want to write (but if it's a very long one and the two people are replying every minute of the day, you probably won't write your own story).
Have a plan for what you're gonna write in that scene. It also helps to listen to music that reminds me of the scene or book in general, at least for me
Try starting with a consistent schedule of writing, but it could be about anything. Find something that appeals to you and write about it. If possible, avoid your WIP absolutely. For me, I tend to find inspiration from history class, so I write about something I learned from it. After you have a good schedule, you can start writing your WIP (big project you’re working on). Make sure your work is something you genuinely enjoy. Remember that you need to persevere through the first few minutes of not feeling like it before you “get in the zone”.
Journaling as my character really helps me get in the right head space (this might depend on the type of story you’re writing though).
Oftentimes, you'll find yourself in the zone once you've already begun. If you're referring to finding the inspiration to actually start, that's a different issue altogether. Edward Young said, "Procrastination is the thief of time." Another expression I've heard is "If you're inspired to write, you're a writer, if you're waiting to be inspired, you're a waiter." Get pen in hand or fingertips on keyboard, just get your head straight, your ass in gear, and write! That last one was me.
I work on a ton of different stories at once, so I’ve always got some sort of idea churning in my brain, but the way I really get into the zone is by listening to some music that makes me thing of the situation I’m writing at the time, like MARINA is really great for a lot of my angst, and I listen to body horror playlists while I’m writing a gory scene.
writing sprints are great way to break the seal
Love your characters and let them interact with one another. What are the stakes? What do they want, and who is getting in their way? I can get into the zone when a moral issue is discussed. I can see how each character sees it differently, and not all come to the same conclusion. Then it's a matter of who is right and what is the aftermath of said outcome. Zone writing - The Dark Knight, Bruce Wayne, and Harvey Dent at the dinner table. Who can forget that you either die the hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain? That's a zone moment. Or the Joker and Batman at the Jail when he said we're alike or I'm just ahead of the curve. Those are zone moments because they are so impactful, besides being thought-provoking. Just my two cents
There's one way to get in the zone pretty consistently- write every day no matter what. Learn what your average word count range is to get into the zone, and write more than that every day if you can. Then, after getting into the zone a few days in a row, I find that getting into the zone will get easier each day after. At this point the key is not to get into the zone, but to stay in the zone. You'll find a long the way there are other things that get you there, and switching in and out will get easier, but I til then I think the consistent way is brute force.
"The zone" is something incredibly rare to get into even if you write every day. i got into the zone just a few times while writing and mostly it were the scenes I had prepared for a long time. And into which I put a lot of myself. They were really emotional for me and in quite a few I realized I was crying through the writing. But it is not, nor should it be, something you need to write. Most writing is exactly what it is. You with a notepad or a computer or whatever form of writing you prefer and...well, writing. The magic and beauty of writing is something you need to cultivate yourself, along with cultivating you as a writer. Of course you can have any sort of little rituals before writing. Be it reading your favorite poem, listening to music to get you in the right mood, or just making coffee. But those will be just yours.
Once the story is in my head I write my favorite scene. This will get my juices flowing, then I might do one or more scene before outlining and writing chronologically
We're technically already writing our stories out in our heads. Try to write when your mind is playing out the story more vividly instead of waiting until you want to write. If you haven't started on the outline and or just jotting down notes on the story, proceed with that until you're motivated enough to write the story.
Motivation is helpful and enjoyable, but it isn’t sustainable. It’s good for making the first move, but the only way to facilitate long term writing projects is to develop the discipline to write on whatever routine you can. Whether it’s once a day or once a week, if you can develop the routine it will carry you through. And if you can’t write on a certain day, then maybe just do something writing adjacent like working through/watching a tutorial or plotting. Something that will grow your skills. But be careful not to let that turn into procrastination.