I need motivation just as much as you do. Possibly more in fact, because I’m actually terrible at sitting still, which makes concentrating on long stints of writing really really difficult.
Take today for example. I’m not working another job right now – something I can only manage in the short-term (goodbye life savings) – so it’s the perfect time to be cracking on with writing those next two novels. I’m so lucky right now. I should be spending every waking hour taking advantage of this incredible opportunity.
So why the hell aren’t I?
Well, for one thing there is a rabbit squeaking repeatedly just behind me. Did you ever hear of a rabbit that squeaks all the time? No, me neither until I met Kazuki. He has some sort of breathing problem and how he’s survived almost 9 years I have no idea. I love him to bits but sometimes…I don’t know if he’s snoring or what, but it’s SO DISTRACTING! He also fell down the stairs today (devastatingly) so we’re off to the vets later.
And there are lots of other distractions, all the time. I’ve recently moved house, so there’s the pressure of all the things I still need to do to make it liveable. I’ve been sleeping on the floor for weeks in the same room as said rabbit. The last few days I’ve finally been able to get the sofa-bed out…and now I’ve stopped sleeping. I’m really tired. It’s dark. And I just don’t feel like I can produce quality work at all. In fact, as a new author, it’s proving so damn hard to find my readership (no, there isn’t some magic list, and yes, it’s on Amazon along with 6 million other titles) that today, what I really want to do is just give up and escape into one of my videogames. That way, I can be the hero in my own story. There’s absolutely no dishes to clean, no washing to hang up and my poor injured pet isn’t holding his front-left poor like it’s severely hurting him.
But, as any hardworking writer will tell you: none of this an excuse. Life is always going to be there. It is for all of us. And I am absolutely lucky that I have this brief respite from a ”normal” job.
So, this is where the motivation comes in. This is when I need to be inspired. This is when I need someone to remind me how precious life is, as if Kazuki hadn’t unwittingly already done that. This is when I need to be told that I won’t be here forever, so I should grasp life in both hands and show it who’s boss. This is when I need to be at my best. My toughest. To write with heart. With meaning. I can always edit it later (note to self – edit this heartfelt blog because it’s probably s**t).
When I need to get in inspired I have several tools. Exercise is one. An impromptu run gets the endorphins going again. Weightlifting gets me fired up even more but takes more planning, largely due to the gargantuan amounts of food an ectomorph like me needs to consume.
I might watch a stirring YouTube clip, such as an edited version of one of Joe Rogan’s motivational podcast moments https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei6nzXaO2PM
Or a TV programme, or film that holds some special meaning to me. Or, even better, a song. Just 5 minutes and I’m ready to go. Even if the feeling only lasts 30 minutes, it could be the best 30 minutes of writing I’ve ever done!
Hell yeah! Just talking about motivation gets me motivated! Look! Instead of doing nothing, I’ve written a whole (far too long) blog! And I’ve expressed some of my emotions about Kazuki’s accident today. It’s not going to fix him but it helps to share, right?
And now I’ve remembered, that’s why I’m writing The Inner Lands series. Because I want to inspire. I want to move people, just as I was moved and motivated by the authors I read.
So, stop boiling that kettle because you think you need “just one more” cup of tea first. Get up and DO SOMETHING! See, we can all motivate each other.
With that in mind, I’d be interested to know what things motivate you?
Let me know in the comments below and sign up to my blog if you’re keen to endure more spontaneous ramblings.
A.J. Austin
theinnerlands.com 