Tips to Keep Writing

As National Novel Writers Month (commonly known as NaNoWriMo) comes to an end, both professional and amateur writers hope to have produced something worthy of publishing, something that will eventually land their names on the best sellers list. However, for those who may not have successfully hacked away at a keyboard to complete an entire novel during the month of November, the road toward publishing success might be a longer one. Whether it is writer's block, a lack of time to dedicate toward writing or feelings of frustration with a current novel idea, simply getting the ambition and inspiration to finish a book can be difficult. Try out these tips to give your writing life a boost and possibly encourage yourself to complete your first draft of that book.

• 1. Start each morning with writing. This bit of advice might seem like the worst possible plan for the night owl writer, but time and time again, many well esteemed authors swear by it. Even if you tend to typically work best at night for other jobs, forcing yourself to write every morning before you start your other work is the best plan. This way, you cannot use the "I'm too tired" or "I'll do extra tomorrow" excuses. You've started your day by completing perhaps your most often procrastinated task.
• 2. Begin a writing session by editing. If you can't force yourself to come up with anything of quality to add to your story at the beginning of a writing time, then use that time to re-read (and re-write) anything you wrote the previous day. This should help get you into the writing mode, as well as help you to create smooth transitions between writing segments.
• 3. Regulate the writing sessions. Instead of telling yourself that you'll simply sit down and type as long as you feel like it (or as long as you are hit with inspiration), force yourself to stick by some set schedule, such as a time limit or a certain number of words. This way, you'll be forced to produce work, whether you feel like it or not. Additionally, if you have more to write after a writing session is done, simply hold onto those ideas for the next time.
• 4. Do it daily. Arguably the hardest part of writing a book is actually doing it, instead of just thinking about or dreaming of the idea. Make writing a daily routine, perhaps allowing yourself one (or two) scheduled days off per week. These days off will allow you to rejuvenate your creative juices, helping you to stay productive the next time you write.
• 5. Seek inspiration. If you're having a difficult time with encouraging yourself to write, take a break from writing and seek out inspirational articles that offer proven tips on productivity and writing in general. Doing so should allow you to return to the writing task with a new sense of purpose and some more creative ideas for how to accomplish the job. Additionally, such articles may help you determine exactly what is keeping you from completing a book - knowledge that can help you take specific steps to overcome that issue.