We're halfway through November! ✒️🍂💻
You've written a lot of words and made good progress on your writing projects. You've overcome the first challenge - getting started - and now you're probably facing the second - how to keep going. It's time to root into your story, avoid distractions, and stride toward your goal!
Resist new ideas. Just because you see a new shiny idea doesn't mean you have to pick it up. Jot down the basics so you don't forget it, but then tell that plot bunny you'll return in January. November is for a different project.
Surround yourself in the story. Sometimes, the words won't come. But if you still think of your story, live in that world, you'll be plotting and developing your characters and it'll be easy to make the words flow. Things you can do to stay in your story are: build playlists and listen to them, fill out character sheets and question lists, world build, draw maps, daydream about events after your story, draw your characters.
Bribe yourself. Set aside a treat that you can only have once your project is finished. Maybe it's a fancy dinner. Or a collector's edition of Watership Down. Perhaps a new bookish t-shirt. Set a reward, and tease yourself with it to get cracking on that story.
Don't consume similar media. If you're writing a fantasy story, reading others in the genre could make you second guess your story, or give you new ideas to weave in. At the halfway point, you want to dig deep into your story, not think about someone else's. (But please, do still read and watch stuff. Don't focus on writing 100% of your time)
Take a day off. If you've been making progress every day, good for you! But don't forget to take breaks. A reset is good for you. And who knows, that not-writing time might just give you the breakthrough you need.
Photo by Florian Klauer on Unsplash We believe in you! Keep that writing spirit high and tell us what you’ve accomplished so far.