Monday, June 18, 2012

Top Ten List and a Winner!


I thought it would be fun to have some of my favorite best-selling author friends tell us their top ten lists for staying motivated even when they don't want to write. 

Today's author is Tristi Pinkston.  She is a prolific writer who has written historical fiction and the popular Secret Sisters mystery series.  You can read more about her here.


Top Ten Ways to Motivate Myself to Write
by Tristi Pinkston


10. Watch really stupid movies, make fun of the campy dialogue, tell myself I can do better than that, and then go write.

9.  Tell myself it's either time to exercise or time to write - that's hugely motivating.

8.  Assign a child to stand next to me, and every time I stop typing, that child gets to squirt me in the face with water.

7.  Pretend that the computer is hooked up to a bomb and that if I stop typing, it will explode - very Sandra Bullock/Keanu Reeves.

6. Tell my family I need quiet time to write. The more I work, the longer they have to be quiet. Presto! They have to do their fighting in whispers, and I get more work done. It's a win-win.

5. Put a favorite snack next to me on my desk and reward myself with some per page. Of course, one has to be careful in dosing this out ... an entire bag of potato chips as a reward for one page is probably not the best choice.

4. Rent a favorite movie (which isn't dumb and should not be confused with the idea found in #10) and use it as a reward.

3. Hit spouse up for a massage when each writing goal is accomplished. It keeps the writer happy, and it keeps the spouse happy ... they don't have to listen to the writer whine about how unproductive they feel.

2.  Enter into a deep meditative trance and envision what it will be like to have that book finished at long last. Of course, this works best if there are maids and jewels and fancy cars involved - got to imagine all those finite details to create the best motivation.

1.  Walk about the house and look at all the messes that need to be cleaned up, and tell yourself you either have to clean or write. You'd be amazed at how quickly that will send you running for the computer.



If you don't have a smile on your face after reading that and are totally motivated to write today, well, check your pulse!  Thanks, Tristi for a smile on Monday morning.

Last week we had a contest for weekly goals and I decided to enter everyone in the drawing, because, hey, we all tried!

Here is our winner:

C. Michelle Jeffries!

I hope you all found some incentives with your writing.  I think we should definitely do another writing sprint this Wednesday evening.  That really motivated me!  What do you think?

8 comments:

Janice Sperry said...

I'm about to go talk to my new beta reader about my manuscript. I always get motivated to write when I talk to someone about my story. I'm so excited! This won't translate into word count. It will translate into awesomeness. I love awesome.

Debra Erfert said...

Tristi's number 1 and mine are exactly the same, can you imagine that?

Yay, Michelle, for the win!

If you have another sprint this Wednesday, I'll set my alarm clock and be sure to be online. When is 9 pm Canada time in Arizona? Hmmm, this could be tricky.

Melanie Goldmund said...

Great tips, Tristi! :-)

I'm still at the stage of trying to get from idea to story, so I might not be able to participate in the Wednesday spring. I still think it's a good idea, though, and I had fun last time!

Tristi Pinkston said...

Thanks, ladies, and thanks for letting me share, Julie!

Rachelle Christensen said...

Love these ideas--thanks Tristi and Julie! :) And congrats Michelle!

Valerie Ipson said...

Perfect!

writermom said...

Tristi, you're a hoot! Just reading your stuff is motivating!

C. Michelle Jefferies said...

Really??? Me???? Awesome!!!! Thanks guys.
Tristi, I think your list is great especially the cleaning or exercising alternative. :) I'll have to try it. I will also have to try the massage in reverse tho If I finish my goal give hubby a massage and he'll be less apt to notice the mess because I was writing. :)