Thursday, June 24, 2010

Keeping Motivated Without Deadlines

In just over two weeks, I'll be heading back up to Vermont to begin my third semester at Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA Program in Writing for Children and Young Adults. I finished all my school work back at the end of May, then went on a well-deserved vacation with my family. Now I'm trying to prepare for the Residency, which requires the reading of 11 20-page workshop submissions from my fellow classmates, reading an assortment of books and articles for lectures, and trying to read one or two books by the three new incoming faculty, and read something by the two guest lecturers, Gregory Maguire and Holly Black. Hummm...did I say that I'm supposed to be on break now? Oh, yeah, AND I am weaving a tallis for my future-son-in-law which will be used as a chuppa at the wedding in October.

I had hoped to use this "break" to work on my wip, trying to get it finished (G-d forbid) or at least in more polished form. But not only am I already feeling jammed for time, I've found my motivation is still on vacation.

In the VCFA MFA program, I have to turn in a packet of material every three to four weeks. I get a rush when I think of all the books I have to read, the critical essays I have to write, and the creative work that I either have to rewrite, revise, or pluck out of thin air in such a short amount of time. It's tough, but I've gotten it done every time. I have never been late and, in fact, I have on occasion, sent the material in early. So what's my problem now that I'm on break? It's as if without the pressure of a deadline hanging over my head, I figure - oh, it'll get done. But if I'm not doing it, when exactly is it going to get done??

So, I'm wondering how do other writers sustain their motivation? What suggestions, other than chaining my butt to the chair, do you have to get me back in front of my computer?? Help!

9 comments:

  1. I sounds to me as though you have TOO many deadlines! All your motivation is geared toward meeting the deadlines with specific dates assigned by outside forces - either the calendar or a structured program of study.

    Maybe you have to wait until the "Wip Muse" strikes and stokes the fire again. No sense forcing out unmotivated words that will just have to be rewritten?

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  2. Oops, that first word should be "It"

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  3. I set my own deadlines. Even if I don't meet them, it at least gets me to sit down. Another trick is to tell yourself you'll sit down and work for just five minutes. You sit down and then get into it and keep on past five minutes--sometimes it's only getting started that's hard. Then you have your enjoyment in writing to keep you going.

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  4. I love when I get into writing rhythms. And deadlines really help.

    But what helps me sans a hard deadline is to just sit down to write at the same time every day. Some days I sit longer then others. But eventually, I get the rhythm going again.

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  5. Gale - Life is busy, but when isn't it? And I think my muse is like a stubborn teenager who doesn't speak unless spoken to.

    Tricia - I like your idea of "fooling" myself to only write for five minutes - that has worked before. Setting my own deadlines never works.

    J.A. - Yes, having a rhythm helps and now that it's summer it's somehow thrown off - kids home from school (even though he doesn't need me and isn't even home) it's an old habit that's hard to break.

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  6. This week, I started using Tricia's technique with great success. I resolved to write at least 15 minutes a night after I got my older one to bed. Of course, once the 15 minutes are up, I can't stop. Yay! Ever since I started this, I've been on such a roll. I've been finding as many spare moments during the day to keep writing as I possibly can. (And it feels like fun instead of work!)

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  8. Whoops! Sorry about the deleted comment! I accidentally posted the same comment twice.

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  9. Brianna - Yippie! I'm glad Tricia's idea is working. I'll try it too.

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