Image by Bo47 via Flickr
Time to get your inspiration on gang. But I’m not the one dishing this time. More on that in a minute.
Big week for me as my mid-July deadline approaches. I need to have my book proposal and sample chapters completed this weekend and don’t plan on missing the mark.
Something about our universe makes the midway point in a process challenging. People say that nothing worth anything is easy. You’ve experienced the grind before. My question for you today is how do you get through that midpoint and down the stretch?
We call Wednesday “Hump Day” because that’s the crest to get over before it’s all downhill. Life seems to climb slowly until suddenly we seem to be speeding towards the finish. Are you in the middle of a project or book or process or even relationship? Raising kids gets pretty tough somewhere in the middle when little darlings become angst-ridden teens.
What motivates you to push through?
For the past couple weeks I fought through the grind of this book I’m writing. I went through a burst of creation before hitting a brick wall of writer’s blocks. I spun pens, flipped coins, stretched rubber bands and paper clips, and even did the ultimate in procrastination–cleaning. I drove to Starbucks and tried about 50 other tricks to spark my brain back into action. The hump loomed large until finally I reached the crest and could’ve peed on my keyboard from sheer joy. Um, maybe that’s what sheer joy means to me. Shut up! Ahem. Just kidding. Did I mention this process also makes me loopy?
After that magical moment where my thoughts and words finally fell into place, I turned for the home stretch and the race is on to finish this leg of the journey. Now it’s just a matter of time, and that’s just what I’m taking this week, time to get it done.
I’ve told the friends and fam not to expect too much contact with me for a few days because that’s part of my process. Call it a writing binge. At this point I like to put on the headphones and pump loud music into my noggin as the words flow.
Now back to the part where you come in like Mickey in Rocky. That little title up there pops in my head when I picture Rob Schneider in The Waterboy. “You can do it!” I’ve got a few other favorite quotes that motivate me but would love to hear yours this week.
What quotes or lyrics or movie lines play in your mind when you need that big push? Maybe it’s a famous dead person or something a family member always said. Your motivating words might come from Gene Simmons or Mister Rodgers or Richard Simmons or Aaron Rodgers.
I’d love to visit this comment section throughout the week and get pumped up by your happy thoughts of encouragement. Have fun with it too. Just stop by and read the collective wisdom here anytime you need a pick me up.
What motivating words do you got for us?
Hey Clay:
Maybe these aren’t motivating words, but I’ve been inspired by people offering to be my beta reader. So, I’ll be your beta reader, Fryber.
Also, I find Snickers really satisfy you.
Thanks Renee! Always nice to know people will work your stuff over for you. I’ll pick up some Snickers too for my snack drawer.
Love the ”pee on keyboard” image. Ha haaa!!
When I’m stuck in somewhere, a car ride – alone – is usually the answer. Once behind the wheel I drive out in the country, playing Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work” over and over and over again. Weird, but it works most of the time.
I definitely use the car time too. I’ve never gone to Kate Bush for inspiration but maybe I can grab some Gloria Gaynor to
Once I painted a closet to avoid writing. I know, I was really desperate, and suddenly that closet couldn’t wait a minute longer.
Motivation song, via @ESmithClaire: Shakira’s “Waka Waka” song: http://youtu.be/pRpeEdMmmQ0
That’s the sickness of procrastination! Painting a closet? I get that though you know?
I wrote my first book by reminding myself over and over again, “I’ll find a way to make it work.”
It did the trick
That’s a good one. You get lost in the process at times. Thanks for that Amanda!
Hi Clay! The most motivating quote that I consistently turn to for go-power and mental rocket fuel is:
“I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not to shrink to a grain of sand. Henceforth will I apply ALL my efforts to become the highest mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy.” –Og Mandino
The full quote is great but I love the last part the most. I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy – it’s great mantra material.
Nice! I’m straining for sure
E. L. Doctorow on writing: “It’s like driving a car at night. You never see further than your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.”
Go-Clay-Go-Eh!
Thanks! Love that metaphor. I’m going eh?
Galaxy Quest: “Never give up, never surrender”.
Sure, it’s quirky, but it seems fitting.
Now put those headphones on and make that keyboard sing! Go Clay!
I love my movie quote inspiration Gene, thanks!
Clay, I could go on about this till people are ill of me jabbing …..I believe that as we look back many events, people make us strive and push forward….It’s like faith, it sometimes doesn’t hit people until they go or meet certain things in their life..I was super close to my parents, they have passed on for 13 years, we were so open about life, getting older, and they were always so positive, making a bad situation good….regroup, move on the nesst we know how, and I am gratedful for being a pretty positive person, for me it’s life expierences, people I have met or encountered, that has made me who I am today…we are all here on earth for a short time….am glad I can savor, enjoy and pass that on to my kids hopefully..So many people don’t get the opportunity to realize, enjoy even if it is good or bad, right or wrong, it’s you that is going through the situation or you who are making choices in your journey…persevere…go with what comes our own way….
Thanks for that Deborah. I’m trying to enjoy the process for sure.
When I get unmotivated or stuck in the middle of something (like cleaning, sewing, etc) I tell myself to give it a 5 minute effort. The 5 minute hustle. I usually end up working way longer once I force myself to start. I think that works for writing, too. I will start putting words down – any words, even if they stink – and eventually something decent starts to form.
Very excited for you and your book proposal!
Good point. I used to do that with running. When I wanted to stop I would say 5 more yards, 10 more yards. Before I knew it I’d go the whole way. Thanks for the reminder!
I have a few tea mugs (cause I don’t like coffee) with inspirational (and somewhat cheesy sayings). Here are my faves…
What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail? – unknown
Shoot for the moon. Even I you miss you’ll land among the stars. – unknown
Ok, yes both are cheesy but I like to read them at 6am. I also blare loud rock music when I need inspiration.
Good luck and good writing!
I really love that first one and have used it myself from time to time. Thanks Trish! You guys and your tea. I wonder if I’ll ever switch from coffee. Must be a Canadian thing eh?
I like rockin out to songs from the seventies, when there were real song writers and singers. A little more substance than today’s radio fare. One thing that always pushes me forward, no matter how much I want to put writing off – what life was like before I made the changes I needed to put myself in this place. Works every time. Now get busy!
The past is a huge motivator for sure. I often use to wonder when more success would happen in various parts of my life, even when I just wanted a particular job. Looking back I think I never would have chances I have now without those past experiences.
Clear the mechanism…which you’ve done.
Then sit down to intentionally write crap. I find the best stuff that way.
You’ve already proven you can do this. Just do it again.
And the first draft is the fun part–just don’t tell anyone. Protect our secret.
Ruffle your hair and moan and wail a lot, so they think you’re being tortured.
We’ll all know the truth.
And one last thing: get your ass off the internet. Your book is not there. Go to your book.
Haha, boom. You and I are gonna be buds. Thanks!
Just “Make it so!” – Jean-Luc Picard
Ah, Jean-Luc. Indeed!
When I moved to Istanbul, I arrived with two suitcases. I unpacked one but left the other one untouched for almost two months; that’s how close I was every day to wanting to leave suddenly and quietly in the middle of the night. I didn’t unpack that suitcase until I had decided that I was going to see out the school year, no matter what. One song that got me through each day and that kept me from re-packing that second suitcase and hightailing it out of there was Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Boxer”. I played it at least once a day, every day. Okay, I also blasted a lot of angry music to get frustration out, but I also needed a touchstone to remind myself of my commitment, of what I wanted to achieve by leaving home.
Find a touchstone. Make contact with it every day. Remember why you’re doing what you’re doing and why it’s so important to you.
Thanks for that. I like the idea of a touchstone. Thinking of what I use for that purpose.
“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” St. Francis of Assissi.
Now, go on with yo’ bad self!
Aw yeah. Franky always brings it. Thanks!
I find inspiration by keeping a stack of very poor published books on my desk and when I hit a rough patch I flip through one of those books and tell myself at least I can write as poorly as this guy.
That’s a great feeling isn’t it? Stephen King talks about that in On Writing. The trash pile of hope I say.
Mate, I could trawl the interwebz looking for inspiring quotes and I could find at least a hundred to throw at you. But even though I love quotes (especially movie quotes!), I’d feel like a faker because I had to trawl the interwebz and I can’t do that to you. So I’ll just say this:
When you find yourself wondering where you will find the strength to continue, remember that there are others drawing strength from the step you just took. (case in point: my blog post today! *shameless self promotion*)
That’s how I roll. Keep it up champ, if I remember any quotes worthy of your awesomeness I will be back to post them!
Glad to hear from you Christian. I was hoping for something off the top of your head. Think of how much impact our effort has on others. Great!
I get motivated by seeing other writers getting things done, like yourself. I say to myself, “Clay is finding time to get it done. What’s my excuse?” Thanks for sharing your experience, and for reminding us to keep our eyes on the finish line, even if we can’t exactly see it at the moment.
I am the same way Mark. Other motivate me for sure.
When I’m stalled on a writing project, sometimes I cut pictures out of magazines or newspapers or print them from online. I cut out things that inspire me. Maybe it’s an image of what my character looks like or where she lives. Attaching an image to the world I’m creating often helps ground me in the story and makes it more “real.”
I do that kind of stuff too in certain areas of my life. Big believer in visualization.
As Dashiell Hammett told his girlfriend, Lillian Hellman, when she was writing her first work, and this is paraphrased, . . . .
Go ahead and quit now. It’s a good time. No one will miss you.
Now that may sound like an odd thing to think of for inspiration, but it helps me to remember that I made a choice to do this, and I have the choice to quit every day. It’s in my control. So what’s it going to be?
I’m approaching “hump day” in my novel right now. All the best to you, Clay. And people would miss you very much.
Thanks for that Piper and good luck to you as you push on!
Oh, and the wisdom I draw on from Holmes. . . . “Pray boldly.”
Indeed.
Reading all the comments here has made me realize I don’t have any “words of encouragement”. Maybe it would be helpful if I did. I feed much more off of constructive criticism, which I think is what your friend Renee is offering in the first comment. If I can have another person read my writing or look over my work and give me some feedback, it really keeps me going and gives me that extra push I need. Even just bouncing ideas off of a likeminded friend is helpful.
Excited to hear more about your book!
Great to see you Keri! Feedback is big for sure. I’m sure I’ll be getting lots of that before too long. Thanks for your thoughts.
Good luck, Clay! (Just curious — is this a self-imposed or requested deadline? I’ve found that one can seem harder than the other…and that changes from project to project.)
The mantra I follow day in and day out is, “Don’t be a coward. Sit down and write!” I know there’s no coward in you, so have at it, and best wishes!
Hi Amanda! I picked the date when my materials were requested. I knew I had some travel in between, so that left this week to finalize things which I’m doing now. And I love the “don’t be a coward” push. Get it done!
I turn my eyes unto the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
Gets me through every day. Literally need it everyday.
Classic. Nice D.
adapt and overcome (Clint Eastwood “heartbreak ridge”)
Aw yeah. Nice Dew! Thanks for stopping by.
Zechariah 4:5-10
5Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
6Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
7Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
8Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
9The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.
10For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
Sounds like you know where your name came from eh?
Bingo
Shake and bake!
That just happened.
Hmmm,music usually helps me. No matter what funk I’m in or blissful high,music pulls me through! It always helps to have a verse from the Bible dropped in my inbox or phone now and then too! On a far less spiritual note,I can never remember inspirational quotes,but rather dumb,silly ones. “Just a mop?! But you don’t understand!” “Badgers? We don’t need no stinking badgers!!!” See,Clay? Nothing of any value for clarity of mind or motivation,except a laugh,which CAN help in all situations.
. (Nice to read other ideas though!)
Laughter always loosens my brain up. And is that a quote from UHF? Wow! Didn’t expect anyone to go there. I love it!
Humor soul mates? Thought the Werres and Custers were the only ones who watched that movie!
cool
The most motivated I’ve EVER been to write was when I watched The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, about a quadriplegic who wrote an entire book by BLINKING the alphabet. Geez. If he can write a book with one eye, I don’t have any excuse.
Go Clay!
No kidding! I’ll have to watch that.
Sometimes, we need to rest and let it sit there. Even in nature, there’s a time to rest and a time to work. If we take our times off from working on things, we’ll realize that it’ll flow faster when we get back.
Maybe that hump is telling us to take a breather. Then, when we decided to work on it, we’ll be energized.
Good advice Marilag.