In a post on DIY MFA, Mason Engel shares the secret of maintaining the motivation and discipline to write. “As a writer, you’ve probably finished a writing session and felt physically and mentally drained,” he says. “Or you’ve gotten home from a long day of work or study and you’ve lain on the couch, unable to muster the *energy* you need to write.”
Engel calls this energy Writeforce. “This fuel is vitally important, but few of us give it the attention it deserves,” he writes. “It’s every great writer’s accelerant, the amplifier of skill, and the ticket to your writerly dreams.”
Engel says the formula consists of:
- Purpose. “Being disconnected from your purpose is debilitating for your enthusiasm,” Engel says. “So if you find yourself dragging your feet before a writing session, it might be time to check in with your purpose. Why do you write? What are you trying to achieve–either for yourself or for others–and why is that thing worthwhile?”
- Self-Acceptance. “Would you rather write a novel from a place of self-doubt and self-criticism?” Engel asks. “Or from a place of confidence and excitement?” Self-acceptance allows you to embrace your voice and find pride in your identity as a writer.
- Autonomy. “External pressures can hijack your creativity,” Engel writes. “Anxiety over what others will think prevents you from writing what you want to write. These things rob you of your creative autonomy, and the long days start to feel even longer.”
- Positive Relationships. Having a support circle can be the difference between a lonely writing life and a thriving relationship between you, your craft, and your community. Writer friends are great, but non-writer friends who support you unconditionally are just as valuable.
- Environmental Mastery. Does your writing environment work for you or against you? Are you in control of your time, schedule, and space? The more you have, the more energy you’ll conserve for your writing, Engel suggests.
- Personal Growth. A habit of continuous learning and personal growth will serve you well in your writing pursuits.
