On Writing : How do you stay motivated to write? by Amanda Toney

I am a citizen of procrastination nation. Usually I hit this point where I start finding fun facts and sharing them with my wife. That's about the time I hear "My love, are you procrastinating again? Write." and then I begrudgingly get back to it and the zone comes back. I just gotta snap out of it sometimes, I guess lol

That's a great question, Amanda Toney With me, there are a couple of things - one is the creative relationships that I have primarily here on S32. There are folks that I've connected with that a simple chat about anything with that person will steer me in that direction. The other is an unfinished project. Once a logline is done, it's really tough to stop the process.

I am the exact opposite. I am obsessive compulsive to the max. Always have been. Once I start I don't stop until it is done, whether it's an article, a chapter for a textbook, a screenplay or a novel...it grabs hold of me like a bear hug. When I wrote Terminal Cascade I started on page one and didn't stop until it was complete (500 pages)...it had been in my head for weeks to months. I wrote in my head a particularly important scene in my script Jingle Bell Rock when driving solo back from a horse show in California. When I got back, I plopped it on paper... Of course there are edits...many, many edits. Jingle Bell Rock had been in my head for over 20 years before I finally had to let it out. I don't do outlines. I just write. When I applied for medical school I had to take the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Test (MMPI). In our initial meeting of over 100 medical students the first day we were informed of our results. As a group, all of my fellow physicians had some very interesting characteristics... "As a group, you are compulsive obsessive as hell, you are slightly schizophrenic...and you have a great fear of death." It's nice to know who you are.

Deadlines definitely help, Amanda Toney. And sometimes it's just about forcing myself to sit at my laptop and write. Usually, it'll start off rough, then the words start flowing.

Citizen of procrastination nation. That's one country I don't wanna visit, Audrey-Rose Savard. :)

Inspiration > Procastination. When it's there, do it. When it's not there, don't force yourself. If you do that, it won't be good, trust me.

Memento Mori.

I write everyday, 4-6 hours aday. It's all about showing up.

I get anxiety before starting a project and if it's a long project, I get anxiety throughout it. Something that has helped me is the Pomodoro technique. Instead of letting my anxiety prevent me from working, I simply have to try to work for 25 minutes. It seems to help relieve my anxiety. I think because it's such a small amount of time I can't possibly screw up too badly. And also because if I'm still feeling anxious after 25 min, I can move on and do something else.

Lisa, as someone who suffers an anxiety disorder, I get it. You just have to take it one step at a time. Recharge and refocus when it's necessary.

I just need to look at my bank account. When I add up the cost of belonging to Stage 32, Inktip, Roadmap Writers, etc. Then add the cost of pitches, consultations, contest entries, I end up thinking: Fk! I got to keep writing in hope that someday(?) I can start to recoup all this fking money!!"

Chris, whether Hollywood has become political (on one side of the political spectrum or the other) or not, there is a certain toxicity when it comes to the subdued message these days.

Hi Amanda, I typically lose motivation during the first draft construction of a screenplay. That's when I feel the most disheartened about a story and question if this idea is worth pursuing at all. I know this feeling is normal, and I simply need to push through it, but it leads to a lot of procrastination. For me, best way to get through it is to slug on and see if things get any better.

Steve, I couldn't agree more. Procrastination is a writer's worst enemy... and also a blessing in disguise. If you struggle with the original idea, it means it's working in a way.

Amanda Toney I’ve never had writer’s block, so I can’t really answer your question, Amanda. I am always hungry to write, but yes there have been a few times, especially when I’ve just finished (for the time being) a project. But then it’s good not to always have your nose at the grindstone. I’ll just cill, watch a series on TV, read a book, play with my Grandson, and then the hunger comes back with a passion.