For a little more help, join me LIVE on Twitch from Monday to Friday, 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM EST! 📚✍️ I’ll be working on my second book, and together we’ll tackle tasks using the Pomodoro Method for focused work sessions. Bring your to-do list, and let’s boost our productivity side-by-side! 🚀

Writing a story was never easy. There are plenty of challenges inherent when creating your first novel, such as moments where doubt, frustration and even heartache creep in. Those moments make you feel like you’re not making any progress or question whether this was the right path to take.

I felt those pains. The beginning was the hardest hurdle to overcome but then came the slow, agonizing trough of the middle—also known as the “marathon of the middle”. After that, there was the light of the end (or so I thought), but once we crossed that line, you’ll see there’s another race to finish: editing. And immediately after that—marketing your book. But that’s a whole other blog post.

In this article, we’ll explore how to push through the challenging aspects of writing and, if need be, reignite your passion for writing, find joy in the process, and embrace every twist and turn of the creative journey. Because once you fall in love with writing, it becomes a lifelong romance you’ll never want to end! Let’s begin.

1. Let go of Perfectionism and Judgement

2. Embrace Writing Rituals

3. Celebrate your Wins

   1. Write without PERfectionism & Judgement

It took me awhile to begin my story. I spent days thinking about how to open up the novel—on how to craft that perfect opening line to ‘hook’ the reader. After finally crafting the first chapter, it was still a difficult process to write. After only coming up with a few of lines, that’s when I discovered my problem: I was trying to be perfect.

Perfectionism can be a good thing when used correctly but often it is accompanied by Judgement. You probably know this—when making something, like art, you criticize yourself for any mistakes and/or imperfections. These judgements contracts your creativity, making it difficult for your imagination to run free.

So, next time you start writing, be kind to yourself and let go of judgements and the idea of being perfect. The first draft is never perfect.

2. Embrace your Rituals

Create small routines that make writing special, like lighting a candle, playing soft music, or writing in your favorite notebook. These rituals turn writing into a comforting, almost sacred experience, helping you look forward to it every day.

At the beginning of my writing journey, I had a cluttered workspace. Pens, notepads, little trinkets here and there— things which kept me distracted at all times. By clearing my space and keeping things to the essentials, like a few pens and a single notebook, I freed up my mental workload to stay focused on the task at hand.

To have stay focused and accountable, I stream writing and productivity sessions on Twitch! You can catch me live, Monday through Friday @ 9:30am EST (tentative schedule—subject to change).

During my productivity streams, I often play Lofi Study music, which puts me in a relaxed, focused state. I start up a timer and would work, undistracted, for 45-minutes. Try it! It may take a few sessions to find the length of time you’re comfortable with, so experiment with the timings. Start with a 25-minute focused session and increase the interval. Test how far you can study/work for until to find your ‘sweet spot’—that point where you can focus for a good amount of time without feeling mentally tired.

3. Celebrate your WINS!

This might be the easiest of all the tips but it is often THE most overlooked one. And that is to reward your accomplishments.

As writers, it’s easy to get lost in the hustle of deadlines, edits, and story arcs. However, celebrating your wins—big or small—is essential for staying motivated! At the beginning of writing journey, I neglected giving myself a “pat on the bacl”. I would say things like “this was nothing, I’m not even successful yet!” That was the wrong mindset to have.

Not all wins look alike—they can be small like completing a chapter or bigger like finishing your first draft! It could be publishing you debut novel (congrats btw) or landing your first 5-star review! Celebrate and reward yourself for every milestone, big or small.

Speaking about rewards, develop a ritual to mark your achievements! Like treating yourself to dessert for finishing that chapter or taking a day off to binge watch your favorite TV show. Have something planned for a job well done.

And that’s a wrap! I hope you found this blog helpful and inspiring. If you’re looking for more tips, motivation, or just a productive vibe, come hang out with me on Twitch at thereal_aj_! Let’s tackle our goals together!

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