Nurture your writing motivation with two of my favourite (and slightly unusual) tips
As an online writer (or author of books), you may be familiar with that moment when you realise that you don’t feel so interested in your blog or online writing in general. I find my writing motivation can ebb and flow with how I feel generally. About my general progress, my chronic illness, and what’s happening in the family. If a similar things happens to you too, you may not have a big problem with that.
But then you remember those times when you write for hours and forget everything around you. When you keep your blog and other online platforms going and it doesn’t feel like a huge effort. The thing is, motivation can be a fickle thing. What if it goes missing and stays away for too long?
Since writing my original post about losing passion and motivation, I have remembered two more (perhaps slightly unusual) ways I use to to find my writing motivation again. Especially when I’ve tried others and they haven’t made much of a difference.
So these may be worth a try because they aren’t your run-of-the mill motivation tips. And you never know, the karma tip could even make you feel better about your place in the writing world. Especially motivation goes because you worry that your writing can’t make a difference in the ocean of posts online.
Creating good karma – a great way to rekindle your motivation
There’s a quiet law at work in writing and engaging online. It’s not an algorithm or SEO. It’s not luck either.
Call it karma. Karma is the invisible echo of what you give out, and what returns to you because of it.
It seems that many people who experience good things in their lives make good things happen for others. Indeed, some will always bend over backwards to help others, whether they are a colleague, a client, another writer or an online follower.
Looking out for others becomes hugely important especially in these times of turmoil, At first, it might feel a bit strange, but it’s rare for a kind gesture not to be noticed online. And even if it isn’t acknowledged immediately, you know it feels good to be able to spread a little goodwill and positive energy.
It’s all about kindness
We live in a divided world so kindness may be even more important in the presence of provocative and inconsiderate comments online.
And while some people won’t reciprocate at all, which isn’t unusal, the way karma works is that good things can come back from anywhere!
They say that a boomerang always returns back to the person that throws it!
Over time, good energy builds trust. People feel it. They may not comment. They may not “like.” But they remember how your words made them feel.
And eventually, opportunities arrive in ways you couldn’t have planned.
That’s karma.
A few ideas
For example, you could contact another writer on social media, their blog or Substack with whom you haven’t been in touch for some time. Find out what’s new and how they’re getting on. Or leave a positive comment on one of their posts and share their blog with your own followers.
When you look for new people to follow, always check their profiles to see whether or not they write a blog. On Substack, this will be easy. Threads is also good for discovering writers through relevant threads (or topics). On Instagram you can find people through hashtags although I find it better to follow people who like your posts and check their profile for links. Since a lot of people say the engagement has decreased there, a comment or message from you will be most appreciated!
You don’t do this to impress. Or to prove something. And certainly not to promote yourself.
You might be too busy to do this every time, but it’s worth making an effort to reach out whenever you can. Remember, genuine kindness will always be highly thought of.
There are lots of ways you can help other blog writers! And ultimately you will help yourself too as you could end up with new connections and new learning. And before you know it. your motivation and passion for what you are working on is back!
So how about making a regular karma practice part of your online activities?
Your special word can work wonders
You may already have a special guiding word for this year. It’s a very popular technique for the beginning of a new year and is much talked about in social media. But did you know that you can choose your special word at any time of year?
I’ve been using this technique for myself and my coaching clients for many years. It is a very powerful motivational tool to guide your actions – consciously at first, and more intuitively once it is part of your daily awareness. If you’d like some help finding yours, please visit this page.
It works well for writing motivation and focus too.
Here’s how my word helps me
One year, my chosen word was “simplicity”. Thinking about what it means for my writing, helped me come up with easier alternatives to always starting from scratch with new topics.
I looked through my archive of old posts to maximise what I had already created. I updated and republished some adding more personal stories, more detail or better images and recorded a few mini podcasts. (Indeed, I took inspiration for this post from an old newsletter I sent out years ago!)
My word this year is “joy”, as I try to focus on finding more joy in small moments. For my work and my writing, it means being choosy about what I work on. My priority is that it has to be enjoyable. It sounds simple doesn’t it, but sometimes I am tempted to blow all caution to the wind and say yes to the wrong things. (An old habit of mine!)
Joy also works really well with fulfillment, the word we chose for our Attract Readers activities this year.
Here are a few examples of words I’ve seen others choose: innovation, fun, growth, consistency, creativity, calm, visibility, change, peace, spirituality, health. I can think of many more.
Would you like to give it a try? (By the way, if you find it tricky to decide on just one word, you can have more, although I wouldn’t choose more than three, so you can remember them easily.
If you’d like more tips about motivation please also visit my earlier post.
“The universe does not carry debts. It always returns back to you what you gave it.” – Drishti Bablani
