How to Restore Your Writing Energy

Are you missing the energy of Camp NaNoWriMo’s April session and can’t wait for it to start again in July? If you want to continue your noveling adventures, participant K.R. Garcia shares some tips to help you keep your writing energy up:

It’s over. That month of late nights, exhilarating twists, dizzying plunges, and ink-stained fingers is over at last. As June dawns and fizzes, the stress and adrenaline diminuendo into a soft murmur, barely audible amidst the flood of relief. But so, too, does the inspiration that pushed you through the month.

When you began the race, you stood at the starting line with an empty notebook, fresh pens, and a fully charged laptop. The only opponent was the clock. Your mind-hotel was rented out to a number of misunderstood and eccentric characters, and you had promised them growth and room to be themselves. Nothing could dim the dazzling potential of your brilliant idea. As the race went on, your legs began to ache and your vision blurred. When you crossed the finish line, your legs gave out.

The track beyond the finish line looked more treacherous than the race itself. You jogged along for a while, but you could not go quite as fast. The smallest slip-up felt like a collapse.

You’ve lost your energy. Now, your idea, the starting line, is a distant memory.

How do you get that energy back? Simple. What gave you energy before? The race.

To restore your energy, bring the excitement back into the writing process. Make it a challenge again.

Here are a few ways to challenge yourself:

1. Set a goal. 

This is wonderful for both short- and long-term inspiration. Goals are especially useful if they require you to write more per day than you’re used to. They don’t have to be about word count. You can make, for example, a page, chapter, or hour goal. On the NaNoWriMo website, you can create goal trackers all year round.

2. Establish habits. 

Writing a set amount, at a certain time, or in a specific location every day could help you attain a constant writing energy level. You could reward yourself when you write or make a schedule for yourself that includes writing time.

3. Try something new. 

You could try your hand at an emotionally heavy scene or incorporate an unfamiliar genre. If you’re a pantser, you could try writing a plan for your novel. If you’re a planner, you could try giving yourself some room for spontaneity. Attempting something out of your comfort zone could inspire you to write more.

Why do you need to have energy to write? Writing may not be fun all the time, but if it’s never exciting, you will not finish your projects. Challenging yourself could help you regain your writing energy and finish the race at last.

K.R. Garcia has been creating stories since before she could hold a pencil and has participated in eight NaNoWriMo and Camp NaNoWriMo events. An avid Agatha Christie reader, she writes mainly in the mystery and adventure genres. She coaches a class for young writers at her high school in Texas. When she is not writing, she enjoys classic rock, psychology, and music boxes. You can find her on Twitter at @katerpillar43.

Top image licensed under Creative Commons from Vlad Litvinov on Flickr.