I’ve been going to a therapist for about two months now, and she’s taught me something about being a writer (or an artist in general) that I’ll never forget.
After I told her all about my abandoned projects and often losing interest in the middle of writing, she told me that there are two types of creative people: those motivated by the outcome and those motivated by the process.
Those motivated by the outcome will more often than not finish their work because the idea of having a finished manuscript/drawing/artwork is what drives them in the first place. Seeing their work completed excites them more than the process of creating it.
Now if you’re like me, you’re one of those people motivated by the process. It’s the process of writing that creates fulfilment, and it’s very often the case that the mind simply feels fulfilled after you write a couple of chapters. Or, you may choose to write your favourite scenes first, and leave the transition bits and the less interesting chapters for later — only you never actually write those because your brain has already gotten what it wanted, and you entirely lose your interest in the project.
Being the second type of writer, life often sucks. But there is always a way to improve things and my therapist said that to keep yourself on track you basically have to do two things:
1. Try to focus your mind on the goal, which is the finished manuscript/artwork. And don’t be afraid to be bold. Imagine yourself getting the first copies of your printed book in mail. Imagine seeing the cover for the first time. Hell, imagine winning an award, getting thousands of tweets and messages from your fans, imagine seeing your name appear in the end credits of the movie adaptation. Anything to focus on the goal, and anything to get excited about it.
2. Do your best to get excited about the less interesting parts of getting the work done. Create moodboards, doodles, playlists, talk to fellow writers. The excitement that comes out of these activities and interactions will sustain you throughout writing the less “exciting” scenes. And always keep in mind that some of these bits that you find boring might be exactly what resonates with your reader. One of my favourite scenes that I’ve read in a book has a gang member standing by a window, looking out to the city and thinking. Nothing more than that, and yet it was one of my favourite moments in the novel.
So that’s my little advice today that I thought I would share with you. It might not work with everyone, but it works with me so I wanted to pass it on. Have a great Monday, friends!
