Expert Advice: On Motivation

By Writing Center Staff

By this point in the fall, perhaps you are feeling a bit weary. Am I right? The excitement of the new term has begun to fizzle, and you’re not sure if you can sustain the long hours of work, school, and family time. In this week’s blog post, Writing Center staff lift your dragging feet. Pat you on the back. Say in unison, “I think you can. I think you can.” That’s right; the tutors and editors are musing about motivation—how to get it and how to keep it. For a pick-me-up, check out their answers below.

How do you stay motivated to write?

• Beth and Amber recommend “chunking” to see progress:
• Beth Oyler: When I have a large project to complete, I split it up into chunks, which helps it feel more manageable. For example, if I’m writing a research paper, I think about the different steps I need to complete (research, notes, organization, drafting, revision) and focus on each step in order. That way, I have the satisfaction of feeling like I accomplished something if I’m able to check off even one step.
• Amber Cook: For me, a lot of it is being able to visualize my progress. For long-term projects, like writing a dissertation or getting a degree, it’s important to break it down into smaller mini-projects so that you can easily see what you’ve achieved. This might mean making a checklist every few weeks. Or maybe you keep a journal or graph where you log your progress. As abstract as writing can be—especially in an online learning setting—it really helps to have something tangible to look at to see how far you’ve come.

• Kelly suggests a change in attitude:
• Kelly Chermack: I think that we, as writers, believe that whatever we put down on the page has to be brilliant right out of the chute. But that’s not true.  When I was writing my dissertation, I had writer’s block. But I just started writing and stopped pressuring myself.  Once I had made it through one analytic chapter, I felt so much better.  I thought, “Hey, this really is not that big of a deal.”  So just reminding myself of that has always served as the best motivation for me.  Just think, “Hey, you can do this!”

• Kayla and Nik rely on word counts and time limits:
• Kayla Skarbakka: Daily word count goals tend to work best because I have trouble just getting the darn words on the page. I also like to tell other people about those goals to keep myself motivated—and to let them know when I achieve those goals so that they can celebrate with me (or at least so I can brag). This habit may make me a little obnoxious to live with, but I’ve found it quite helpful.
• Nik Nadeau: I haven’t always stayed on track with my writing, but when I am on track, I find that I am happier, calmer, and—at least I would like to believe—more pleasant to be around. I give myself 15 minutes a day to write. Even if I start out writing the ABCs (yes, I’ve done that), eventually I will end up with something—probably not something great, but something more than where I started.

How can a student recover from an explosion of tutor or faculty comments on a paper?

• Brian and Beth suggest some time away:
• Brian Timmerman: Have a look at the comments, but don’t start the revision process immediately. Wait an hour. Or two. You don’t want a visceral response to your instructor’s “awkward phrasing” comment seeping into your work.
• Beth Oyler: To get beyond the “sticker shock” of feedback that I’ve received from my own professors or peers, I like to do a quick overview. I don’t worry too much about specifics but instead skim all of the comments. Then I set the paper aside and do something else. This time allows me to think about and absorb the comments without getting too upset or frustrated.

• Kayla reminds us that feedback is a good thing:
• Kayla Skarbakka: Keep in mind that feedback is a perfectly normal and essential part of the writing process. It means that your reader is taking you seriously enough to engage in what you’re saying and has enough confidence in your abilities to believe that you can improve. Expect and anticipate this feedback, and know that it’s coming from a place of respect and good faith. Remember: criticisms of your writing are not criticisms of you as a person or a scholar.

What tools do you use for motivation?

• Brian and Kayla summon an environment that supports writing:
• Brian Timmerman: I’d recommend a Fortress of Solitude. Seriously, if you don’t have a comfortable, physical space to be alone with your thoughts, free of distraction, it’s very hard to stay on task.
• Kayla Skarbakka: As embarrassing as this is, I sometimes have to set the scene and get into character. Back in college, I had a blaze-orange hunting cap that I wore whenever I was writing. It started off as a joke, but for some reason it worked for me. These days I’m a little more stereotypical: If I want to write poetry, I might turn on some classical music, light a candle, and wear a scarf. If I’m working on something a little more scholarly, I might stack some books on my desk. It’s easier for me to concentrate if I have some symbolic way to set my writing time apart from the rest of my day.

• For Beth and Amber, it’s all about buddies and rewards:
• Beth Oyler: I like to give myself little rewards when there is something academic that I don’t really want to do. For example, if I need to finish a paper, I might go to a coffee shop to write, which gives me the reward of having an Americano knowing that I’ll need to get my work done while I’m there. That little treat helps to motivate me. It doesn’t have to be big, but it can give you that extra push to focus.
• Amber Cook: Find an accountability buddy. Try to choose someone whose work ethic and drive match your own, or to which you aspire. Meet up with that person periodically to share your progress. Sometimes, it’s easier to disappoint yourself than to disappoint someone else, so the pressure to report your work to this person is a nice extra nudge of motivation.

• Nik looks to a writing icon:
• Nik Nadeau: When I’m struggling to find words, I recall the advice given by Elie Wiesel, the Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner: “Think higher, feel deeper.” These words help me put pen to paper (or fingers to keys) whether I am writing creatively, academically, or just to myself.

How do you stay motivated to write and to complete your degree? Add to the discussion by commenting here.

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