There's something exciting about starting a new creative project.
You've got a fresh notebook, a brand-new document, maybe a cup of hot chocolate, and all the enthusiasm in the world.
You're going to write a novel!
You're going to be disciplined!
You're going to sit down every day and produce beautiful, brilliant prose!
And for the first few days, things are going pretty well.
Then, somewhere around the second week, reality sets in.
The story isn't quite as exciting as it was when you started. Your characters are doing things you hadn't planned. You've fallen behind on your word count, and frankly, sitting on the couch watching television sounds a whole lot more appealing than spending another hour staring at your computer.
Welcome to the middle of Novel Writing Month.
The good news? You're not alone.
The bad news? Unfortunately, the novel isn't going to write itself.
So what do you do when the excitement wears off?
Remember Why You Started
Before you started writing, something made you think this would be fun.
Maybe you've always wanted to write a book. Maybe you've had a story in your head for years. Or maybe you just wanted to try something new.
Whatever your reason, take a minute to remember it.
Not the word count. Not the deadline. Not the imaginary audience who might someday read your book.
What made you want to do this in the first place?
Sometimes we get so caught up in accomplishing a goal that we forget why the goal mattered to us.
And if your original reason was simply that writing a novel sounded like fun, that's a perfectly good reason.
You don't need a more impressive one.
Make the Goal Smaller
If you're aiming for 50,000 words and you're already several thousand behind, looking at the remaining word count can be downright discouraging.
So stop looking at it for a minute.
Instead, ask yourself what you can accomplish today.
Can you write 500 words?
How about 200?
Can you sit down for one 15-minute writing sprint?
Sometimes the hardest part of writing is getting started. Once you're in the chair and the words are flowing, you might find yourself writing far more than you planned.
But even if you don't, those 200 words count.
Small accomplishments add up.
Give Yourself Something to Look Forward To
There's nothing wrong with a little bribery.
In fact, I'm a big fan.
Promise yourself a favorite treat after you've finished a writing session. Take yourself out for lunch when you reach a milestone. Buy that book you've been eyeing.
It doesn't have to cost anything, either.
Maybe your reward is an uninterrupted hour with a good book or an evening watching your favorite movie.
The point is to acknowledge your progress.
We're often very good at celebrating other people's accomplishments and surprisingly bad at celebrating our own.
Writing 10,000 words of a novel is an accomplishment.
So is writing 1,000.
Give yourself some credit.
Find a Little Company
Writing can be a solitary activity, especially if you don't have a writing group.
But it doesn't have to be lonely.
Look for online writing sprints, virtual write-ins, or local library events. You might find other writers who are struggling with the same things you are.
And you don't need to be an experienced writer to participate.
If joining a group feels intimidating, start small. Tell a friend what you're working on. Ask someone to check in with you once a week.
Sometimes knowing that another person is cheering you on makes all the difference.
Remember That Motivation Comes and Goes
Here's the thing about motivation.
It's wonderful when it's there.
But it isn't particularly reliable.
Some days you'll be excited to write. Other days you'll have to talk yourself into opening your manuscript.
That's normal.
The trick is to make writing something you can do even when you're not especially motivated.
Maybe that means writing for 15 minutes after dinner. Maybe it means keeping a standing Saturday morning appointment with your novel.
Find a routine that works for you, and make it easy enough that you can stick with it on ordinary days, not just the good ones.
And remember, there's a difference between needing a little encouragement and genuinely needing a break.
Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is close your laptop, get some rest, and come back tomorrow.
Keep Going
If you're halfway through November and wondering whether you should bother finishing, I hope you will.
Not because you owe anybody 50,000 words.
Not because quitting would somehow make you a failure.
But because you started this adventure for a reason, and there's still something to be gained from seeing where it takes you.
Maybe you'll reach your word-count goal.
Maybe you won't.
Either way, you have an opportunity to discover what happens when you keep showing up for something that matters to you, even after the initial excitement has faded.
And that's a pretty valuable thing to learn.
How do you keep yourself motivated when a new project starts feeling like work? I'd love to hear your tricks!