No Motivation.. any advice

[MINE!!]

here is the deal. I have a 60 page paper due sometime end of this week. I have the research, I have the knowledge, I have the computer, I have the material.. I have it all.... all but the motivation. UGH!!! I feel a lot of pressure for this to be outstanding. There has been some interest in it from some people that are hoping to publish it as well as from various History Museums and I am stressed. You would think this was wonderful.. HA.. at first it was.. now... I just want nothing to do with it. It would have been better if no one had ever noticed and I was jsut writing it for an A.. But I am SOOOOO sick or reading about the Ku Kulx Klan and all the events that I am writing on. So here I am.. final lap ... and I am staring at my computer thinking..."I just don't want to do it. I wonder what is on TV."

So any advice would be helpful.. I fried and I seriously do not care (well kinda seriously) and I just do not feel ike doing it. I know a lot of you have had to go through this or something similiar... any advice?

 

[Erin]

Don''t feel the pressure to outline or start at the beginning. Start on the part you find most interesting or the part that is easiest to spit out. After feeling some accomplishment - you can start the ''correct'' way.

 

[decodelighted]

This is highly dangereous ... but sometimes I lay down & let my mind wander. Or take a shower & gently ponder it. Usually I''ll come up with some hook or some phrase or some germ of an idea that I can take to the page. Once you get started it''s easy to keep going ... it''s just the starting that can be so damn daunting.

I''m a freelance writer & have this feeling CONSTANTLY. Also, try to diminish the importance in your mind to free yourself. Five years from now will this matter?


Good luck! You''re about to have the hardest part over!!

 

[flutterby]

It is never easy to get started, especially when you are burnt out. I guess my only suggestion is do a little at a time, nothing is worse than having to conquer it all at the last minute. Write for a while, watch a show, write for awhile, play on pricescope....

that is my suggestion. I wish i could use that for working out. I have no motivation today and have been sitting in front of the computer ''playing'' for hours!

 

[Mara]

What do you do when you are not motivated in other parts of your life? aka if you don't want to make dinner for your kids? Or if you are not motivated to pick up your kids from school? Does that ever happen?

Probably not, because you just have to do it, right? Part of life.

So I'd just say buck up and DO IT. There are times when I am sitting at my laptop and don't feel like sending out quotes to clients or researching that product or whatever, but I just have to do it. The times when I DON'T do it and let something lapse, I always regret it later.

If it's a matter of trying to figure out how to best write it or the hook to get it started is another tale, but if you are having trouble wanting to just get it going or working on it, just think about how much better it feels when it's DONE and OVER and you can move on. As for the pressure, just ignore it. Write this like you were writing it for an A. You can always make revisions to it later after going over it with someone you respect (mentor?) to get it ready for publishing.

I'd just start somewhere and before you know it's over. Start work on it ASAP. End of story!

 

[MINE!!]

LOVELY... Just got off the phone with someone from the Lumbee Council... Ugh..I am never going to get this paper going... Ugh!! I can feel the stress going through the roof.

OK... Breathe...


Starset~thanks.... I keep telling myself to just start with the histories of those involved first.. those are the ones that I can just zp through

Deco~ No offense.. but I am glad that I do not have your job... LOL... I do not think that I could stress like this all the time... I think it really takes a talent for someone to be a freeelance writer... Thanks for all the advice.. I think I am going to go take a shower and see if I can get motivated.. (maybe when I am clean and bright eyed I will feel better)

Msflutter~Thank you.. I know what you mean... I guess one of my problems is knowing that once the kids get home from school there is going to be madness.. and I keep telling my self.. ''you have to do it NOW'' How is that beautiful ring of yours? Heard what the hairstylist said.. I am happy.. Congratulations.. again

Any other advice is wonderful... please keep it coming

 

[koko]

Did you ever see the movie "The Muse" with Albert Brooks & Sharon Stone? The entire movie was based on him being a writer who was not motivated....she provided the inspiration for him to write. She would take him to the aquarium, for example, and when the pressure was off he would find inspiration in the least likely places......Good Luck & take it easy on yourself. You''ve come through before & you will again!!

 

[MINE!!]

Date: 10/17/2005 12:34:04 PM
Author: Mara
What do you do when you are not motivated in other parts of your life? aka if you don''t want to make dinner for your kids? Or if you are not motivated to pick up your kids from school? Does that ever happen?

Thanks Mara... I know that you are right... I think it is the blank head I am having right now...LOL...

 

[Kaleigh]

Once you get the first paragraph written it will flow from there I''m sure. Now get crackin woman!!!

 

[Regular Guy]

Hey, check out this site....ummm....no, wait, you''ve already been there.

Don''t watch The Shining.

Sometimes, I eat. Infrequently, this helps. Then again, I''m overweight.

Best suggestion. Sit somewhere, with your task in mind, be still, don''t allow yourself to get involved in distractions; have nothing else going on. (Warning, see second item above).

Regards,

 

[laney]

OMG you sound just like me.

I have that BLANK block right before some writing task I have to get done. I will zone zone zone out. And it''s REALLY HARD. And when it comes due - and I get more and more pressure, I just don''t want to do it more. It''s AWFUL.

I just finished one of those 15 pagers and now I have another one.. Dmmit! Usually I have some time in between when I need to do those types of things.

I''m bad.. I''ll write a million posts - but not do the writing that I need to. Maybe because it''s so important.. that I avoid it. When I really get mad at myself I take one of those "Adult Deficet disorder" quizes on line - and of course it says "get to doctor quick" LOL!

Yes, I make up diseases even.

HELP ME! (I have MS word open.. but no writing is getting done..)

 

[surfrgrl]

When I was freelance writing a fellow writer suggested that just sitting down at the computer and writing SOMETHING can get you going. Just open Word, but don''t stare at the blank page . . . just start writing anything that comes to mind. Sometimes that worked for me, other times not.

What if you just told yourself that, next time you sit down to work on it, you only had to do one page. Shoot for that goal only. Then, in your next work session, do another page. I think feeling like you only have to accomplish a limited amount might take off the burden of feeling like you have to sit down at one time and dash off 60 pages. Hopefully, before you know it, you''ll be into it.

Best of luck!

 

[ello]

Smoke a cigarette...me bad...just joking! I think what I would do is summarize in point form each chapter (almost as if you were writing your index page). I think once you have it in point form your mind will fill in the blanks. I always do this and it''s almost a tease for my brain to move forward! Good luck!

 

[Erin]

Stupid old writing exercise that works sometimes

Egg timer set at 3 minutes

ready go - start typing on the subject matter
do not backspace mispelled words
do not strive to be coherent
make up dates and names that you can correct later
whatever seems easiest to type freely without reference should start flowing

I like to use this exercise to type my papers in the children''s book format - use simple words, what is the gist of the story, what do you hope to persuade

go get your timer or use the microwave

GO!

 

[Blue824]

Well, I''ve taken a year and a half haitus from paper writing, but the way I went about was that I didn''t really start from teh beginning. I''d just open up a document, and start writing down a fact or quote I definitely knew I wanted. It was in a rough order... Not always complete thoughts or in order, but I wrote what came to me...then I''d take a break...then I''d start rearranging and filling in the blanks. It would just sort of develop from there. Maybe I''m a really bad influence but time constraints always made me more productive. I am a procrastinator...maybe it sounds silly, and people swear it can''t be true, but when I know I have less time, I skip all the BS and I do exactly what I need to do. I get exactly what I need to say out in the way I want it said. Yes, maybe in the moment it is more stressful and a really super late night or all nighter, but that''s always what I did...and it worked. Not that I endorse procrastination, its just a natural habit I can''t break! Good luck on your paper, Mine!!!

 

[Daniel B]

Date: 10/17/2005 12:16:02 PM
Author: Starset Princess
Don''t feel the pressure to outline or start at the beginning. Start on the part you find most interesting or the part that is easiest to spit out. After feeling some accomplishment - you can start the ''correct'' way.

Very interesting.. . . never thought of doing it like that. Im sorry-- but this makes me laugh! Im the same way, i''ll have everything in line and the knowledge is there, but you still feel like your at the bottom of a mountain looking up (a 60 page mountain in your case).
But i just bite the bullet and start and try not to think about it you know? When your stumped on what to write next, put some quiet music on in the background-- I always put on Magaritaville-- dont know why? but it hepls to calm you down. I really hope everything works out for ya

 

[MissAva]

Here is what I do, tell them what you are going to say, tell them, tell them what you have just told them. Though that is for science papers.
I like to try and write down 10-50 questions (depending on the length of the paper) what do I expect o have th reader know by the time they have compleated my paper. Then I do drop downs from there. Eventually it is all down to the topic sentences for each paragraph. Yes this takes awhile and is boring but I make good grades and my profs like my papers.

 

[FireGoddess]

I hope it''s going well - it''s due by tomorrow I assume?

 

[Erin]

Date: 10/20/2005 5:14:37 PM
Author: FireGoddess
I hope it's going well - it's due by tomorrow I assume?

and you'd BETTER not get a response until tomorrow!!! LOL our little missy should be writing a paper right now

 

[MINE!!]

Date: 10/20/2005 5:22:47 PM
Author: Starset Princess

Date: 10/20/2005 5:14:37 PM

Author: FireGoddess

I hope it''s going well - it''s due by tomorrow I assume?

and you''d BETTER not get a response until tomorrow!!! LOL our little missy should be writing a paper right now

Was given an extension for Monday. But I have been working on it and I feel much more rganized now...LOL.. The deadline was actually of my own doing... The final draft is not due until the 22nd of November.. but I have to get this draft done..
Thanks everyone for thinking of me.

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 10/20/2005 5:22:47 PM
Author: Starset Princess

Date: 10/20/2005 5:14:37 PM
Author: FireGoddess
I hope it''s going well - it''s due by tomorrow I assume?

and you''d BETTER not get a response until tomorrow!!! LOL our little missy should be writing a paper right now

LOL - I was thinking the same thing - almost edited my post to say ''don''t even think about replying today!''.
BTW SP - love the kitty avatar! head bonk!

Good luck Mine - glad to see you''ve got some more time and are getting in the writing groove.

 

[Shay37]

Maybe this relates, maybe not. I''m a court reporter who works free lance. This means I work a few times a week, and then I have a deadline for producing the transcripts. I have always been the procrastinator from...you get the idea. As of yesterday, I had four jobs waiting in the wings. Tonight, I have three.

My solution, Pricescope is a treat. If I don''t do at least an hour a day on transcripts, I won''t allow myself my treat. It really works. If you don''t see me here for a few days, you will know I''ve been a bad girl, and I am having to cram like crazy to make my deadlines.

Whatever works. Like I said, I don''t know if this is an appropriate illustration for you, I''m just trying to help you a bit. Pick something that is a treat for you, and deny yourself if you don''t buckle down and work. That paper will be done before you know it.

shay