Finding and keeping up the motivation to complete a book you started is a challenge that most new writers will face at some point in their journey. Here are some simple tips that can inspire you to finish a story and finally get that book published.
There have been countless writers who were set on writing their first book and determined to share their ideas with the world. But, unfortunately, in many cases, the end result is that their unfinished books, packed full of unique concepts and characters, are left to sit aside for months, years, and even forever without ever being completed.
No one said it would be easy, but there are a few simple steps that you can follow to make it that little bit less arduous a task and help with overall patience. In this guide, we’re going to break down some general tips and strategies that writers of all levels can employ, which will hopefully help see any narrative projects through to completion.
Tips for finishing a book you started
What made you start writing?
Simply asking yourself that question and returning the root emotion or motivating factor that encouraged you to start this book in the first place can be enough to will you back into completing the story. If you can discover whatever it is that inspired you to first commit to the idea of writing a book, the odds are that if you look back at it through the same lens, you will have a renewed energy to sit down and write.
It is still important to remember that most motivation fades away after time, so try not to over-rely on this and start thinking about the impact it will have on your life in the future. Finding a sense of purpose in the work will help you tap into that extra gear, to get it done.
Of course, this can look a lot different for different people depending on their situation. In some cases, it will be the idea of financial freedom and success. In others, it will be sharing a message in their writing and having a major impact on people. If we’re honest, there are also some people who just look for validation from an audience, that the ideas they produce can be great ones.
Stop aiming for perfection
One bad habit that future authors can fall victim to, is the idea of wanting every scene to be flawless in their first draft. It is important to face the reality early in your work that you will likely have to go back and edit once your first rough draft is done.
Editing while writing is a much slower approach to start with and it can massively hamper your creative thinking. If you are in a flow state, simply get all of the ideas out, without worrying about the perfect grammar, descriptions, and dialogue.
This approach will allow you to get all your ideas down on paper and it will make the process a much more enjoyable one. Of course, you will eventually have to go back and tidy it up, but at least this way, you can break the workload up in a way that looks a lot more manageable.
Create smaller writing goals
One way of adding extra motivation, into any type of writing work, is to simply break down the number of words you set as a target. Whether you choose to set daily, weekly, or monthly goals, it is important to set your aim towards something when you go to re-apply yourself to create your story and characters.
The reason the idea of writing a book can seem daunting is often due to the amount of time it takes to complete. However, if you view the narrative in chapters or smaller sections, each part becomes more manageable. By breaking up the writing process into smaller chunks, you can reduce the chance of being overwhelmed and stay motivated to complete your book.
How exactly you choose to implement this is completely up to you. But, most writers find that aiming for about 1000 words a day is a reasonable target for finishing a novel’s first draft in a few months. It is best to find a middle ground where you challenge yourself to get a lot of work done but not too much that you risk burnout.
Share your writing progress with others
Sometimes simply telling others of your progress and stating your goals aloud will help you stay accountable. Put the pressure on yourself of telling others you are planning to finish a book within a certain deadline. While some people can view it as a risky mindset, many of the best writers use this approach of social pressure to finish their work on time.
Dealing with this kind of pressure early on will also be beneficial if your first book does really well, as you could have fans of the first title looking for a sequel or waiting on your next release. If you plan on continuing your writing career further than your first book, this could be a useful habit to pick up.
You can choose to share your writing progress with anyone. Whether it is on online writing communities, friends and family, or if you’re sharing daily or weekly updates on social media, it can all help. Adding this as a part of your routine will also encourage you to get more progress done, so that you have good news to share with other people, regardless of the exact methods you choose.
Make writing a routine
As mentioned above, most writers will aim for somewhere around 1000 words a day when they sit down to write. But to accomplish this you might have to slowly instill a level of discipline in yourself, which could take quite a while, especially if you have just taken a long break from writing.
To build this routine up, don’t be afraid to start slow with a couple hundred words a day, or about a page of your book. Eventually, you’ll start to get into such a rhythm that you will end up getting sucked into your narrative, and start to enjoy the process once again.
Make sure to also consider the conditions of where and when you choose to write. Pick a time of the day that suits you best, whether it’s every morning or late in the evening. Also, be sure to set up or choose somewhere you can call your dedicated writing space. Try to tailor it to be free from distractions and have everything you need to get your work done efficiently.