[Emotions and Writing Series] Motivation and Writing

There is a popular notion that creativity is sparked by a grand moment of inspiration. But that isn’t really how academics or creative writers complete projects. I am refuting the idea that writing needs motivation and instead arguing that systems and processes are the key to a sustainable writing practice. 

First, I’ll clarify the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and offer a checklist to help you identify the root of your motivational issues. Then, I introduce a framework of systems and processes to combat waning motivation. 

If you are waiting around for motivation, you will be waiting a long time! By setting up a consistent writing routine and creating an environment conducive to productivity, you can better manage your writing projects and stay on track. So don’t wait around for motivation to strike. Tune in to learn practical systems and processes to help you tackle tasks and write consistently.

Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation

There is a lot of baggage associated with motivation. Psychologically, there are two traditional types of motivation: intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation is an internal desire or push to complete an activity, whereas extrinsic motivation is sparked by external pressures like due dates.

A popular notion of writing and creative work is that you need inspiration or motivation to do it. But I don’t believe that’s true. You don’t need motivation to write. You need systems and processes to help you do it.

What to Check if You Are Feeling a Lack of Motivation

1. Your level of rest. Lack of motivation is directly linked to exhaustion.
2. What are the emotions causing the lack of motivation? Examples: tired, hopeless, overwhelmed
3. What systems and tools are you using so you are ready to write?

Systems and Processes to Overcome Lack of Motivation

You can lean on systems and processes when you aren’t motivated. Here are some ideas:

Leveraging Publication Pipeline – Your publication pipeline shows you where this project fits into the big picture of your academic mission statement, making it easier to establish its priority. 

Task Lists – Breaking down projects into tasks, scheduling tasks, and identifying writing problems create a project management plan. 

Schedule Time – Your writing should be an appointment on your calendar. Start with 1-2 hours once or twice a week and honor that writing time consistently. 

Writing Setup – Gather the tools you need to write. This setup can include anything from data and notes to cleaning your workspace. 

“Waiting for motivation to tell you to write is the wrong approach. Even creative writers don’t sit around waiting for inspiration to hit them. Writing is more like exercise rather than this idealized notion of this creative person who gets a lighting bolt idea to create a novel. There is more behind the scenes and it is the same for academic writing.”

“It is inhumane to expect that you are going to have motivation to work on an article that has been sitting around for a long time. So instead of berating yourself for not having motivation or thinking that you are not a good academic or scholar because you don’t have intrinsic motivation to get your writing project done, let’s build systems and processes and workflows to help make it easier for you.”

We’ve opened the waitlist for our next cohort of Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap®. Check out the program details and get on the waitlist here.

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION:

1. Our 12-week Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® program helps tenure-track womxn and nonbinary professors to publish their backlog of papers so that their voice can have the impact they know is possible. Get on the waitlist here!
2. Cathy’s book, Making Time to Write: How to Resist the Patriarchy and Take Control of Your Academic Career Through Writing is available in print! Learn how to build your career around your writing practice while shattering the myths of writing every day, accountability, and motivation, doing mindset work that’s going to reshape your writing,and changing academic culture one womxn and nonbinary professor at a time. Get your print copy today or order it for a friend here!
3. Want to train with us for free on your campus? Now you can when you recommend our Scholar’s Voice™ Faculty Retreats to a decision-maker on your campus! Download the brochure with the retreat curriculum and both in-person and online retreat options here.
4. If you would like to hear more from Cathy for free, please subscribe to the weekly newsletter, In the Pipeline, at scholarsvoice.org. It’s a newsletter that she personally writes that goes out once a week with writing and publication tips, strategies, inspiration, book reviews and more.

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