Hello writers! Do you find it difficult to buckle down and finish something?

i get an idea for a novel and i push out about a few pages..and then i lose inspiration to finish. i say that you make one of your friends make you write. when i was in college i would have plenty of time to write and rewrite something because i was made to. and since no one is making me now, i don't know how to finish my work. i wish you loads of luck with the writing and hope that you do finish your novel.

I have spent the whole summer procrastinating. It is not that I haven't finished the novel, because I have. But I am in my sixth edit and let's face it, editing is boring. So that is why I haven't been accomplishing much. But I have been gaining momentum since I joined triond. I am writing more (not editing yet though) and will write every day. I'm even back to going for my daily walk. Summer just sapped me because I slept have the day away and then the day was over and there was no time for writing. I will get it finished before the end of the year. I know, I said that last year. LOL!

I've always struggled with finishing writing projects until last month, when I learned that my salary would be practically cut in half. Employers sre so fickle! That news was enough to motivate me to stop fooling around and getting more serious about being more resourceful. In addition to stop depending on any employer for income, I'm motivated to get more projects completed AND sold.

Hi, am a writer myself and the worst thing that can happen to u is writers block, and creating time to write. I have this short story I have been writing for three months, and I am on ten paragraphs. The problem though is not the finishing, it was getting the idea and putting it on paper. But to stay in touch with your creative side, try to write something each day, it doesn't have to be a story-anything creative, or noting down ideas as they occur to you. Reason why a journal/diary is very important. And, create time for your writing.

It's a tough question! I am at Helium and I seldom write that much and sometimes I even try to avoid it (not that I don't like writing). I have set some goals for myself in September and hopefully I could bring up the articles numbers there. I think setting goals would be nice and you put it in black and white and then cross out the things you have done. You feel a sense of accomplishment and when you are seeing that the list if narrowed down, the motivation would keep going up.

I like to write songs the most, and I do like to write some stories and fiction stuff. I have thought about maybe a novel because I do enjoy writing sometimes, but You are right I think anytime you set out a task before you it can become difficult, and I think the main reason is you set your goal too far away or you're not as interested in what you are producing. I would think as you neared the end of your novel it would be easier to stick to it because you could see the light at the end of the tunnel. But I think what you need to get you going in the beginning is a good inspiration. If it's going to keep your potential readers interested it needs to be able to hold your interest as you write. Make it something you can have fun with and are proud of as you finish each page compelling you to move forward.

It is a matter of finding time to do it, and the same time each day or close enough. It has to become a habit, so that you feel bad if you do not sit down and do it. What you should do is imagine what your goal is, and for yuor articles, you can imagine being the columnist for a famouns national newspaper, or your articles appearing reguarly in a monthly magazine. For a novelist, you can imagine your book being sold at Amazon.com or one of the major book stores, and you doing personal sign-ups, it being made into a movie, and the movie is a four star instead of a 2 or a 1. What I do with my novel is to see it first being sold at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, and Coles (since I am a Canadian) as well as the major bookstores down in the States (since the Character in it is an American) I also see it being made into a movie, and with that goal in mind, makes me more determined to write. Also in order to write it, I need more time to practice writing skills, and to make money while doing so, which is why I am here.

According to my writing Bible, Stephen King's book, "On Writing" you have to decide at a certain time or around that time, decide on how many words to write, and go on from there. I decided that I should start in the morning, and write for an hour and forty minutes, increase by one minute. That is because I am revising now and cannot figure if I wrote 1000 words or not. The last time, I was up to 1500 words. It has nothing to do with motivation, you just have to get to the computer, turn it on, and start writing.

yes, i have heard that writers are the only people that would rather scrub a toilet than write lol... i also find that actually making the time to write is a toughie also!

I have a ton of partial work. Screenplays, novels, short stories, comic books, etc. I get started on something and I blaze away for a few days, maybe even up to 100 pages on a book and then I already know the ending and I loose interest. The key to writing everyday for me is to just pick a time of day that you can set aside a minimum of 30 minutes. Just do that much every day. I write on whichever project I feel like at the time. I often jump from one to another within each week and all of them get a bit of a brushing up. Eventually one gets close enough to completion that I stick with it to the end. The other option is to lock yourself away for a couple days straight and do nothing but write just to get down a first draft. Then leisurely go back and edit a few pages at a time. It may not help for everyone, but at least you get the draft out.

For me, it is not so much the writing or editing, rather it is the focusing on just one project that I struggle with. Which is why I have a couple of long term projects and a whole bunch of little ones that I am working on all at once. I might have an attention disorder. Or I might just be easily bored. Personally, I find that bad writing is a great motivator. Especially if I disagree with the author. But that might not work for everyone. But motivation is not big concern for me. I have been writing since junior high of my own free will. It is just something that happens. Commericals, long lines, reruns, general boredom: all end up with me writing. As I said before, it is not the writing that is my handicap; it is the focusing on a single project that I find difficult.