Any helpful hints and tips for keeping motivated?!

WOW! It's like looking into a mirror of myself! lol. I have...3 or 4 different longer stories I am working on, and none of them are complete! lol. One thing I did was, I wrote a couple of short stories, because you can finish them faster and you shouldn't lose interest before they are done. Just make sure they are about something that you know about and are interested in. After writing the short stories and hearing the positive feedback from family/friends/mylot friends, it got me more motivated to finish a longer story and hear feedback for that! I want to make my own book of short stories, and I'm working on my third one now. But I know I would love to finish a longer one too. i don't expect mine to be 100s and 100s of pages, but a pretty long story! But you must make sure your story lines include something that you are passionate about, that you like! For me, it's cops. I'm a huge supporter of cops, so in 3 of my stories someone in law enforcement is my main character. :) Hope I've helped! Good luck :)

I've stalled when writing too! Usually what happened was that I got bogged down with detail, and lost my way. I've heard it said that the best subject for a new writer is personal experience. That is always fun; and a writer really knows what they're talking about. Many first novels are autobiographical I'd say. I'm no professional, but when I write, I like to publish online, little by little, one bit at a time, and then start on the next section. It can take a long time for each section to be completed; but at least I make progress...piecing a work together one bit at a time. It doesn't need to be in sequence either. I'd say the important thing is to keep it fun! Very best of luck...

What I do is to think of the end of the novel, and then think of people going into Coles or ordering my book from Amazon.com and Amazon.ca. That helps. Usually I find that if I do not have an ending planned, that I just think what is handsome dude going to do next and I get stuck, but if I already had the ending planned, that , for example, handsome dude is going to find his wife and son who were kidnapped by the terrorists, then I know that Chapter 5 may be when he discovers that someone has stolen his identity and he cannot withdraw the money from his bank to finance a group of mercenaries who will help him go after the bad guys.

To be honest this is a personal matter. If you are only managing to get to chapter four then you obviously don't feel very strongly about the idea, the characters, the plot. You have to totally immerse yourself in that world whilst you write, think what they would think, go where you are taking them. Believe the story without going mental....:P If you have the belief and desire to write a novel then work out a really good plan for how your story will pan out and then go ahead and write the book, sounds harsh but you have to just get on with it. Hope it all goes well for you.....

The author of the Sharpe series Bernard Cornwell, has his own website on their he has a section of tips on how he goes about writing his books, and as he has about 50 in print and still turns out two a year I guess it works for him. I can't remember the website address but just search Bernard Cornwell and I am sure you will get it.

Hi! I've been in the same boat as you for as long as I can remember. You know what really helps? Keeping a notepad or book with you at ALL times, you won't believe how many ideas will pop into your head at such random times! Write them down - before you know it, that notebook will be filled and you'll have the key to starting your novel.

you have to make it fun. reward yourself with a coffee break after you finish a chapter or a chat with a friend after you have finished an article. i guess my motivation is a) what others say about my writing and b) the thrill of seeing my thoughts and words not only on paper, but also the fact that people are willing to pay money for them!!