I’m nearing the end of the draft of a book I have due on March 16th. That means I have very little time to accomplish a whole lot. I’d, of course, rather be playing FreeCell than working on revisions (the dreaded reworking of scenes that didn’t work and often end up getting tossed) so I have to motivate myself to work.
My usual motivation is a chocolate bar, but with spring and summer just around the corner, the chocolate bar is not a good choice because I’m on my annual fit-the-suit diet. I might as well just apply it directly to my thighs and buy a brown one-piece with a flouncy skirt.
My other usual motivation is shopping. But given the above-mentioned fit-the-suit diet, that’s not an option either. I don’t want to buy things that depress me because I can’t fit them and I definitely don’t want to buy the “fat†clothes to tide me over. (Why don’t they make at-home liposuction machines so I can just take care of those Christmas calories in an afternoon?).
So I’ve had to find a new motivation that doesn’t involve food or money. Yeah, I know, you’re saying, “What else is there?â€
Books.
I am rewarding myself at the end of the day if I have worked really hard and made my goals by…reading. I’m scaring myself with Lisa Jackson, tearing up with Kristin Hannah and dangling the carrots of Suzanne Brockmann and Janet Evanovich as the ultimate reward.
It may seem counter-intuitive, considering I have spent my entire day creating, ripping out and spell-checking words, but reading has become a nice escape when I am through with the manuscript. It takes my mind off the thousand and one things I obsess over changing and helps me avoid looking at the mounting pile of laundry. (Really, who motivates themselves with getting to those dirty BVDs?)
And, it gives me something to aspire to. The authors that I am reading now are some of my all-time favorites who have writing talents I admire and envy. The not-sure-I-can-turn-the-page suspense of Lisa Jackson, the rip-your-heart-out emotion of Kristin Hannah, the sexy-as-sin heroes of Suzanne Brockmann and the double-over-in-fits humor of Janet Evanovich.
When I go back to work in the morning, it’s with the fuel of striving to be better. I know that paragraph I wrote the day before could be stronger. Evoke more emotion. Wring one more laugh out of my reader. So I sit down at my desk, and with the specter of those amazing writers surrounding me, I get to work.
Besides, with a book in each hand, it’s a lot harder to juggle a Hershey bar into my mouth.
No related posts.
When I’m in the middle of revisions, sometimes reading can be a killer for me. I’ll read my favorite authors and think–Oh, God, I’ll never be as good as that. It depresses me. When the revisions are OVER, now that’s another story. Usually by then I’ve cleared up the serious problems and I can think to myself, sure, I could write as well as xyz. But in the middle–ack! Couldn’t do it.
A writer after my own heart, lol! If I finish this chapter, I will be able to have one square of chocolate, and if my word count is better than I hoped…make it two squares!
When I finish my word count I can go read a book! Rewards work for me too, lol!
Chocolate and a good book and excellent carrots for finishing one’s work – be it laundry, mopping the floor, or making the beds! (so much chocolate…so little time!)
Reading is always my escape of choice (well, after eating … )
I love to read, and when I read Evanovich or Kenyon it makes me want to work harder and write better. But sometimes if I’m in the middle of an ms and reading a book, my ms wants to take on the tone of book. Not a bad thing if they’re the same tone, but when I’m writing a comedy and reading an angst-filled tear-jerker…not such a good thing!
And chocolate is something I’m really trying to avoid these ways. Gotta lose that poundage!
My problem is that I skip the work and just go straight to the books. That means I don’t get my work done. Sigh. Thanks for the inspiration–I may see what I can get done around my house every now and then before sitting down to read.
Alyssa
I have ONE thing to say. Sugar Free, Low Fat Rocky Road Ice Cream. It’s made with Splenda, so it tastes like “real ice cream.” That’s my special treat.
Now, the reward for meeting deadline? We’re planning dinner out with my special hero, and no child.
Sheila
The carrots I dangle are TV shows. For some reason, I don’t consider novels a treat. They’re research. Yeah. Research.
I will sometimes read INSTEAD of writing, and that’s bad, but that’s why I justify it with the “research” label! *g*
I’ve used reading as a reward for meeting writing goals too. Keeps my butt in the chair when I’d rather have my head stuck in the freezer looking for that hidden pint of Ben&Jerry’s. And, considering the size of my TBR pile, I have a lot of writing to get done so I can go reward myself!
I let myself play The Sims when I’ve been a good girl. Pure heaven for someone as character-crazy as me.