ANDRE BEGIN

Even though I tend to think of myself as pretty self-motivated when it comes to writing, I admit that there are days when, even though the conditions might be perfect for writing, something inside needs a little nudge to get going. It’s not about toxic productivity; it’s about reconnecting with the right mindset to restore inspiration and motivation.

Here are four tricks I use to get myself back to the computer and into my writing flow:

1 – Remembering my journey

I can remember the opportunities that lined up over the course of my lifetime that built up my experience, my skills, and the versatility to jump from one writing task to another.

Similarly, I can remember a few extreme situations where I pulled a rabbit out of a hat by completing difficult writing tasks with the clock ticking and executives waiting, which led to relief from my peers and managers, and a profound sense of self-satisfaction.

In the grand scheme of things, I don’t think it was an accident that I landed in the path of a career spanning three decades where writing was a constant. In addition, I have always been interested in getting better at it, enjoying the process of refining pieces to meet the unique needs of their intended audience.

Writing is a puzzle I never tire of solving.

2 – Remembering my purpose

Of all of the activities I can engage in, why is writing my favourite?

I don’t know why it’s this way, but the creative process is one that fills me with joy, satisfaction and a sense of euphoria when a finished article or story is exactly how I would like it to be.

Also, in publishing so many “this happened to me” themed stories, I hope to help people feel less alone and more connected through the sharing of relatable, common experiences.

I am grateful that life has put me on this path and that I have the time, the headspace, and have made a firm commitment to myself and to the universe to keep going.

3 – Checking my list of favourite quotes

Over the years, I have often stumbled upon words of wisdom that made me stop, reflect and say, “Oh, that’s good!” The impact of words that resonate can be pretty great, but the effect is short-lived if we just move on without saving the quote somewhere and remembering to go back to it.

That being the case, a few years ago, I made a point of compiling them into a list. Now, whenever I feel like I need a creative pick-me-up, I go back to my list of quotes.

You never know which quote will offer the right words at the right time to spur us back into action. It seems to work for me!

4 – Returning to the works of artists that inspire me

This is a very personal thing, as we all have different points of reference that inspire and motivate us.

Sometimes, it is a person’s achievements, a great song, a TV show, a movie, a video clip, a poem, a documentary, a picture or a work of art.

Perhaps you might find inspiration in a podcast that shines a bright light on your creative pursuit. It could also be an interview with a favourite artist whose work radiates inspiration and creative energy to make you want to go out and create your own masterpieces.

For me, part of being a writer is about keeping a toolbox of not only software and apps to keep me writing, but also inspiration to help keep the ideas coming. Then the trick is knowing which tool to use in which situation.

Knowing where we can tap into inspiration at a moment’s notice is a skill in itself to keep the creative energy strong and produce the work that means so much to us as artists.

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Sincere thanks for reading!
Have a great day,
André