The initial rush of a story idea is exhilarating. You’re excited about the possibilities, frantically jotting notes, and fantasizing about all the places your novel could go. Then, somewhere around chapter six, the light dims. The words come more slowly. The middle stretches out ahead of you, and the doubts arrive.
Reality sets in: novels are long! How do you keep going?
This happens to every writer we know, including the published authors who coach at The Novelry.
The good news is that motivation can be found again, and it tends to be waiting where it began: in the reason you wanted to tell this story at all. Here, our writing coach Melanie Conklin — winner of the International Literacy Association Teachers’ Choices Award and the Nerdy Book Award — shows you how to find your way back to your book, build momentum, and stay motivated all the way to your final page.
How long does it take to write a book?
Writing a book takes time. How much time varies, but it’s normal to take weeks, months, or even years to complete a draft. Because writing a novel is such a lengthy project, it can be challenging to maintain your momentum over time.
Good habits and a steady routine can smooth the way, but the real engine of a novel is your passion for it. That passion is also what gives your writing its own perspective and voice.
Yes, everything has been done before — but not by you.
To build momentum, tap into the heart of your story
Every story begins with a spark. A character steps into view, or you think of a place, or perhaps a question you can’t stop turning over, and for a while the book seems almost to write itself. Then it slows. And slows.
When momentum lags, reconnect with the heart of your story. You are writing this story for a reason, after all.
You have something to say.
Look inward and remember why you care about this story. Set aside all that you’ve learned about writing and allow yourself to say what you most need to say. Drafting is not the time to wear your editor’s hat; analysis can wait.
“When momentum lags, reconnect with the heart of your story. You are writing this story for a reason, after all. You have something to say.”
— Melanie Conklin
Drafting is for exploration. There is something about your story idea that captured your interest and imagination in the first place. Remind yourself of those things. Ask yourself questions that dig even deeper:
- Why do people do what they do?
- How might they act in this scenario?
- What is right and what is wrong?
These are the philosophical questions underlying all of human storytelling. We tell stories to make sense of our existence.
It follows, then, that you need to deeply examine your own existence and explore the questions that arise.
- What are you trying to make sense of in this story?
- What enrages you about it?
- What confounds you?
- What deeply saddens you?
Dig so deep you fall madly in love with your story.
It’s easy to get swept up in learning writing craft, but stories are, at heart, love letters. That love is what gives a project momentum.
Even when the work is frustrating, it demands to be heard. Without it, you will stall and struggle to maintain momentum. But if you know what your story means to you, that knowledge will carry you forward.
How do you connect to the passion behind your story?
The remarkable thing about the subconscious is that it works diligently in the background, piecing together ideas without conscious intention. We really do solve problems in our sleep, and when we’re taking a walk or showering or doing the dishes.
When we allow our minds to inhabit our stories, the subconscious chews on them in the background, making connections that surface when we make room for them. Our job is to foster the best conditions for these sparks to occur.
How do we do that?
By disconnecting from the external world.
“To be an artist, you need to exist in a world of silence.”
— Louise Bourgeois, artist
Set aside the lessons and notes. Trust that what you’ve learned will come through. Allow yourself to sink into your story. It will be chaotic. It will be overwhelming. It is supposed to be.
Holding an entire world in your mind is a challenging feat. When we write, we are visiting other universes. We are inhabiting other bodies. Of course it’s a confounding and confusing experience!
It’s easy to think that feeling any uncomfortable sensations means you’re doing something wrong, but allowing yourself to dwell in the discomfort of ambiguity is what provides space for sparks to arise. Artists need a rich interior life that is free from constraints. We need time and space to do this.
If we control our process too rigidly, if we dictate our thoughts and actions according to strict rules, there is no room for discovery.
Treading familiar ground will not lead you somewhere new.
As American painter Edward Hopper said:
“Great art is the outward expression of an inner life in the artist, and this inner life will result in his personal vision of the world.”
— Edward Hopper
The only voice you need to hear when you write is your own. That voice will propel you through your draft, carrying you even when you are uncertain of how it will all come together in the end.
Ask yourself:
- Why does this story matter to me?
- What do I have to say about it?
Learning to trust your own voice matters because it will sustain you throughout your writing career. You will need the ability to set aside other voices — from reviewers, editors, and readers — and listen to your own inner voice.
“Trust that what you’ve learned will come through. Allow yourself to sink into your story. It will be chaotic. It will be overwhelming. It is supposed to be.”
— Melanie Conklin
8 tips for building momentum when progress slows down
As you write your story, it’s quite normal for momentum to lag at times. It’s easy to get lost in the plot and the words, and your enthusiasm can fade.
Here are some tips from our writing coaches on how to reconnect with the heart of your story and spark momentum again.
1. Write a mission statement
Personally, I like to write myself a letter starting with, “Dear Mel, I am writing this story because ________.” And then I remind myself of what my story is about and why I am writing it.
When she starts a novel, writing coach Mahsuda Snaith writes herself a “Mission Statement,” a list of questions that includes “Why do I want to write this novel?” and “What am I trying to say?”
She treats the second question with care:
“I don’t want my novel to be preachy, but I usually find that if I’m feeling a bit lost (especially after feedback), going back to this list and my answers centers me again. I connect back to my original vision and everything seems clearer.”
— Mahsuda Snaith
2. Tell someone you trust to be your cheerleader
You know that friend or relative who hypes you up when you take on big challenges? Tell them about your story. Let their enthusiasm be infectious. Tell them you’re not looking for criticism or input, just the opportunity to talk about your story with them. As you talk, your passion will spark. You might even unlock some solutions. And if sharing with someone isn’t an option, you can also make a recording of you talking to yourself! Just talking aloud about your idea can remind you of how much you love it.
As writing coach Bea Fitzgerald shares:
“Telling someone about the book you’re writing, and why, means they can remind you when you need it... I find it so useful to surround myself with people rooting for me to finish the book.”
— Bea Fitzgerald
3. Give yourself time to daydream
Unstructured daydreaming time is key to maintaining your excitement. Instead of trying to solve a problem in your story, allow yourself to get lost in the world. Think about the characters as children. Imagine the settings changing in the seasons. Follow wild thoughts to see where they lead. Try to be free of clocks and interruptions. See what emerges.
When writing coach Alice Kuipers feels like she can’t find her way to her story, she does two things:
“I go for a walk, thinking about what it was I first loved about the idea. Usually there’s a sparkly memory if I search for it. Then, when I sit down to write, I ask myself what small thing does my character want right now. That usually helps get the scene started again and brings me back into Flow.”
— Alice Kuipers
4. Use tools that remove friction from the process
Small changes to your routine can also make it easier to sit down and write. Experiment and keep what works. You’ll find lots of ideas on our blog for building a happy, healthy writing routine.
5. Get curious
Focusing on scene-level elements can remind you of why you love this story so much.
- What is exciting about this next scene?
- What might happen that is surprising?
- What questions do you have about it?
- What don’t you know yet about this moment?
- Is there a secret in play?
Writing coach Amanda Reynolds loves a setting she wants to dive back into, like a snowy mountain lair or a glass-built hilltop house.
“It makes me excited to be there and hopefully the reader will be too. Then I love a spiky character. One who puzzles and provokes me, and is a bit elusive. In terms of tricks or tips, I write a prologue with the hook at its heart, then try to work out how to deliver on that! It’s a constant callback as I write.”
— Amanda Reynolds
6. Stay playful
There is a past version of you who would be astonished that you are writing a book. Think back to how you might have felt then, before you became bogged down with all the knowledge of craft and industry. Think all the way back to your childhood. How did you like to play? What were your favorite mediums? How might you incorporate more of that playful energy into your current writing practice?
As writing coach Gina Sorell shares:
“Sometimes I go back to the very beginning. The first line that inspired me, the whisper of an idea. I remind myself of where it started. How small it was. And I tell myself that it doesn’t have to be everything. It’s just this one line, this one theme. I distill it so I don’t feel overwhelmed. I dial down the expectations so that I can meet them from wherever I’m at in the process.”
— Gina Sorell
7. Get weirder
Try to work out if there are any places where you might be holding back in your story to avoid being too “weird.”
- Are you judging what you’re writing?
- Can you go bigger?
- What would be an even bolder expression of the ideas you’re examining?
- How can you shock even yourself?
8. Imagine that you have to quit
Writing coach Katie Khan suggests this exercise idea:
“If I said you could no longer write this novel (seriously, you can’t; nope, not allowed), which elements would you smuggle into your next novel and carry over? Which pieces do you just have to get into a book?”
— Katie Khan
It all goes back to your love for the story
As Katie’s exercise shows, we write our stories first and foremost because we love them. Building and keeping momentum as you write is all about staying deeply connected to the heart of your story. When things lag, look inside. That is where you will find the passion to carry you through to the end of your draft.
Through writing courses, one-to-one coaching with bestselling authors and Big Five publishing editors, and partnerships with leading literary agencies, we guide writers along a proven pathway from first idea to a finished, submission-ready novel.
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