how to get yourself motivated to write an essay

Table of Contents

• 1. Don't Confuse Motivation with Passion

2. Outline First

3. create small, attainable goals, 4. make it a daily practice.

• 5. Don't Be Perfect—Vomit on the Page

6. Focus on the Reader

7. practice self-care, 8. announce the book, 9. recognize and face your fear, 9 ways to boost your writing motivation (that actually work).

No one wakes up every single day with the motivation to write —not even Authors with major bestsellers under their belt (like me).

There will be days when you simply don’t feel like staring at a blank page.

As someone who’s been there, here’s my writing advice : push through and do it anyway.

Even on the days when you don’t feel like it. Otherwise, it’s easy to fall into a pattern of procrastination.

One day of “not feeling like writing” can easily turn into 2, then 10…until eventually, you give up entirely.

I’ve seen so many Authors give up the first, second, or even third time they tried to write a book—mostly because they lost their motivation and gave in to procrastination or fear.

If you want to publish a book , you have to dig deep and find the motivation to write every single day. Even if it’s terrible. Even if you hate it.

The only way to become a better writer—and to finish your book—is to push through those hard moments.

Here are 9 proven ways to motivate yourself to write—even when you don’t want to.

9 Proven Ways to Motivate Yourself to Write

1. don’t confuse motivation with passion.

Forget everything you’ve ever learned about writing “out of passion.” If you wait to feel passionate about what you’re writing, you’ll never finish writing your book.

You can’t rely on passion. It comes and goes too easily. You’re not going to feel passionate every single day.

The same goes for writing inspiration. There’s rarely a bolt of lightning that makes the words flow.

Writing is hard. That’s why a lot of aspiring Authors give up before they’ve finished their first draft.

Motivation doesn’t always mean loving what you’re doing. Sometimes it means digging your heels in and just doing it.

For example, I don’t always love going to the gym, but I do it anyway. And in the end, I’m glad I did (after I’m done).

Don’t confuse passion for motivation.

It’s okay to write when you don’t “feel motivated” if what you really mean is, “I’m not stoked about doing this right now.”

You don’t have to be stoked about it. You just have to start writing.

If you feel passionate, that’s great. But don’t expect more of yourself than necessary.

If you’re writing, you’re motivated. Period. You’re doing it.

At its core, writing is just communicating ideas. It doesn’t have to be more complicated than that.

Of course, you want the ideas you capture to be relevant to your book. That’s why you should always outline first—so you can capture all your ideas about a specific section before you move on to the next one.

Then, when you do sit down to write, you’ll already have all the relevant ideas gathered. That makes things a lot easier.

An outline is also your greatest defense against fear and writers’ block . It’s a lot harder to get stuck when you’ve got a roadmap guiding the way.

Scribe’s suggested outline is different from the one you might have learned in school. It’s not a bullet point list of every step of the argument.

We’ve found that traditional outlines aren’t flexible enough for most Authors. Plus, sometimes, you can’t get to that level of detail until you’re actually in the middle of writing.

What makes our outline different is that it’s designed specifically to help you write your book.

In fact, our writing process has helped thousands of Authors write successful nonfiction books. It works.

All it takes is 3 simple steps:

• Brainstorm your chapters
• Make a table of contents
• Fill in the outline structure with your chapter’s hook, thesis, supporting content, stories and examples, key takeaways, and a callback to the hook.

If you want a template or more details, you can find them here .

Once you see your book in outline form, writing it will seem easier.

Conceptually, you’re not writing a whole book anymore. You’re looking at a clear collection of ideas and stories, most of which are already in your head.

You’ll be more motivated to write once you’ve broken your book into manageable pieces. It’s easier to climb a mountain when you take it one step at a time.

The reason an outline is so powerful is that it helps you see your book in terms of smaller, more attainable goals. You should do the same with all of your writing goals.

Many people start out thinking, “I have to write as much as possible.” Or, they set a high word count goal, like 1,000 words per day. And when they don’t reach those goals, they get disappointed. They feel like a failure.

That’s the worst way to motivate yourself to write.

With large goals, it’s easy to get intimidated (that’s usually when writer’s block sets in). But attainable goals make it easier to get over that hump.

Remember, motivation has nothing to do with passion. If you’re writing at all , you’re already motivated.

You don’t have to go overboard and shoot for the moon just to show you’re passionate about your book. When people do that, it’s usually because they’re trying to prove something to themselves.

You won’t prove anything by setting unattainable goals.

Rewire your brain and think small. Set goals that will set you up for success.

I recommend writing 250 words per day. That word count is low enough to be easily achievable. It leaves you with no excuses.

You could write 250 words on your phone between meetings. You could even dictate 250 words to your phone while you’re in the shower.

If you do end up writing more than 250 words, that’s great. Keep going as long as you want.

But if it’s one of those days where writing feels like a slog, you can still meet that word count and avoid being disappointed with yourself.

It’s more important to be consistent with writing than to have epic writing sessions.

When I was writing full-time, I blocked off 4 hours a day to write—but I rarely used that whole time to actually write. I read or did other things related to writing.

It’s hard to write for hours on end. And like most things in life, you’ll get diminishing returns.

Aim for 250 words every day, and stick with it. And remember, if you’re doing it, you’re motivated.

Notice that I said you need to write 250 words every single day . That’s because you’ll be much more motivated to write when it becomes a daily practice.

In addition to the 250 words per day, I recommend that you come up with a writing routine to help keep you on track.

Pick a designated writing time and stick to it every day. Are you better at writing in the morning, or do you like to write right before bed? Maybe it’s easier to squeeze 250 words in over your lunch break.

There’s no right or wrong answer. Just pick a time whenever you do your best writing and stick with it.

The same goes for your writing place. Maybe you write well in a quiet office. Or, maybe it’s easier for you to focus in a coffee shop.

We worked with one Author who wrote in his Tesla while it was charging in his garage. He put the same playlist on every day, turned up the volume, and spent the next 45 minutes writing.

The reason you need a writing routine is the same reason you teach your kids to brush their teeth every morning.

They may grumble or whine, but once they get into the habit, they do it anyway—no matter how much they don’t want to.

It works the same way when you’re writing a book. Writing habits keep you motivated to write and do it again the next day.

A writing routine gives you the fuel to keep going, even when you think your tank is running low. When writing becomes an automatic part of your day, it’s a lot harder to procrastinate.

5. Don’t Be Perfect—Vomit on the Page

Don’t intimidate yourself by trying to be a perfect writer.

First of all, there’s no such thing.

Second, if you do that, you’ll never finish your book because you’ll never live up to your own expectations.

I’m dead serious. I’ve seen countless Authors get stuck writing the first draft of their book. They’ll get off to a good start—but then they’ll re-read what they’ve written, delete it, and start over.

They do that 50 times and eventually give up (spoiler: they never finish their book).

Don’t fall into the same trap of unrealistic expectations . Just aim to get words on a page.

In fact, don’t even think of your writing as “writing a book.” You’re not writing a book. You’re just collecting your thoughts.

That’s why I call my first drafts “ vomit drafts .” I spew words and thoughts onto a page. I don’t stop to edit, re-read, or think about how the writing flows.

Like vomit, it’s not pretty. But after you’ve written all your ideas out, you’ll feel so much better.

Plus, it’s a lot easier to motivate yourself to write when you free yourself from the need to be perfect.

When you write a vomit draft, you don’t give yourself time to stare at a blank page. There’s no room for intimidation.

You just start writing and let whatever’s inside your brain come out. It’s not going to be perfect. In fact, it will probably be terrible.

But that’s okay. Most first drafts are terrible. Even books that go on to become bestsellers started as terrible first drafts.

Embrace it. Realize that bad writing is a natural part of the writing process.

A first draft is exactly what the name implies—a first step.

Your book will go through multiple drafts before anyone even sees it.

Of course, you’ll eventually have to wade through the vomit. You’ll have to trim, add, and edit . And you’ll probably have to move things around and rethink the structure of your chapters . That’s normal.

For now, stop worrying about how good or bad your writing is and start capturing your ideas. You can make them sound great later.

Don’t edit as you go. Just write. Vomit on the page.

It’s a lot easier to fix writing when you actually have writing to fix.

Many people find it easier to motivate themselves during the “vomit” phase. Once you get into the groove of spewing 250 words per day, it can be refreshing.

The part that’s harder is when you have to go back through all that writing to turn it into a coherent, well-written book.

Here’s my advice when you reach that phase: hold on to your motivation by keeping your focus on the reader.

You’re writing a nonfiction book for a reason. What made you want to do this in the first place?

At some level, it’s because you want to help your readers solve their problems.

If you’re writing a memoir , it’s because you want to share your story with people who can benefit from hearing it.

If you’re writing a knowledge-share nonfiction book , you’re trying to prove to your readers that you’re the person that can meet their needs.

Whatever kind of book you’re writing, your reader is at the heart of your motivation.

If you feel stuck or don’t feel like writing, remember that. Think about the people you’re going to help and how their lives will change because of your book.

When readers pick up a nonfiction book, they aren’t looking for perfection or a sublime writing style . They’re looking to learn information that’s going to make their lives better.

Here are 4 essential writing principles to help you deliver information in a way readers will appreciate:

• Keep your writing short. Readers tune out when you wander.
• Keep your writing simple. Readers want content they can easily understand, even if the ideas are complex.
• Keep your writing direct. Get to the point, and make each sentence a single, direct statement.
• Keep it about the reader. Ask yourself this question about everything you write: “Why does the reader care?”

Imagine having a conversation with a client or a close friend. What would you tell them, and how would you deliver the information?

Don’t make writing harder than it has to be. To stay motivated, imagine speaking directly to your reader and making an impact on their lives.

If you’re still unmotivated after all that, you might want to reconsider your intentions. If it’s that hard to motivate yourself, maybe writing a book isn’t something you really want to do.

This may seem odd to include in an article on motivational writing tips, but if you want to motivate yourself, you have to take care of yourself.

If you’re super stressed out or exhausted, you’re not going to function well. And you’re definitely not going to feel motivated to write.

I won’t lie. Writing can be a slog. And completing a book will take an emotional, mental, and sometimes physical toll on you. If you don’t take care of yourself, it’s easy to lose steam.

There are many ways you can take care of yourself. For example, you can:

• Get plenty of sleep
• Take nature walks
• Talk to a therapist
• Visit an energy healer or masseuse
• Try acupuncture
• Go for regular float sessions
• Sit in a sauna
• Take a bath with Epsom salts

Basically, take time to do things that will make your body and mind feel better. You want to develop good writing habits, not become a writing machine.

To do that, you need to check in with yourself from time to time to make sure you’re at the top of your game.

Being refreshed will make you a better writer. Self-care will revitalize you so you can come back the next day, ready to meet your writing goals.

While some people thrive on routines and self-care, others are more motivated by external accountability.

If you’re one of those people, I recommend announcing that you’re working on a book.

Tell people on social media. Write a guest post for your favorite blogger. Email your friends and family.

Whatever method works best for you, use it to announce your intention to the world.

And if you’re serious about writing, I recommend announcing your book on the platform that makes you the least comfortable.

Yes, that may seem like a lot of pressure. But it’s important to identify any points of resistance you have and push through them.

You’ll get a lot of positive feedback, which will help you become more motivated. And when your motivation wavers, you’ll be reminded that there are people eagerly awaiting your book.

I believe that every person has a book in them. But one of the major things that holds people back from writing those books is fear .

They’re afraid that their book won’t be good enough, original enough, or meaningful enough. They’re afraid of looking stupid or making people angry.

Those kinds of fears are normal, but you shouldn’t let them get in the way.

You have a story that’s worth telling. The only way to truly motivate yourself to tell it is to conquer your fear.

If you allow those fears to stick around, they only lead to procrastination , frustration, and surrender.

If you want to overcome your fear, I recommend facing them head-on. Write down all your fears about the writing process, self-publishing, or fears about how people will react once they read the book.

Evaluate each fear and recognize what those fears mean. Fear has a point and a purpose. It’s an indicator of risk.

Every Author who writes a book worth reading is taking a risk. If you’re scared, congratulations. It means you have something worth saying.

Fear isn’t the problem. The problem is when you let fears take over.

Keep in mind what your book is going to do for you and what it’s going to do for your readers.

Then, make a plan for facing your fears. For example, if you’re afraid you’ll never finish writing your book, use that fear as motivation. Create a writing routine and resolve to stick with it through the whole writing process.

The Scribe Crew

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How to Get Motivated to Write an Essay: 9 Easy Steps

Writing essays is an essential part of school and college life, but most people dread writing them.

Especially if you’re not a prolific writer, it can be hard to structure them, to put pen to paper, and to get them done efficiently.

Staying focused on homework can be hard enough!

In this guide, I’m giving you my best tips for how to get motivated to write an essay, which assumes that you currently don’t have the motivation now.

Follow these steps to set up each of your essays, and then conquer them one by one.

You’ll find that once you do, you feel more accomplished, more able to stick to a plan, and much more able to stay focused on homework!

Study Tools You Need RIght Now

1. Choose an Enjoyable Topic, if Possible

If you’re going to be motivated to write an essay, the easiest way to do so is by choosing a topic that means something to you.

Sure, some essays already have the topic handed out and in that case, you don’t have much of a choice, but many times you do.

You’ll be confined to a specific area, probably – whether it’s choosing an influential person in history, a book written by a woman, etc.

But within the bounds of what you can choose, make sure to choose something that is meaningful to you and gets you at least somewhat excited to research and explore the topic.

This helps you to feel like you’re motivated to write an essay because you genuinely want to learn more rather than being forced to.

2. Outline the Essay including the Introduction and Conclusion

In this step, you’re going to set up the essay to make it as easy as possible to think about.

This is one of my biggest tips when it comes to sticking to a plan .

This helps get you motivated to write the essay because it makes it seem less daunting.

Most essays have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.

You need to work out how many body paragraphs you will need based on the points you are going to make in the essay.

Write this outline down to help you with the next step and to see that you can approach the essay by these individual sections rather than feeling like you need to sit down and just write an essay all at once.

3. Chunk the Word Count Down

Once you have your outline down, it’s time to figure out how many words should go in each section.

For instance, if I were doing a 1000 word essay, I would probably do 100 for an introduction, 200 for 4 body paragraphs each and 100 for a conclusion.

However you break it down is up to you and how many words you want the final essay to be.

This seems like extra work up front, but writing an essay that is properly outlined and has word counts attached to it can give you motivation because you see that it is already starting to come together before you even start writing. Suddenly, it seems a lot easier and that’s what encourages us to forge ahead.

4. Break Down the Work Over Multiple Days

As long as you’re not someone who has waited until the last day to write your essay (and if you have then this is not for you), break down the work over multiple days and plan it out so it’s not all on one day.

For instance, if you had 5 days and 5 sections, you could do a section a day, or if you only have 2 days, you could split it up in half.

Use a tool like Click Up or Trello, found in my productivity tools list , to help you plan.

This means you don’t have to work up the motivation to write your essay all at once, but only have to work up the motivation to write a certain number of words, which some people find easier.

5. Organize Your Research and Notes

Figure out where your lack of motivation to write your essay is coming from.

Chances are, the whole thing seems overwhelming and that’s one of the reasons you don’t start.

I always like to organize my research into easy-to-read notes, and many times I’ve used index cards to write down each fact and then you can arrange the index cards into the structure you want your essay to take later on.

You have to first digest the material you have researched in order to put it into an essay, so make sure to do this crucial step in between researching and writing, otherwise you’ll be left with a pile of books with no notes and trying to write the essay from memory of exactly what the quote was about photosynthesis on page 66 on the book with the blue cover.

I know that these steps feel like they’re adding more stress to your essay writing experience, I promise that once you do them you will feel so much more motivated to get it done.

6. Look Up Quotes

Especially if you’re writing for a high school paper, a lot of times it can be a good idea to start with a quote in your introduction.

Regardless, looking for quotes surrounding your topic is a great idea to give yourself some inspiration to write an essay and give you the motivation to start.

Remember that the quote doesn’t always have to exactly be about your topic or have the exact wording of your topic, but maybe it’s from an important person that you’re writing about in your essay or they’re talking about a general concept that you’re including in your essay.

We’ve got some great options to get you started in these quotes on staying focused and these quotes on never giving up .

7. Read Related Essays or Past Essays

It’s unlikely this is your first essay, in which case you should read over your past essays to remind yourself how you structured them and look at examples of when you finished essays, including any feedback that teachers gave you.

You can also read related essays on the subject that you look up online or the teacher hands out from past students, but you need to be very careful to only read this and not make any notes that could lead to you plagiarizing, even on accident.

It may be an idea to read essays in an unrelated topic, just so you can get more ideas for structuring an essay but won’t be in danger of stealing someone else’s words or ideas.

8. Plan Writing Sessions with a Friend

If it’s truly the motivation to write the essay that you struggle with and not the difficulty, team up with a friend and plan writing sessions where you set goals for how far along in your essays you want to be by the end of it.

You shouldn’t share notes to the point that you end up with the same essay, but working across from someone who is also working on the essay can be a huge motivator so you don’t feel left behind.

This also works more broadly if you decide to work in the library where other people are also working on various assignments, as the atmosphere of productivity can be one of the things that encourages you to improve your own productivity even further.

9. Choose a Reward for When You Finish

If getting a good grade on the essay isn’t a good enough motivator, choose a reward for yourself for when you finish the essay to help keep you motivated to study .

It could be a cake that you bake yourself, it could be a friend that you hang out with, it could be a weekend trip you plan.

It could be something small like a television show you watch or, if the essay is part of a longer string of assignments, taking an hour break afterwards.

Whatever it is, push yourself through writing the essay in order to get to the reward at the end.

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Motivation for Writers: How to Stay Focused on Your Writing Goals

You know the feeling when an exciting new idea pops into your mind. You want to drop everything and start working on it right away. You may also recognise the dread when you don't know where to take your story next.

Writing projects come with incredible highs and lows. One day, you're convinced your book will be the next big thing. The next day, you're embarrassed by every word you write.

Your ability to manage your motivation throughout the process is vital to your success as a writer.

In this post, we'll explore:

Why is Motivation So Important for Writers?

The secret of writer motivation: how to make yourself write, 16 effective strategies to boost your motivation to write, how to keep writing: why writing motivation is a moving target.

Let's get started!

Writing projects take a long time. Whether writing a book or growing a blog, it could be months or years before you start seeing the fruits of your labour.

Embarking on a writing project is a huge leap of faith. You have no idea whether your work will resonate until you get it in front of readers.

You'll also run into all sorts of obstacles along the way. Writing projects are rarely smooth sailing. The first draft often looks terrible. You may find a massive plot hole or struggle to find a good ending.

Things like these decrease your confidence to see the project through. Self-doubt creeps in. What started as an exciting new venture becomes a dreaded slog.

This happens to all writers regardless of their experience or ability. What separates those who succeed is their ability to persevere even when the odds are seemingly stacked against them.

When you're starting out, writing is a completely self-motivated endeavour. You don't have a boss or even a deadline. Publishers aren't clamouring at your door, out-bidding each other for the privilege to publish your book.

Often, nobody even knows that you're working on something, and that's completely fine. Sharing your work with others too early can be damaging in its own right.

However, it does mean that you're on your own. When you get frustrated or bogged down, what's there to stop you from quitting?

Unfortunately, the vast majority of people will quit well before giving themselves a proper chance.

Writers approach motivation in many different ways, but the goal is always the same: it has to be easier for you to write than not to do it .

That's the secret. If you take away only a single thing from this article, let it be this.

Motivation isn't one-size-fits-all. We all get motivated by different things at different times. Here are 16 effective strategies to boost your motivation and get your writing done.

1. Use Your Imagination

Writers conjure up vivid characters and create entire worlds from thin air all the time. As it turns out, you can also use your imagination to help you stay focused on your goals.

Many top performers across disciplines — from athletes to entrepreneurs — use visualisation to boost their confidence and increase motivation.

Studies show that thoughts produce the same response in the brain as actions. Mental rehearsal is training your brain for the actual performance.

Picture yourself sitting down at your computer tomorrow morning. You open your draft and read the last few sentences while sipping your coffee. Then, the familiar feeling of resistance comes. You acknowledge it, but don't let it take over.

The beginning of a new sentence forms in your mind. You put your mug down and start typing. The clattering of your keyboard cuts through the silence. One word at a time.

Then, imagine yourself writing the final sentence of the project you're working on. How will it feel? And how would it feel to hold the book in your hand when it comes out? How would you feel when you saw it amongst the new releases in a bookshop for the first time?

Will that ever happen? I don't know. But isn't it worth writing those 500 words today to find out?

2. Create a Writing Streak

Writing streaks are a simple yet powerful tool that can help you be more consistent. They take advantage of a cognitive bias called loss aversion . Our brains are wired to perceive loss much more intensely than gain. In other words, losing £20 will annoy you a lot more than winning £20 will make you happy.

When you build a streak of 5, 10 or 30 days, you will not want to lose it. As silly as it seems, you will be motivated to write so you don't lose your streak.

Streaks are one of my go-to ways to stay on track. I have had many days when I didn't feel like writing anything at all, but I opened the editor to keep my streak going.

Running short on writing motivation? Creating a writing streak may give you just the boost you need to keep going.

Here's my activity grid from the past 12 months:

I started my writing streak during NaNoWriMo in November 2022. Before then, I wrote something every week, but I struggled to create real momentum.

After committing to write something every day last November, I kept going. I didn't want to lose my streak. So far, it has helped me write over 163,000 words!

3. Set Achievable Goals

Finding what motivates you is only one part of the equation. Getting rid of what demotivates you is equally important.

Your goals can do both — depending on how you set them.

The number one mistake many writers make is setting their daily goals way too high. The typical numbers include 500, 1,000 or 2,000 words per day. While these are all perfectly achievable, you may struggle to hit them right out of the gate.

Writing is a lot like running. Adjusting to the process and building the endurance you need to maintain a consistent level of output takes a while. Don't overdo it from the start. You will burn out and stop writing altogether.

Even though you might be making great progress, failing to reach your goal will make you feel terrible. It can demotivate you a lot when it happens often.

Whatever goal you have in mind, divide it by ten and start from there. Only increase it when you can hit it every day for a week.

When your writing output can be unpredictable, consider setting time goals instead. It's a great way to ensure you're showing up without the pressure to perform at a high level every single day.

In Writing Analytics, you can set and track time goals automatically .

4. Track Your Progress

Tracking your progress is an excellent way of staying motivated. It's a tried and tested strategy. Tracking works particularly well with activities where you don't see any immediate results. This includes working out, weight loss and, of course, writing.

Seeing your word counter inch closer to your goal after each writing session can be addictive. You know whether you're pulling ahead or falling behind. The feedback is immediate.

You can track more things than just words. Another common metric to track is time spent . While it usually requires more effort, tracking your time can work better when your daily word count fluctuates.

Progress tracking has gone so far that runners use the term naked running these days to refer to jogging without a GPS watch logging their every step. Some would never go for a run without a tracker on their wrist.

When done right, tracking your progress can turn into an obsession and a great source of motivation.

5. Set Deadlines

Deadlines put your writing goals into perspective. When you have a deadline, you know exactly how many words you must write every day to finish on time. If you skip a day, your goal the next day (and all subsequent days) goes up. When you write more, your goal goes down.

Setting a deadline can be a wonderful motivator. However, you have to keep them realistic. When a deadline starts pushing your daily goal too high, it can have the opposite effect. Failing to hit your goal regularly will be frustrating.

The thing about deadlines is that the deadline itself isn't all that important. It's the effort that you make running up to it. When you miss, who cares? Don't beat yourself up. Set a new one, and keep up the great work.

Douglas Adams — the author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy — said, "I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by."

Not sure what deadline to set for your project? Try our free writing planner tool. It will help you set a deadline based on various parameters.

6. Reward Yourself

Rewards are a key part of the habit loop . Our brains crave them. They make our habits (good or bad) stick.

Rewarding yourself with something you like after finishing a writing session reinforces that behaviour. It may be having an extra cup of coffee or reading a gossip article online.

Writing is ridden with uncertainty. You don't know whether people will like what you're working on. You don't know whether a publisher will take it on. You don't know how long the whole process will take.

While writing alone can be incredibly rewarding, the feedback loop is too long. Reward yourself when you hit milestones along the way.

That way, you'll always have something to look forward to. Your book hitting the shelves will be a nice bonus.

TIP: Writing Analytics has a built-in awards system that helps you celebrate successes along the way.

7. Join a Challenge

Writing is a solitary pursuit. You're toiling in obscurity for months and years before anyone else gets to read what you wrote. But you don't have to go at it completely alone.

Many other writers are in the same situation as you, working away on their manuscripts. They face the same resistance and are struggling with similar issues. Why not join forces?

Writing with other people can create a lot of momentum. Seeing others work hard will make you want to work hard too.

NaNoWriMo is a perfect example of this. Many writers write more words in November than during the other 11 months combined.

When it isn't NaNoWriMo, you can join word sprints to write along with others. A group of writers gets together to work on their projects.

If you use Writing Analytics, you can join or organise sprints directly from the app.

8. Look for External Accountability

Sometimes, nothing you do seems to move you closer to your goal. That's when it might be time to look for help.

Join a writing group or enlist a writing coach. Having to report your progress to someone can do wonders for productivity. Don't underestimate the power of not wanting to look bad in front of others.

Finding a writing coach is on the expensive end of the spectrum, but it can be a life changer if you can afford it. Having someone to talk to about your struggles is invaluable.

Accountability partners can work well, too. However, finding the right partner that matches your level of commitment can be difficult.

9. Attend Writing Events

A great way to spark/rekindle your motivation to write is to hang out with other writers. If your favourite author is doing a book signing nearby, don't miss it! Seeing more successful authors talk about their work can be incredibly motivating.

If you live in an area that doesn't have too many literary events going on, listen to podcasts. Listening to long-form conversations with writers will have much the same effect.

Different writers share different things — some talk about their success. Others share stories of the wild ups and downs that pursuing a creative career can bring.

Here are some of my favourite writing podcasts:

• The Creative Penn Podcast — One of the longest-running writing podcasts out there.
• Writing Excuses — Short and sweet episodes jam-packed with writing wisdom.
• Writer's Ink — Interviews with some of the world's best authors
• Our Opinions Are Correct — A fantastic podcast by Annalee Newitz and Charlie Jane Anders

10. Use Constraints to Stay Motivated When Writing

It's easier to edit an existing story than write one from scratch. Similarly, using your time well is easier when you have some structure.

Setting constraints and boundaries makes it easier to focus on the task at hand. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Here are a few examples:

• Write with a timer — Start a timer when you sit down to write. You're not allowed to do anything else until the timer goes off.
• Work from a coffee shop — Leave distractions at home and go write from a local coffee shop or library.
• Put your phone on flight mode — You're not allowed to use your phone until you finish your writing session.
• Use time-boxing — Squeeze your writing session into a specific part of your day and don't let it overrun.

Paradoxically, having too much time on your hands can make you less productive. Specific constraints mobilise you to take action.

11. Remember Why You Started

Motivation ebbs and flows. One day, you're convinced that you've got a bestseller in the making. The next day, you're panicking that nobody could possibly want to read such a pile of rubbish.

Neither feeling lasts forever. When you're not feeling motivated, limiting the damage is essential. Don't quit .

When you're down the deep end, it can be easy to forget why you started writing in the first place. Why are you doing this? What do you want to achieve?

Take time to answer these questions. Write a few paragraphs to reaffirm your commitment to finishing this book no matter what.

Save these to the notes app on your phone. Set up a recurring reminder to come back and read those. It may seem like a waste of time when things are going well. But wait for the first time you get the reminder after things haven't been going so well. It can be a lifesaver.

12. Don't Edit While You Write

The more words you add to your project, the more mistakes you'll make. Some will be small, like spelling issues or inconsistencies in your descriptions. There will be larger issues, too. Perhaps you'll find that a chapter doesn't quite work how you thought it would. Maybe you start wondering whether you got the personality of one of your characters wrong.

When you start reading what you wrote, self-doubt will creep in. Your first draft will, of course, read nothing like the professionally edited prose of your favourite authors that you're used to. You will start feeling demotivated by the sheer amount of stuff that needs to be fixed.

If you can, avoid editing or reading back what you wrote before finishing the first draft. You're the most vulnerable to giving up when you're dead in the middle of a project.

Doing revisions while writing works for some people. For most, editing is best left towards the end of the draft.

13. Don't Compare Yourself to Other Writers

Many writers share their daily word counts on social media to keep themselves accountable.

While it can be motivating to see other people succeed, beware of comparing yourself to other writers.

Social media posts are inherently biased. It's a highlight reel. People share their successes more often than they share their failures. You won't be bragging about writing 84 words after staring at a screen for 6 hours.

Besides, those who share their word counts online skew towards faster writers. They achieve higher numbers, which make for more impressive Instagram posts.

If you're a slow writer like me, comparing yourself to others is a sure way to send yourself down the self-doubt spiral. Nothing will kill your motivation to write as fast.

Remember that everyone's process is different. Other writers may be at different points in their careers. Or they are just working on things that are easier to write.

As long as you finish, your readers won't care whether it took you two weeks or two years to write your book.

14. Don't Quit Your Job Yet

Writing alongside a full-time job is hard work. It can make writing feel like a never-ending homework.

It can be tempting to quit your job to write. Burn the boats! Surely, you will figure it out when you have no other option?

Many writers did this and succeeded. Many more tried and failed.

Financial pressure can have a devastating effect on your productivity and creative output. It will intensify the lows of the rollercoaster when you're wondering what you're doing with your life.

Having no backup plan doesn't guarantee success. Only do this when you know what you're doing.

15. Don't Announce the Book Too Early

Announcing that you're working on a book and when you're planning to finish sounds like a good idea at first. Then you're committed, right? You have to follow through.

It's true. It will give you a boost of motivation at first. However, the excitement won't last for too long. If your plan doesn't work as expected, it can become a total nightmare.

The creative process is all but predictable. You need to give yourself time and space to get it right. If you start missing your goals, you will make compromises. Embarrassing yourself in public isn't worth it.

Take George R. R. Martin as an example. In 2011, he estimated that the final two novels in his A Song of Ice and Fire series would take him "three years to finish [...] at a good pace." Yes, that was 12 years ago. People have been asking him where's the book for over a decade. I bet he would not make the same mistake again.

Sharing your plans with a few trusted friends can be very motivating. Announcing them in public can backfire when things don't go as planned.

16. Stop Beating Yourself Up

No matter how hard you try, you don't always live up to your expectations. It happens to beginners and experienced writers alike.

Unfortunately, failing to reach your goals can put a serious dent in your motivation — often for no good reason.

Don't beat yourself up when you fall short. Despite missing your goal, you're moving in the right direction. Writing half a novel is still progress.

Things often last longer than expected. Your estimates may have been too optimistic. You will make it through. Give yourself the credit that you're due.

When reading your book, your readers won't care that you overran your deadline by a month.

Creative projects are emotional rollercoasters. Writing is no exception. The more invested you are in the project, the higher the highs and the lower the lows.

Productivity tools have diminishing returns. What used to motivate you will stop working, and you'll have to find new ways to keep going.

On top of that, what motivates you changes over time. Sometimes, you need kind words of encouragement. Sometimes, you need a kick in the behind.

It's best to use a combination of different tools and habits to achieve your goals. When you start falling short, perhaps it's time to find a new way to stay motivated? Don't cling to something that is no longer working just because you've always done it like that.

Motivation to write is a moving target. The only way to stay consistent is to embrace the need to change things from time to time.

Final Thoughts

You will get stuck. You will be rejected. You will wonder whether you have what it takes to be a writer.

The journey of a writer isn't easy. The odds are against you. You have to keep failing until you succeed. Managing your motivation in spite of the adversity is paramount to your success as a writer.

Remember why you started writing, and don't give up. Your words can quite literally change the world.

If that isn't worth it, then I'm not sure what is.

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7 Proven Ways to Motivate Yourself to Write

Cast a stone at those saying that writing is an easy craft everyone can master. After all, everyone wrote essays at school and college, right? What can be difficult in sitting and putting words on paper, huh?

Surprise-surprise: Writing is hard.

Moreover, the process becomes even more challenging when writing for others giving you topics, content formatting rules, and strict deadlines:

You have no time to sit and wait for inspiration to craft a masterpiece about things you know and love.

Instead, you spend time researching assigned topics and thinking of writing strategies for your texts to follow guidelines yet look professional and engaging. You outline texts, write drafts, add references, craft visuals, and polish your works via proofreading and editing.

It doesn’t sound motivational, right?

If you are among those writing a lot (whether for college or work), here are some proven ways to motivate yourself to do the job when you don’t feel like it.

These actionable tips come from the personal statement writing service at AdvancedWriters whose experts couldn’t be better to understand the pitfalls of writer’s block. Assisting college students with writing assignments daily, they’ve mastered the art of motivation boost by far.

So, here they go!

How to Motivate Yourself to Write When Lazy or Stuck

These tips and suggestions will help you organize your writing routine so that you can catch the muse and meet deadlines every time your motivation fades away.

1. Find Your Perfect Writing Place

Where do you write your books, articles, or college assignments? While many believe a writer needs nothing but a laptop with internet access, it’s not true:

A writing area influences productivity by far! To boost motivation, find your perfect workspace. Where do you feel most comfortable to write? Is it a cozy cafe with background music? A library? Coworking spaces?

Go there when you need to write. Ensure you minimize distractions: Turn off smartphone notifications, put on earphones, tell your family not to disturb you during your writing hours, etc.

2. Make It a Habit

When writing is your habit, you don’t need to wait for motivation or inspiration to come: It’s your daily routine now, another item in your to-do list, like going to groceries or a gym.

How to make it a habit?

Start small. Set a daily goal – 100 words, one draft, 15 minutes – and commit to it. Freewriting, journaling, or the Morning Pages technique by Julia Cameron will help here.

Write every day, even if it’s one short paragraph. Note down ideas and thoughts coming to your mind. The only rule:

Shut off your inner critic when writing; pay no attention to grammar, style, or content; write! You’ll have time to re-read those writings later (if you want!) and find some ideas for your future work there.

3. Try the “Bird by Bird” Principle

Writing looks daunting when you realize how much time and energy you’ll need to complete one project. Topic research, outlining, drafting, editing…

The human brain is lazy , so it’s no surprise you feel stuck and unmotivated to do such heavy tasks. To “cheat” your brain, don’t do all work at once:

Break up your writing into smaller tasks and make each step clear and specific. For example, you can outline an essay today, write its introduction tomorrow, and finish the draft the next day. Plan writing hours and set attainable writing goals:

Authors know this trick as the “Bird by Bird” principle. Introduced by Ann Lamott in her book of the same title, it teaches us to start small and take one step at a time to get closer to accomplishing our goals.

4. Go for a Walk

Did you ever notice how relaxed and enthusiastic you felt after a walk? We have a scientific explanation for this:

When walking, the brain gets more oxygen and improves performance. According to studies, people who walk longer distances weekly preserve more of the gray matter influencing their cognitive functions and creativity.

So, inspiration comes, writing ideas come, and you (magic!) find words to describe a character, write a dialogue, or start an essay! Ensure you write them at once! (Trust us, you may forget them when you get back to work.)

5. Find Your Productivity Trigger

Take a seat and listen to yourself for a minute. Try to figure out what inspires you and give motivation to create, act, and grow. Is it a person, art, or maybe sports?

Explore rituals triggering you to write. Try simple practices like going to a museum, affirmations , exercising before writing, meditation – whatever sets you in the “creator” mood.

Switching your writing locations from time to time can help, too. Why do you think so many creative people choose to work in coffee shops?

New surroundings and background noises activate the brain; you feel motivated to follow the lead of those working around you and create something.

6. Take Breaks

University of Illinois psychology professors proved that brief breaks enhance our abilities to focus longer. The catch is that it can be challenging to take breaks when writing.

(Especially when ideas flow, and you don’t want to interrupt for fear of losing that train of thought.)

When unmotivated or stuck, breaks are a must. They bring your work back to the forefront, and it would help if you took a 10-15 minutes break from writing every hour. Set a timer to control the process better.

Look at a window and explore the outside: It’s a nice trick to sharpen attention and brain power.

7. Reward Yourself

As a writer, you may feel satisfied only when you complete the project, your novel is in a bookstore , your article gets published at Forbes, your essay is on a teacher’s table, and so on. Why not change this perspective?

Promise yourself a little reward for reaching small milestones throughout your writing project. A sweet treat after finishing a book chapter or a cup of a favorite drink after outlining a research paper never hurts.

(By the way, did you know that caffeine boosts focus and creativity? If you’re not a coffee addict, no problem: tea or chocolate brings the same effect.)

When the reward is in sight, you’re more likely to be motivated to work hard. Celebrate your accomplishments, whether big or small. Give yourself breaks to recharge your writing “battery” so you don’t get burned out.

Over to You

None of the above suggestions are hard to implement, agree? Start practicing them when unmotivated – and you’ll see their transformative power influencing your productivity and writing routine.

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How To Get Motivated to Write An Essay: 5+ Useful Tips for You

by  Antony W

February 16, 2023

There’s no magic bullet to writing essays that inspire . And that means it’s an assignment that’s easier said than done. But before you find the task boring, let us show you how to get motivated to write an essay. 

Everyday, hundreds of students struggle to write essays, whichever the type. They’ll mostly read the prompt, make short notes from it, do research, and create an essay outline. Then when it comes to the actual writing, they go blank, completely.

Isn’t that a familiar situation? And can you relate with it?

Unfortunately, writer’s block is something every student will grapple with at one point in time. But that doesn’t mean it’s hard to beat.

So in this guide, I’ll give you some handy tips you can use to write comprehensive essays, even when you feel like you don’t have the motivation to put your claims, ideas, and arguments on a paper.

No motivation to write an essay yourself? No problem. Our experts are here to get you the help you need. Click the link below and let us help. 

How to Get Motivated To Write An Essay And Finish On Time

Below are simple tips that can help you write high quality essays in the shortest time possible, even if means you’re in your very last minutes.

1. Create an Essay Outline First

Even if you’ve done the finest research and you have a way with words, your essay won’t mean anything much to your instructor if it doesn’t feature an outline.

It doesn’t matter what type of essay the prompt requires you to write. You’ll need to create an outline to handle the assignment.

Irrespective of the essay word limit, you want to divide your essay into three sections: the opening paragraph, the body paragraphs, and the concluding paragraphs. That's the  perfect essay outline   you will ever need. 

The body section can have as many paragraphs as possible, usually depending less on the word limit and more on the arguments you’d like to present.

And an outline is an important element for one very important reason: It helps you to organize your thoughts in a manner that makes sense, making the essay easy to read right from the introduction to the final full stop.

2. Read the Prompt, Do Research First and then Write, Don’t Do All at the Same Time

Essay writing can be as hard and boring AF if you do everything at once. But since you’re interested in making the process as flawless, engaging, and interesting as possible, consider doing the assignment in parts.

First, read the prompt to understand what your professor requires. The prompt may be long or short depending on the topic in question.

In any case, you want to make short notes in a notebook or notepad so you have only the most important information at your fingertips.

Step away from the assignment for a few hours and then go to the second step.

Second, do your research. Collect as much information as possible from the best scholarly sources. List your primary and secondary sources in a bibliography as these will be your references as you write.

Again, take a break from the assignment for a few hours. Come back later and move om to the third step.

Third, come back and write your essay. At this point, you have read the prompt, made short notes of the most important points, and completed your research. All that’s left is to write your essay.

As you can see, we’ve divided this into three sections, each with a few hours break in between. This is important because it break down the monotony of writing the assignment in one sitting and makes the project interesting to work on.

3. Write Your Essay in Bits

It’s possible to write a long essay on one sitting, but that’s not something you can do if you don’t have the motivation to complete the assignment in one night.

So instead of pouring all your energy to the paper and getting bored when you’re only halfway done, consider writing in parts.

This isn’t about how much time you’re going to spend writing. It’s about how many words you can get down within a given period.

First, use the essay outline and the information collected from research to create a rough draft. Introduce the topic, highlight your thoughts (arguments) in a logical order in the body section, and then write a strong conclusion for the essay.

Take a short break and come back to the essay later. Now write it in-depth, making sure you provide sufficient academic evidence to back up your arguments or support your claims.

4. Ask Your Course Mates to Help You Understand the Topic

Some students lack the motivation to write essays because they can’t understand the topic provided in the prompt.

If this is anything like you, then you should consider asking for help from your fellow students.

While you may not understand the topic in question, there’s a high chance that your fellow students understand the concept. So spend some time discussing the assignment with them.

Don’t forget to ask questions where necessary, as this will not only clear your doubts about the topic but also allow you to collect some strong points that you can include while proofreading your essay .

 5. Write in the Best Writing Spot

Your usual spot may not be fit for writing all types of essays, and especially the more complicated ones.

Maybe sometimes you’re too bored to sit in the same environment and get the essay done. In such a case changing location can be a motivating factor.

It doesn’t matter if you’ll write the essay from under a tree, in your bedroom, in the library, or in your friend’s classroom. Just find a spot that you find comfortable for the moment.

Some students even write better with the music on. This is especially true if you’re around other students and want to cancel out noise coming from the surroundings. If you prefer this option, you can get yourself some noise cancelling headphones.

6. Seek Academic Writing Assistance

 There’s more to writing an essay than just putting words on a paper. And to be honest, the task is almost always overwhelming.

Do you need help with your Essay? 

Get in touch with your professional team of writers. 

So if you lack the motivation to write the paper because it’s too demanding, you can seek for essay writing help from Help for Assessment.

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

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Build motivation to write that paper.

The cursor continues to blink on the blank document. You have a paper to write for your next class. It’s due soon. And you have no idea what to write, or how to start.

The kids are in bed, hopefully sound asleep. Your spouse is doing his or her own work. Now, it’s time for you to write the research essay you’d been procrastinating on all week.

But, the words just don’t come. And you continue to stare at the blinking cursor.

Odds are, this hesitation, frustration and inability to form complete sentences has happened to all students. You may rather want to binge watch your new show, or try out a new cookie recipe or engage in some other favorite hobby than try and write a paper.

Yet writing that paper brings you another step closer to pursuing your personal and professional goals. You know it’s important.

Wonder how to build up the inspiration to let your words start flowing? Follow these simple steps to cultivate motivation and get that paper written:

FIND THE RIGHT WRITING SPOT

In another blog article , we mentioned a way to improve your study habits includes finding the right location. To be ready to write, your environment should cater to your need to focus.

As an adult student, the location you work may require flexibility. It may be a coffee shop a few blocks down from your house; or an empty conference room in your office; or a quiet library workspace.

And if you’re unable to escape the constant craziness of life, noise-canceling headphones may just be a good investment.

The goal in establishing your working environment is to let your thoughts and words flow freely, without constant interruptions.

TURN OFF THE PHONE

You’re just about to write a sentence and you hear a ‘ping’ from your phone notifying you that someone just liked your photo on Facebook. And soon, rather than writing your next paragraph in your paper, you are commenting on your friend’s updated profile picture.

Some may find turning off their phone to work unimaginable. How can you not be constantly available via technology? Yet, to increase your focus on the paper that has yet to be written, put it on silent.

Removing the distraction of bings and rings from texts, emails and Facebook notifications can turn your attention from the hundreds of other things going on to forming that intro, body and conclusion of your paper.

PLAN A GOAL

Have six pages to write? It may not be best to set your goal to finish all six in one sitting. Such a goal may feel overwhelmingly daunting – creating another barrier in finishing the assignment.

In setting your goal for writing, be sure to follow the S.M.A.R.T. acronym to ensure success.

• S—Specific: Rather than telling yourself you’ll write a few sentences and cite a few sources, get detailed. Write three pages with using at least three sources.
• M—Measurable: Page length or word count are benchmarks that can be easily measured and evaluated.
• A—Achievable: Ensure the length and content goal you set is actually something you can physically and mentally complete in the time you allot yourself. Writing ten pages in a half hour may just be too extreme.
• R—Relevant: The goal you set in writing your paper should assist you in pursuing your professional and personal endeavors. It’s not just an assignment. It’s equipping you.
• T—Timely: Setting a deadline, whether given on the syllabus or the one you give yourself before that, gives you the mental note of what and when to get it done. Perhaps you could break up your work on the paper into different sections and set reachable deadlines for each section.

REMEMBER WHY YOU’RE WRITING

Writing the paper is about more than getting a good grade. It’s more than moving on to the next course. Writing this paper is one more step toward achieving your personal and professional goals.

Think about and answer the question of why you’re pursuing your degree. It may be a combination of factors: to show your children your commitment to education, to receive a promotion, to follow a dream that you missed out on, to perform better in your current role.

Whatever your answer, you’re in your degree program for a reason. Getting your thoughts and arguments down on paper is just one next step toward fulfilling that reason.

Cornerstone University offers numerous Academic Support resources to equip you to succeed in your degree program, whether that’s in writing a paper or other assignment.

Discover Academic Support

Ellie Walburg

Ellie Walburg (B.S. ’17, M.B.A. ’20) serves as the admissions communications coordinator for Cornerstone University’s Professional & Graduate Studies division.

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Top tips for staying motivated while writing essays

So, you’re staring at a blank word document yet again, desperate for anything that can motivate you and get your essay finished at this all important time. Fortunately, we have got those all-important motivational tips to get you through this tough time and fill up that blank document with the 2,000 words due next week.

1. Cut Out All Distractions

We all do it. Take a quick look at Facebook, catch up on a group chat or watch a quick video and suddenly it’s been 20 minutes. It might be a simple fix, but the best thing you can do is block out all distractions, even if you’re really tempted. Just think, the sooner you can get your essay finished, the sooner you can escape the clutches of the library and enjoy your freedom!

2. Drinks and Snacks

Keep your energy levels up. Raid the shops for their finest sweets, energy drinks or anything to keep you awake. Keep your fluids up and drink plenty of water! However, we do recommend not drinking too many energy drinks - you'll be buzzing all night long. 

3. Set a quota

Decide before you start working on how much you’re going to write. The key to this is deciding how many words you’re going to get down, rather than how much time you’re going to spend doing it as it’s likely most of it will take up doing research and reading books.

4. Think about your investment

If all else fails, remind yourself that you’re paying £9,000 a year to study for your degree (it works out at about £250 per seminar/lecture) . Realising that you’re getting in huge debts should give you that all needed drive to finish your essay on time and make it the best it can be.

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ThinkWritten

10 Ways to Motivate Yourself To Write

If you’ve ever found yourself struggling to keep writing after you start a project, we’ve put together a list of 10 ways to motivate yourself to write.

We may receive a commission when you make a purchase from one of our links for products and services we recommend. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for support!

Sharing is caring!

Even the most well-disciplined writer can struggle with motivation to finish a story or writing assignment.

If you’ve ever found yourself struggling to keep writing after you start a project, we’ve put together a list of 10 ways to motivate yourself to write. 

It’s not easy to want to keep writing when you’re cranking out word after word, but hopefully these tips will help you get back on track with your writing project.

1. Meet with a writing friend.

Having a friend you meet with regularly to talk about writing can help you stay motivated. Find a friend who loves to write, or just likes to read. Schedule a regular time every week or every two weeks to talk about what new things you are writing.

When you do this, it can motivate you to make sure you have some new material for when you meet. This person can make for an excellent accountability partner!

2. Join a writing group.

Meeting with a writing group is a great way to find new ideas and inspiration for your writing craft. It can be very motivating to talk to other writers who share the same struggles as you.

Check sites like Craigslist or Meetup to see if there are any writing groups near you to meet with. This again can help fuel your motivation to write, as you’ll want to have something new to present to the group.

3. Set a timer.

Start small by setting a timer for 5 or 10 minutes to write, working up to 30 minutes or more. When you have a timer set, this helps you break it down into small increments of time instead of thinking you need to do the entire project in one sitting.

Best of all, when you write with a timer, you write from a completely free stream of consciousness. You just write whatever you think. The secret is to get as many words on a page as you can. It doesn’t even matter what you write or what you write about.

The funny thing is, that writing you cranked out in 5 or 10 minutes might be the best thing you write all day. 

There are some writers who like to use the web app Write Or Die . This is a diabolical app that will delete everything you wrote if you do not meet your goal when the timer ends. Talk about motivation!

While I’m not brave enough to use this tool myself, it definitely gives you a different kind of perspective. Some writers swear by it!

4. Set a goal.

You always need a goal when writing. This can be a number of pages. This can be a certain number of words. This can be to simply finish a chapter. Or finish an outline. 

Setting a goal is also one of my best tips for writing more words in less time .

Whatever your goal is, it should be measurable. How will you know you met the goal? 

You should also create a deadline to go along with this goal. When do you need to complete the work by? 

Having a goal and deadline can help you write more efficiently, especially when you are working on a long project. Again, this helps break your project into more manageable sections.

5. Reward Yourself.

The rewards don’t have to be big, but do something to pat yourself on the back when you meet a writing goal or deadline.

Maybe you’ll treat yourself to a new book or a cup of your favorite coffee. You could give yourself some time to browse the internet and catch up on reading your favorite blogs or do something else you enjoy.

Some writers like to make their rewards related to writing tools. Maybe when you finally finish that book and publish it, you will be able to upgrade to an ergonomic desk chair !

6. Create Visual Aids.

A motivational poster might sound cheesy, but surprisingly it can help you to have many visual aids while writing that can keep you motivated.

For example, you can create a vision board of what you’ll do when you finish your writing project.

Maybe you want to keep a picture of a place you want to travel to after you finish writing.

You can also hang up inspiring words or other visual aids at your desk that can remind you to keep writing.

At my desk, I have a picture of a sheep. Yes, really, a sheep. I write with the goal of being able to afford enough land to have my own flock of sheep.

While I tend to be picky about what type of freelance clients I will work with, I know I would write almost anything and everything if it meant getting my own farm with sheep!

Everybody has their own writing goals, dreams, and aspirations. Writing may not be your ultimate #1 goal, but it can be the means to help you get there!

7. Shut Off the Inner Critic.

It’s so easy to be critical of what we write while writing. Turn off your inner critic and remember the revising and editing comes later – just write for now.

It doesn’t have to be perfect when writing your first draft.

Heck, you can publish something and it doesn’t have to be perfect. I make mistakes all of the time. But I know people appreciate that I wrote anything at all much more than never writing anything!

8. Minimize Distractions.

Something I do once in awhile is completely disconnect the internet so it’s just me and the laptop for typing. Most laptops and phones have what is called “airplane mode”. With this, all you have to do is turn it on – your internet access will be temporarily disabled.

It’s easy to want to check your favorite blogs, get caught up in research for what you’re writing or to check in on your social networks.

By turning off these distractions, it will be much easier for you to actually finish writing. Use the internet as a reward for when you have completed the writing goal for the day.

While it’s impossible to completely get rid of distractions, it’s a very important part in being able to successfully focus and finish your work.

9. Don’t Beat Yourself Up.

Everybody makes mistakes. I usually think making the mistake itself is bad enough. You don’t need to feel more bad about it. Especially when your mistake is improper grammar on a writing website. {Ha, do you see what I did there?}

Guilt can be a big problem with writers. Maybe you went a few days without writing and now you feel like you should just give up entirely.

It’s common to have a few slumps as a writer – the important thing is you don’t give up and let that stop you from starting again.

10. Get Excited!

Remember the excitement you felt when you first started the writing project? It’s time to get fired up again and feel that same excitement!

I don’t always feel excited when I write. If you’ve ever written a 7,000 word article about green beans, you know there’s not a whole lot to get excited about, even if you really, really, really like green beans.

Listen to some of your favorite songs that motivate you, review your outline, and remember that writing is a passion. The more excited you are about the project, the easier it gets to motivate yourself to keep on writing.

My favorite way to get in the mood for writing is using an app on my phone called 8tracks. There are so many great writing playlists there!

What do you do when you don’t feel motivated to write? Share your favorite tips and techniques in the comments section below!

Chelle Stein wrote her first embarrassingly bad novel at the age of 14 and hasn't stopped writing since. As the founder of ThinkWritten, she enjoys encouraging writers and creatives of all types.

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How to Motivate Yourself to Write a College Essay

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Do you sometimes wonder where all those famous personalities got their motivation from?

For instance, would physics be what it is if Albert Einstein was not motivated by his curiosity to determine the defining laws of modern physics?

Would Michael Jordan be one of the best basketball players of all time if he was not motivated enough to succeed and get past his failures?

Would the United States be united if Abraham Lincoln was not motivated and determined to preserve the Union? Come what may?

..and here you are, unable to even start your college essay!

If you are lacking the motivation to start your essay or are struggling to stay motivated because your essay does not seem to end, first of all - stop stressing. You are certainly not the only student to be in this situation.

It’s true. It would be best if you were charged up and motivated about something to do an excellent job at it. Motivation is the fuel that drives you - it pushes you to stay committed to your goal despite hurdles and challenges along the way. It stems from vision and your willpower to turn it into reality.

Believe it or not - there is a science behind motivation .

Finding the Motivation to Write Your College Essay When You Hit a Dead End

You have an essay to complete, but you are nowhere close to starting it. The fact that you might have to put together a last-minute essay is no longer enough to get you started because you are deeply demotivated and unenthusiastic to begin working on it.

Don’t worry - we have put together a list of tips and tools that will get you out of this phase and jumpstart your motivation.

Why are you Losing Motivation to Write an Essay

There are many reasons that might be contributing to your lack of motivation. The first step is knowing why you are not motivated enough to complete your essay so you can arrest it and get beyond it.

Here are five common reasons behind losing the motivation to write -

Not Interested in the Topic

If you find yourself saying, “but I hate the essay topic” or “I couldn’t care less about the topic,” it’s inevitable that the core reason behind your lack of motivation is your absolute disinterest in the essay topic.

We agree - it’s challenging to write when you don’t relate to something or worse still, dislike the subject. How do you start? How do you express your thoughts? How do you begin the research?

..but you gotta do what you gotta do.

At such times, what helps is knowing that this particular writing assignment will take you one step closer to your academic goals. Remind yourself that doing well here has long-term benefits. So, put aside your aversion and get onto it.

Lack of Confidence in your Writing

This reason is unfortunate - when you second-guess yourself to the extent that you start doubting your writing abilities which takes a hit on your confidence and jolts your motivation. The next thing you know, you are struggling with all the writing assignments that come your way.

You don’t have to deal with the entire essay in one go. Doing that will just scare you more and take you further away from finishing it. Instead, break it down and take it one step at a time. You are likely to maintain your sanity and motivation when you do so.

So, set aside time for research, outlining, writing, editing, and proofreading. Even in the writing stage, don’t aim to write everything out together. Break it down paragraph-wise and let yourself do justice to each one of them instead of rushing with it.

Keep a Strong Writing Schedule

How will you regain your confidence if you don’t give yourself a chance?

For a moment, forget what your teacher will say after reading your essay or how you will be perceived. Just write with the aim of pushing your limits and doing the best you can.

Read more books. Ask yourself what it is that you want to communicate—plan and practice writing. Most importantly, stop letting your fear and anxieties from telling you that you cannot write - be more significant than that.

Tips on building confidence as a writer from Reedsy community

Cannot Stop Procrastinating

Ask any student what their biggest enemy is, and they will tell you it’s procrastination.

That’s your story too? Then the only way to battle that is to plan well. Yes, get all those productivity apps and tools out and get disciplined. That’s the only way to get around your assignment.

No one said assignment writing is fun but it’s necessary to take it up with all seriousness to get the scores you want. So, stop procrastinating and just START.

Feeling Overwhelmed

Considering the number of assignments a high school, college, or university student deals with on a daily basis, it is extremely common to feel overwhelmed and intimidated. When this overwhelming feeling is not tackled early, it takes over one’s thought process and becomes a deterrent.

This is primarily in the case of college essays because there is so much pressure riding on them. Essay writing is a cognitive, time-consuming process that requires an extensive amount of planning and work, but when you take it one step at a time, it helps to feel less overwhelmed and re-ignite your motivation.

Too Focussed on Grades

A study suggests that when students are overly focused on grades, it affects learning.

..and we agree.

The same applies to writing college essays. When you start obsessing over the grades you will get, you are likely to work under immense pressure, which affects the quality of your writing.

While grades do matter, it’s important to shift focus from the final outcome to getting immersed and enjoying the process. Try it!

So, what’s your reason? Accept it to overcome it.

What to Do When You Lack the Motivation to Write a College Essay

Contrary to what people think, no one is “born” motivated. You can make changes in your life and mindset to become motivated and at the same time, if you are not persistent enough, your motivation may even start to fade.

So, if you are stressing over the fact that you are losing motivation to write your college paper, here are ten hacks that can help you get out of that phase and get started on your essay -

Write and Revisit your Goal

“Does that even help?”

Oh. It does.

When you write down your goal, it registers better. Whether it’s finishing your essay in a given amount of time or aiming for the grades you want - when you write your goals down, however big or small, it remains in your subconscious and ignites renewed passion in your mind to go after that goal.

What’s more, on days when you are not particularly charged up or are feeling listless and demotivated, revisiting your goals is an essential reminder and helps you get back on your feet.

So, get a journal, write your goal down, and maybe even stick it on your study table, so you never lose track.

Watch Mary Morrissey deconstruct the power of writing down your goals

Break Down the Writing Process

Earlier, we spoke about how writing assignments tend to get overwhelming. In such cases, you know what helps? Breaking down the writing process.

You don’t have to deal with the entire essay in one go. Doing that will scare you and take you further away from finishing it. Instead, break it down and take it one step at a time. You are likely to maintain your sanity and motivation when you do so.

So, set aside time for research, outlining, writing, editing, and proofreading. Even in the writing stage, don’t aim to write everything together. Break it down paragraph-wise and let yourself do justice to each one of them instead of rushing with it.

Once you have broken down the writing process into smaller steps, allocate a definite period to each of them - that includes the exact dates because only then can you hold yourself accountable for it.

Another aspect of keeping a solid writing schedule is knowing when you are your productive best and when your ideas are flowing. For some, it can be early morning, for others, it can be late at night.

So, find your favorite writing period and maintain an intense writing schedule wherein you can get most of the writing done. Try and write at least something every day, so you don’t lose touch and go back to square one.

Create the Essay Outline

One of the most overlooked aspects of writing essays is creating outlines. “What has created an outline got to do with being motivated,” you may ask.

It helps because when you work on a solid outline, you realize that the next step is just populating the essay, knowing that you are not going off-track and following a logical sequence.

Creating an essay outline makes you feel closer to the end result because you know you have your research, notes, and outline in place - now, you can get onto the writing part.

Conquer Writing Anxiety

Writing anxiety is when you are filled with fear and tension when you are met with any writing assignment. It may have arisen due to a bad experience wherein you were dissed for your writing - and then this perception just stuck on.

Well, guess what? That’s not helping your “motivation” at all. It’s crippling.

Firstly, stop comparing your work to others and set unrealistic expectations aside. For a change, don’t look at the bigger picture and just focus on the task.

Read the assignment instructions, reach out to your instructor if you have concerns, and start the process. Every time you second-guess yourself, identify it and reason it out instead of giving in to it.

As Antoniou and Moriarty stated, “the most important lesson in developing one’s writing is to WRITE.”

Practice Freewriting

Sometimes, instead of feeding your demotivated self, you need just to put your foot down and start writing. This is what freewriting is - writing whatever comes to you.

It helps you to overcome your mental blocks and gets you started on something you have been delaying for the longest time. Once you get the ball rolling, you can always come back to polish your essay and make it worthy of submission.

Here are five tips to free-write successfully

Write the Introduction Last

When we started writing essays in school, we were taught to create essays with introductory paragraphs.

Yes, introductions do come first, but that does not mean they need to be written first.

Let’s face it - introductory paragraphs face the most amount of pressure. Starting with an interesting hook , engaging the reader from the word go, and ensuring your essay begins with a bang is the kind of pressure we are talking about.

Someone who is not too motivated to write is bound to crumble under this pressure. Hence, it’s a good idea to start with the body paragraphs and even write the conclusion before you can come back to write the introductory paragraph with a calm, composed, and confident mind.

Find your Perfect Writing Space

Many might think this is overrated, but we beg to differ.

You might think you can write on the couch today and tomorrow and get the writing down while sitting on the bed, but that’s where you are making a mistake.

A dedicated space to think and write helps because you create a motivating and safe environment for yourself. From ensuring you sit in the correct posture and having easy access to your tools and resources to maintaining a distraction-free space - sitting there to write is enough to get you in the ‘writing zone.’

So, find your perfect writing space, and you will see a spike in your productivity levels.

Reward Yourself

Do you remember how as kids, our parents gave us chocolate to tidy up our room or took us to the amusement park to score well in our exams? It helped. That’s because we were told we would be rewarded for doing something.

Not much has changed. You can try the same thing for yourself even today.

Rewards boost motivation because who doesn't love getting rewarded? So, every time you finish a chunk of your writing, celebrate that small win and reward yourself. It can be as simple as catching another episode of your favorite show on Netflix or anything else that brings you joy.

Take Breaks

Talking about joy, taking regular breaks is extremely important to remain motivated because otherwise you just turn into an unhappy machine and you certainly don’t want that, do you?

Take a break from your writing - watch a movie, spend time with friends and family, go to your favorite restaurant or just head out for a walk in the park. Do anything to get away from your books so you can come back to your essay with a fresher mind.

Practical Tools to Stay Motivated While Writing your College Essay

If there is anything more complex than finding motivation, it is staying motivated. But hey, why fear when technology is here?

Here are four practical online tools to help you stay motivated right through the essay writing process -

WriteMonkey

Today’s most prominent online distractions come from social media channels, Netflix, and e-commerce websites. How is one supposed to even begin writing, given these circumstances?

This is where WriteMonkey can come to your rescue. This tool does not let anything come between you and your writing. It displays an empty screen, letting you stay focussed on paper and nothing else.

The organization is critical - all the more when it comes to writing college essays. Trello is a planning tool that makes organization fun.

From keeping track of websites and planning drafts to creating a to-do list and adding priorities - this tool lets you arrange your assignments well such that you don’t miss anything.

Remember the tip about breaking down the writing process we spoke about earlier? Yes, Trello has a feature that lets you create subtasks and track their progress.

Focus Keeper

As the name suggests, Focus Keeper is meant to keep your focus going. This easy-to-use app needs you to plug in the tasks that need to be completed, set the timer, and start writing. It also allows for timely breaks to prevent you from reaching burnout .

Cold Turkey

Let’s face it - you cannot possibly finish your essays without the internet, and where there is the internet, there is bound to be a distraction.

Downloading Cold Turkey lets you maintain discipline because it turns your computer into a typewriter and allows you to set a time limit and word count goal. You are literally locked into this app - unless you don’t meet the daily goal, you won’t be able to log out.

While we agree it is not easy to be motivated to write a college essay, it is not impossible either. So, follow the tips, hacks, and tools we have put together for you to supercharge your motivation and write a brilliant essay!

However, if everything else fails and you are still struggling to start your essay, we have a sure-fire solution for you and that is reaching out to essay writing experts.

Writers Per Hour is one such expert that can help with your college papers, no matter the type or length of time you have in hand. Just write to us with your requirements, and we will get our professional writers on the job, guaranteeing to deliver superior quality, 100%-plagiarism-free, and authentic essays.

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How to Write About Yourself in a College Essay | Examples

Published on September 21, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on May 31, 2023.

An insightful college admissions essay requires deep self-reflection, authenticity, and a balance between confidence and vulnerability. Your essay shouldn’t just be a resume of your experiences; colleges are looking for a story that demonstrates your most important values and qualities.

To write about your achievements and qualities without sounding arrogant, use specific stories to illustrate them. You can also write about challenges you’ve faced or mistakes you’ve made to show vulnerability and personal growth.

Table of contents

Start with self-reflection, how to write about challenges and mistakes, how to write about your achievements and qualities, how to write about a cliché experience, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about college application essays.

Before you start writing, spend some time reflecting to identify your values and qualities. You should do a comprehensive brainstorming session, but here are a few questions to get you started:

• What are three words your friends or family would use to describe you, and why would they choose them?
• Whom do you admire most and why?
• What are the top five things you are thankful for?
• What has inspired your hobbies or future goals?
• What are you most proud of? Ashamed of?

As you self-reflect, consider how your values and goals reflect your prospective university’s program and culture, and brainstorm stories that demonstrate the fit between the two.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Writing about difficult experiences can be an effective way to show authenticity and create an emotional connection to the reader, but choose carefully which details to share, and aim to demonstrate how the experience helped you learn and grow.

Be vulnerable

It’s not necessary to have a tragic story or a huge confession. But you should openly share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences to evoke an emotional response from the reader. Even a cliché or mundane topic can be made interesting with honest reflection. This honesty is a preface to self-reflection and insight in the essay’s conclusion.

Don’t overshare

With difficult topics, you shouldn’t focus too much on negative aspects. Instead, use your challenging circumstances as a brief introduction to how you responded positively.

Share what you have learned

It’s okay to include your failure or mistakes in your essay if you include a lesson learned. After telling a descriptive, honest story, you should explain what you learned and how you applied it to your life.

While it’s good to sell your strengths, you also don’t want to come across as arrogant. Instead of just stating your extracurricular activities, achievements, or personal qualities, aim to discreetly incorporate them into your story.

Brag indirectly

Mention your extracurricular activities or awards in passing, not outright, to avoid sounding like you’re bragging from a resume.

Use stories to prove your qualities

Even if you don’t have any impressive academic achievements or extracurriculars, you can still demonstrate your academic or personal character. But you should use personal examples to provide proof. In other words, show evidence of your character instead of just telling.

Many high school students write about common topics such as sports, volunteer work, or their family. Your essay topic doesn’t have to be groundbreaking, but do try to include unexpected personal details and your authentic voice to make your essay stand out .

To find an original angle, try these techniques:

• Focus on a specific moment, and describe the scene using your five senses.
• Mention objects that have special significance to you.
• Instead of following a common story arc, include a surprising twist or insight.

Your unique voice can shed new perspective on a common human experience while also revealing your personality. When read out loud, the essay should sound like you are talking.

If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Academic writing

• Writing process
• Transition words
• Passive voice
• Paraphrasing

 Communication

• How to end an email
• Ms, mrs, miss
• How to start an email
• I hope this email finds you well
• Hope you are doing well

 Parts of speech

• Personal pronouns
• Conjunctions

First, spend time reflecting on your core values and character . You can start with these questions:

However, you should do a comprehensive brainstorming session to fully understand your values. Also consider how your values and goals match your prospective university’s program and culture. Then, brainstorm stories that illustrate the fit between the two.

When writing about yourself , including difficult experiences or failures can be a great way to show vulnerability and authenticity, but be careful not to overshare, and focus on showing how you matured from the experience.

Through specific stories, you can weave your achievements and qualities into your essay so that it doesn’t seem like you’re bragging from a resume.

Include specific, personal details and use your authentic voice to shed a new perspective on a common human experience.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Courault, K. (2023, May 31). How to Write About Yourself in a College Essay | Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved June 20, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/college-essay/write-about-yourself/

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Introduction: The Purpose and Importance of Motivation

Writing an essay can be an intimidating and challenging task. It is necessary to be motivated when writing an essay in order to remain on task and complete the project within the given timeline. In this guide, we will discuss the importance of motivation and how it can help achieve success in writing essays .

Motivation is key for any task, but especially for writing assignments. If you are not motivated to write your essay, it can take longer than necessary or may not reach its highest potential. There are many ways to stay motivated, from setting achievable goals to rewarding yourself for completing small tasks. We will discuss these strategies in more detail later on in this guide.

It is important to be aware of the purpose of writing an essay before starting the project . Once you understand the goal and the expectations, you can set clear objectives with step-by-step guidelines that will make the writing process easier and more enjoyable. It will also help you stay focused and motivated throughout.

Completing an essay on time requires dedication, focus and discipline, but most importantly, motivation. Being able to motivate oneself is critical for achieving success in any task, and this guide will provide helpful tips and advice on how to stay motivated during the writing process in order to reach your desired outcome.

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we find ourselves lacking motivation or even forgetting about an essay due soon. When this happens, it can be stressful and overwhelming to try and catch up on the work. However, there is a solution that can help alleviate this stress and ensure that you submit a high-quality essay on time: using our IB Writing Service​ .

One of the main benefits of using our service is the ability to work with tight deadlines. Our team of expert writers is skilled in working efficiently and effectively, even when time is limited. Whether you have a few days or just a few hours to complete your essay, we can help ensure that you meet your deadline without compromising on quality.

Another benefit of using our service is the expertise of our writers. All of our writers are highly trained and experienced in writing IB essays, which means that they understand the requirements and expectations of the IB program. They can help you craft an essay that meets the standards of the program while also showcasing your unique voice and ideas.

Finally, we understand that confidentiality is important to our clients. That’s why we guarantee absolute confidentiality. No one will ever know that you used our service, which means that you can submit your essay with confidence and without any concerns about your academic integrity.

Set Your Goal

Getting started on a big project can be intimidating, but setting a goal prior to beginning is an incredibly important step that helps you stay motivated and organized. When it comes to writing an essay, in particular, setting a goal allows you to break the task down into achievable chunks, rather than being overwhelmed by the project as a whole.

Start by understanding the purpose of your essay and the expectations for it. Knowing what is expected of you will help you determine the scope of your project and better define your goals. When you have a good idea of what needs to be done, it’s time to set an attainable deadline. Giving yourself a timeline helps you stay focused and stay on track, so make sure you are realistic and create a schedule that works with your lifestyle.

After you have a timeline in place, it’s time to set specific and measurable goals along the way. Breaking down the steps needed to complete your essay into smaller tasks can help keep things manageable and make achieving your goals feel more attainable. For example, you may start off by setting a goal to simply “draft an outline”. This could be accomplished within a day or two, and providing yourself with small successes like this can help keep you motivated throughout the entire writing process.

Lastly, make sure you are writing down all of your goals and creating an action plan for how you will achieve them. Visual reminders are also a great way to help keep track of your progress and stay motivated. Whenever you hit a milestone or complete a task, celebrate your success and reward yourself for all of your hard work!

By setting specific and measurable goals before beginning your essay, you can break down large tasks into achievable chunks and remain motivated and organized throughout the entire writing process. Doing this will also help you understand what is expected of you and give yourself a timeline that works with your lifestyle. And don’t forget to reward yourself for all of your hard work – it will give you even more motivation to finish strong!

Break it into Pieces

Nobody likes to be overwhelmed. When you’re looking at a large project like writing an essay , it can often feel so daunting that you may not even know where to start. The best way to tackle a large task is to break it down into manageable chunks. Think about the specific tasks you need to complete in order to finish the essay – research, writing, and editing. Rather than trying to work on all parts of the essay at once, focus on one task at a time. Setting goals that are achievable and achievable manageable can help make the job feel less overwhelming.

Taking frequent breaks can also increase productivity. Working on an essay for several hours straight can be quite draining and will ultimately leave you feeling unmotivated. Stop working after each session to take a few minutes to relax and clear your mind before returning to the project. This will help you stay focused and energized as you work through your essay.

Finally, celebrate your achievements! Rewarding yourself for completing small milestones along the way can go a long way in terms of keeping you motivated. Whether it’s taking a break for a snack or treating yourself to a movie once you’ve finished a section, staying positive and recognizing your progress can encourage you to keep going.

Prioritize Tasks

When it comes to writing an essay, one of the most important things you can do is prioritize your tasks. This means dividing up the different tasks that need to be completed into sections and allocating specific days to them.

For example, you could have a “research” day in which you gather all the information you need, a “writing” day in which you draft the main body of the essay, and an “editing” day in which you go through it and make any necessary changes or corrections. By having separate days dedicated to each task, it will help you stay focused and organized throughout the process.

You can also break down the essay writing process into smaller chunks, like researching for one hour, then writing for one hour and so on. Making the job seem less daunting by breaking up the large task into smaller ones will help motivate you to finish it.

It is also important to give yourself breaks in between to refocus and recharge, as this can also help boost productivity. Taking short breaks every hour or two to get some fresh air and stretch your legs can help refresh your mind and help you stay motivated throughout the writing process.

Rewarding Yourself

Writing an essay can be a daunting task, especially when you’re not feeling motivated. But one way to increase your motivation levels is by rewarding yourself for completing small milestones. Rewarding yourself can give you that extra push you need to keep going and reach your end goal.

Breaking your essay down into smaller tasks can help you to set achievable goals that you can reward yourself for completing. For example, if you have an essay due in a week, you could break it down into each day of the week with a task, such as researching and outlining on Monday, writing on Tuesday, revising and editing on Wednesday, etc. Each time you complete a task, you can reward yourself with a treat, like a snack, a few minutes of online gaming, or a quick walk outside.

Rewarding yourself can also help to boost your confidence, reminding you of your accomplishments and how far you’ve come. This can help to build self-esteem and a sense of control over your work, which can be beneficial when trying to stay motivated.

It’s important to find a system that works for you. While some may prefer treats as rewards, others may prefer more tangible outcomes like a break from work, finishing a chapter in a book, or a night out with friends. The important thing is that you set rewards for yourself that are exciting and motivating, and that you stick to them!

Rewarding yourself for completing small milestones can have a significant impact on your overall motivation levels. Taking the time to set achievable goals and rewards can help to make the process of writing an essay less intimidating, and more rewarding. So, be sure to find a system that works for you, and get writing!

Taking Breaks

When working for long periods of time on essays, it’s important to remember to take a break every now and again. Taking breaks can help you stay refreshed and energized, resulting in higher levels of productivity when writing. There are a few different methods of taking breaks that can be helpful.

Get Up and Move

One of the best ways to make sure you stay energized while writing is to get up and move around. Take a short walk, or do some stretching or yoga poses. This helps to get the blood flowing, which in turn will leave you feeling more energized when you sit back down to work.

Do Something Unrelated

When you take a break, don’t spend it on your phone or laptop; instead, try to do something completely unrelated to work. Whether it’s reading a book, listening to music, or spending time with friends, be sure to step away from your essay so that you can refresh your mind.

Set a Time Limit

When you are taking a break, make sure to set a timer for yourself. That way, you won’t get distracted for too long and end up falling behind in your work. A break should be a chance to reset and re-energize, but should also be brief enough that you can get back to work without feeling burned out.

Reward Yourself

Finally, it can be helpful to reward yourself during breaks. After finishing a task or reaching a milestone, give yourself a small reward such as a snack or a quick game. This will help keep you motivated throughout the writing process.

Taking breaks is an important part of staying energized and productive while writing essays. Make sure to follow these tips while working, and remember to stay focused and have fun!

Creating an Optimal Working Environment to Stay Motivated Writing Essays

Creating a productive workspace is essential when trying to stay motivated while writing an essay. A clean and organized workspace can help to minimize distractions and make it easier to stay focused and on track. Here are some simple tips for creating an optimal working environment that will help you stay motivated:

• Choose a comfortable spot: Find a comfortable spot in your home or office to work that is quiet, distraction-free, and away from any potential interruptions. Make sure the temperature and lighting are comfortable.
• Clear your desk of clutter: Ensure that your desk or workspace is free from distractions such as papers, books, and other items. An uncluttered desk can lead to an uncluttered mind.
• Create a comfortable atmosphere: Take the time to make your workspace as inviting and comfortable as possible. Ideally, it should be clean, quiet and have minimal distractions.
• Make sure you have all of the supplies you need: Make sure that you have all the necessary supplies within reach such as paper, pens, highlighters, etc., so that you don’t have to search for them when you need them.
• Plan your snacks and meals: Have healthy snacks and meals planned out for when you take breaks. Having healthy food available will ensure that you don’t get distracted by hunger or unhealthy cravings.
• Designate a specific start and end time: Setting up a schedule or timeline for when you start and finish your essay will help you stay accountable and committed to the task.

By creating a productive workspace and following these simple tips, you will be better equipped to stay motivated and focused on the task of writing an essay. Doing so will help you to achieve success and make the process more enjoyable.

Putting It Away: Avoiding Procrastination & Overwhelm

Finishing a complex essay task can be overwhelming. After all, it’s one large assignment and it’s important to get it done right. That’s why it’s so important to keep unfinished essays away from yourself. By doing this, you are eliminating the feelings of procrastination and overwhelm.

An effective way to keep unfinished essays away is to store them in a safe place. Put the essay in a drawer or on a shelf and make sure it’s out of sight. A great tip is to store the files in a cloud service such as Google Drive or Dropbox so you can access it online anytime you need to.

By putting your essay away, you are allowing yourself the opportunity to take breaks from it and come back to it later with a clear mind. This helps you to be more productive in getting it done. It also helps you to take a step back and look at the essay objectively, which can be useful for revising and editing.

It is important to remember that taking breaks from an essay does not equal procrastination. In fact, it can help you to better focus on the task when you come back to it again. Breaks give you the chance to recharge and refocus on the task at hand.

If you find yourself stuck and struggling to finish an essay, try putting it away. Taking this necessary step will help you to stay focused and motivated while writing the essay. This is a great strategy to avoid procrastination and overwhelm.

Decreasing Distractions

We all know how easy it is to become sidetracked and distracted when we’re trying to write an essay. It can be hard to stay focused and motivated in order to get the job done. But there are some simple strategies you can use to help you fight off distractions, such as social media or electronics.

Here are a few tips to help decrease distractions:

• Set a Timer: Watch the clock and limit the amount of time you spend on non-essay related tasks. Set a timer and use that as a motivation to stay on track.
• Turn Off Notifications: Turn off any phone notifications or pop-up notifications that may be distracting. This will help you stay focused and on task.
• Find a Quiet Space: Find a spot for yourself where you can work in peace. Make sure it’s away from the TV or people who could be distracting.
• Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay alert and energized.
• Break it up: Take little breaks every once in a while to give your mind and body a rest.

You can also try implementing positive self-talk into your writing process. Tell yourself that you can do it and you will do it! By doing this, you can refocus your energy and stay motivated.

Above all, it is important to remember that distractions are inevitable. The key is to recognize when they are happening and take the necessary steps in order to get back on track. With the right strategies in place, you can increase your productivity and finish your essay on time!

Writing an essay can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be! One great tip to help motivate yourself and stay on track when writing an essay is to work with a group. Working with others on a project can bring lots of energy and positivity to the process.

By working together with your peers, you can combine different strengths and skills to create an amazing essay. For example, if one person is a great writer and the other is a natural proofreader, you can combine your talents to create an essay that is well-written and error-free.

Another benefit of working with a group is that it can help break down the project into smaller tasks. This can make the essay seem less daunting and can give each person an opportunity to contribute in their own way. You can also use the time collectively to check in with each other and encourage one another.

Finally, working with a group can help take some of the pressure off of having to do it all yourself. Knowing that you have friends and peers working with you on the project can help you stay motivated and enthusiastic about completing the essay.

So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed with an essay assignment, don’t hesitate to enlist some friends and form a group. It might just be the perfect thing to help get the job done.

Creating an Accountability System

Writing an essay can seem like a daunting task and it is important to stay motivated in order to complete it. One way to help you remain focused and on track is by creating an accountability system. This means setting goals and milestones that you will commit to in order to make sure you are staying on track.

The first step in establishing an accountability system is to decide what your goals are. For example, do you want to finish your research by a certain date? Do you have a target for when you would like your essay to be completed? Once you have set these targets, you can create a timeline of milestones that will help you stay accountable.

It is also important to identify an accountability partner who can help you stay on track. This could be someone you can talk to about the progress you are making or even just a friend who you can share your progress with. Having someone to report to can help keep you motivated and on track.

Finally, it is important to set up rewards for yourself when you reach certain milestones. This could be something as simple as taking a break or treating yourself to a snack. This will help to reinforce the notion that you are doing a good job and will help to keep you motivated.

Creating an accountability system is an important part of staying motivated while writing an essay . It is important to set clear goals and milestones, to find an accountability partner, and to reward yourself for reaching those goals. This will help you stay on track and ensure that your essay is completed on time!

Conclusion: Summarizing the Benefits of Staying Motivated to Write an Essay

Writing an essay can be a difficult and overwhelming process. With proper motivation, it can be much easier to stay on track, focused, and ultimately, successful. It is important to set achievable goals, break tasks down into smaller pieces, reward yourself for completing the tasks, take frequent breaks, create an orderly workspace, put away unfinished work, and avoid distractions. Working with others or having an accountability system can also help to ensure success.

Motivation is key when it comes to writing an essay. By setting precise goals, working in manageable chunks, rewarding oneself, and creating a work environment that allows for productivity, one can stay motivated throughout the process and reach their desired results.

• Develop achievable goals.
• Break writing down into smaller tasks.
• Reward yourself for completing each task.
• Take frequent breaks.
• Create an orderly workspace.
• Put away unfinished work.
• Avoid distractions.
• Work with others or have an accountability system.

By applying the strategies outlined in this guide, you will be able to remain motivated while writing an essay and complete your task successfully.

Nick Radlinsky

Nick Radlinsky is a devoted educator, marketing specialist, and management expert with more than 15 years of experience in the education sector. After obtaining his business degree in 2016, Nick embarked on a quest to achieve his PhD, driven by his commitment to enhancing education for students worldwide. His vast experience, starting in 2008, has established him as a reputable authority in the field.

Nick's article, featured in Routledge's " Entrepreneurship in Central and Eastern Europe: Development through Internationalization ," highlights his sharp insights and unwavering dedication to advancing the educational landscape. Inspired by his personal motto, "Make education better," Nick's mission is to streamline students' lives and foster efficient learning. His inventive ideas and leadership have contributed to the transformation of numerous educational experiences, distinguishing him as a true innovator in his field.

What to Do if You Don’t Pass Your IB IA and How to Succeed Next Time

Overcoming the challenges of failing an IB Internal Assessment can be daunting, but it’s not the end of your academic path. This article provides a comprehensive guide on the immediate actions to take if you don’t pass your IA, including analyzing feedback and consulting with your teachers. We’ll discuss opportunities for resubmission, the strategies for improving your work, and long-term tactics to prevent similar setbacks.

IB Referencing in Writing | Citations Guide for Students

This comprehensive guide provides you with the tools and knowledge you need to cite sources accurately, thereby enhancing the credibility and integrity of your academic work. From understanding different citation styles to implementing them effectively in your essays, this article serves as your go-to manual for all things referencing.

When to Submit Extended Essay? IB EE Deadlines

Managing the deadlines for your IB extended essay can seem daunting, but with the right guidance, it’s completely manageable. This article breaks down the critical deadlines you need to know in order to successfully plan and execute your extended essay.

When to Submit TOK Essay? Deadlines

Understanding when to submit your TOK essay is crucial for success, as meeting these deadlines ensures you have ample time for revisions and reduces last-minute stress. This article offers a comprehensive guide on TOK essay deadlines, providing key insights from a seasoned IB writer.

What Are the IB IA Deadlines?

In this comprehensive guide, we discuss the essential dates and strategies for managing your submissions effectively. Understanding these deadlines is vital when preparing for the May or November exam sessions. From planning early and using digital tools to track your progress to communicating with teachers and handling unforeseen challenges, this article provides you with all the insights and tips you need to master the timing of your IAs.

2024 November TOK Essay Prompts | How to Write Them?

In this comprehensive guide, an experienced IB writer shares essential insights and strategies specifically tailored to mastering TOK essay prompts. From analyzing the nuances of knowledge acquisition in different areas of knowledge to considering the dynamic interplay between artistic creativity and scientific methodology, this article offers a deep immersion into each prompt.

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Tips for Writing Your Motivational Statement and Essays

While it’s one of our favorite parts of the application reading experience, we know that writing essay components can be anxiety-inducing for applicants. As you start or continue your application , we hope you find this guidance on the motivational statement and essays helpful.

Motivational Statement

All students applying to the Master of Public Policy (MPP) , MA in Public Policy (MA) , MS in Computational Analysis and Public Policy (MSCAPP) , and MA in Public Policy with Certificate in Research Methods (MACRM) programs are required to submit a 300-word motivational statement answering the questions: Why policy? Why Harris? (Or a version of these questions more specific to your program).

Some suggestions as you are thinking about your answers to these questions:

Answer the prompt. Don’t worry about using precious space to introduce yourself—jump right into answering the question. 

Write first, edit later. Get your ideas onto the page—whether that means bullet points, idea webs, or a journal entry. Don’t worry about crafting the perfect opener, meeting the word count, or checking grammar when you are first getting started.  

Reflect. Think about the professional, personal, or academic experience that has inspired you. 

Be specific. When answering Why Harris? , be specific to the University of Chicago and Harris. Analyze why certain programs, centers, classes, or professors made you want to apply here. 

Optional Essay Questions

Although the Motivation Statement is required, the essay questions are optional. For all optional essay questions, we aren’t just interested in the “right answer,” but how you are thinking about and approaching these complex questions.

Students applying to the Master of Public Policy (MPP) program may pick any of the three questions below. Completing question three will allow you to be considered for Pearson fellowships open only to MPP students.

Students applying to the MA in Public Policy (MA) , MS in Computational Analysis and Public Policy (MSCAPP) , and MA in Public Policy with Certificate in Research Methods (MACRM) programs may choose to complete optional essays 1 and

Option 1: Challenge—Describe briefly the biggest challenge you have ever faced. How did you tackle it and what did you learn? (max 300 words)

Tip: In essay one, you may write about a personal, professional, or academic challenge when answering this question. Perhaps more than the challenge itself, we are interested in how you tackled the challenge, and what you learned in the process.

Option 2: Community—Where do you see yourself getting involved in the community during your time at Harris—either at the University of Chicago or in the city of Chicago? (max 300 words)

Tip: If you are answering essay two, please make sure to speak specifically to Harris or UChicago.

Option 3: Pearson—If you would like to be considered for  The Pearson Fellowship , please answer the following: In reflecting on the complexities of past and present protracted global conflicts, please analyze what singular global conflict most puzzles you personally, and discuss why.

Tip: Please note that “global conflict” can refer to a range of conflicts (i.e. inter/intra state; those involving non-state actors, etc.) and a range of issues associated (i.e. refugee crises, religious conflict, gang violence, drug wars, domestic violence, etc.). Remember to consider: Is the conflict actually puzzling? For example, does it involve actors acting against their own best interest, or operating irrationally?​ And finally, for the purposes of this essay, you will not need to cite sources.

We hope you find these tips helpful as you move your application forward.

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Tips for crafting a compelling and authentic personal essay.

Writing an essay about yourself can be a daunting task, but when done right, it can be a powerful tool to showcase who you are and what makes you unique. Whether you’re applying for college, a scholarship, or a job, a well-crafted essay can help you stand out from the crowd and leave a lasting impression on the reader.

When writing a personal essay, it’s important to strike a balance between being informative and engaging. You want to provide the reader with insight into your background, experiences, and goals, while also keeping them interested and invested in your story. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of writing a compelling essay about yourself, from brainstorming ideas to polishing your final draft.

Essential Tips for Crafting

When crafting a compelling essay about yourself, it is important to think about your audience and what message you want to convey. Here are some essential tips to help you create an engaging and authentic essay:

A Powerful Personal Essay

Writing a powerful personal essay is a way to express your unique voice and share your personal experiences with the world. By weaving together your thoughts, emotions, and reflections, you can create a compelling narrative that resonates with your audience. To craft a powerful personal essay, start by reflecting on your own experiences and exploring the themes that matter to you. Pay attention to the details and emotions that make your story come alive. Be honest and vulnerable in your writing, as authenticity is key to connecting with your readers. Additionally, consider the structure of your essay and how you can effectively organize your thoughts to engage your audience from beginning to end. By following these tips and staying true to your voice, you can create a powerful personal essay that leaves a lasting impact on your readers.

Choose a Unique Aspect

When writing an essay about yourself, it’s important to focus on a unique aspect of your personality or experiences that sets you apart from others. This could be a specific skill, talent, or life experience that has had a significant impact on your life. By choosing a unique aspect to highlight, you can make your essay more compelling and memorable to the reader. It’s important to showcase what makes you different and showcase your individuality in a way that will capture the reader’s attention.

of Your Personality

When writing about your personality, it’s important to showcase your unique traits and qualities. Describe what sets you apart from others, whether it’s your creativity, resilience, sense of humor, or compassion. Use specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate these characteristics and provide insight into who you are as a person.

Highlight your strengths and acknowledge your weaknesses – this shows self-awareness and honesty. Discuss how your personality has evolved over time and mention any experiences that have had a significant impact on shaping who you are today. Remember to be authentic and genuine in your portrayal of yourself as this will make your essay more compelling and engaging to the reader.

Reflect Deeply on

When writing an essay about yourself, it is crucial to take the time to reflect deeply on your life experiences, values, beliefs, and goals. Consider the events that have shaped you into the person you are today, both positive and negative. Think about your strengths and weaknesses, your passions and interests, and how they have influenced your decisions and actions. Reflecting on your personal journey will help you uncover meaningful insights that can make your essay more compelling and authentic.

Your Life Experiences

When it comes to writing an essay about yourself, one of the most compelling aspects to focus on is your life experiences. These experiences shape who you are and provide unique insights into your character. Reflect on significant moments, challenges you’ve overcome, or memorable events that have had a lasting impact on your life.

• Consider discussing pivotal moments that have influenced your beliefs and values.
• Share personal anecdotes that highlight your strengths and resilience.
• Explore how your life experiences have shaped your goals, aspirations, and ambitions.

By sharing your life experiences in your essay, you can showcase your individuality and demonstrate what sets you apart from others. Be genuine, reflective, and honest in recounting the events that have shaped your journey and contributed to the person you are today.

Create a Compelling

When crafting an essay about yourself, it is essential to create a compelling narrative that captures the attention of the reader from the very beginning. Start by brainstorming unique and engaging personal experiences or qualities that you want to highlight in your essay. Consider including vivid anecdotes, insightful reflections, and impactful moments that showcase your character and achievements. Remember to be authentic and sincere in your writing, as this will resonate with your audience and make your essay more relatable. By creating a compelling narrative, you can effectively communicate your story and leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Narrative Structure

The narrative structure is crucial when writing an essay about yourself. It helps to create a compelling and engaging story that showcases your unique qualities and experiences. Start by introducing the main theme or message you want to convey in your essay. Then, build a coherent storyline that highlights significant events or moments in your life. Use descriptive language and vivid details to bring your story to life and make it more relatable to the readers. Include a clear beginning, middle, and end to ensure that your essay follows a logical progression and captivates the audience throughout.

Emphasize the lessons you’ve learned from your experiences and how they have shaped your character and outlook on life. Connect these insights to your personal growth and development, demonstrating your resilience, determination, and self-awareness. End your essay on a reflective note, highlighting the impact of your journey on who you are today and what you aspire to achieve in the future. By following a strong narrative structure, you can craft a captivating essay that showcases your authenticity and leaves a lasting impression on the readers.

Highlight Your

When writing an essay about yourself, it is essential to highlight your unique qualities and experiences that set you apart from others. Consider including personal anecdotes, achievements, strengths, and challenges that have shaped your identity. Focus on showcasing your authenticity and individuality to make your essay compelling and engaging.

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6 Unique Tips for Writing a Brilliant Motivational Essay

Fortunately, in the contemporary world we live in, we can pursue have numerous education paths.

However, choosing college and career path is only half the battle.

The hard part is gaining admissions into the school of your dreams. Make no mistake: this is not an easy task. Most schools require not only outstanding grades, but also a thorough motivational essay explaining your motives for pursuing your chosen major at their institution.

This is the opportunity to stand out and show your character and ability to turn your education into a successful venture.

In the following article, we will give you some writing tips and practical advice on how to write a superb essay for college admissions and earn that acceptance letter.

1. Do your research

One of the most common mistakes people make when writing a motivational essay is creating a template piece for every college they apply to. This is a huge no-no, and here’s why: each academic establishment has its own agenda and preferences.

Some appreciate social initiatives and volunteering experience, some look for passion and determination to succeed, while others pay more attention to grades and test scores.

Try to research your chosen school as much as possible and write a unique essay accordingly. Sometimes colleges provide specific questions they want to see answered in your essay, so be sure to read the instructions carefully. Edit your work so the readers will feel the school’s spirit in your essay. It’s a good start to help your application stand out from the crowd.

2. Be personal

This part may surprise you: you don’t need to be an excellent writer. Sites like EduBirdie might save you some time, but they skip over the real reasons colleges want a motivational letter. Colleges want to get to know you — the person behind the application forms, documents, and numbers.

They want to see what your aspirations are, what you like to do, why you decided to pursue this particular path, and what you consider your strengths to be.

A generic, standard letter with no personality simply won’t. Don’t just repeat your application verbatim — embrace your life and interests and show off the real you! Try to present yourself in an informal way; don’t worry about formalities.

Let the university staff get to see your unique character and way of thinking; perhaps you can include a relevant joke or an anecdote from your life that is connected with your choice of profession, etc.

A strong personal approach goes a very long way here — trust us.

3. Drafts are important

First impressions matters. In the case of college applications, your first impression is in your motivational essay . Of course, you want to give a good first impression. Proper grammar, sentence structure, and punctuation are the key. This is why editing and revising your text is crucial.

Play around with word choice, ensure the paragraphs are clear and concise, and pay close attention to sentence structure. You can even use an Online Word Counter Tool to help you size up your draft properly.

Online programs like Grammarly are great for checking spelling and other possible issues in your writing. If the admission committee reads an essay with a clear sense of purpose, excellent grammar, and determination, they will see the applicant as a good fit because they understand the applicant’s goals and abilities. Don’t underestimate the power of proper styling and grammar.

4. Survey your essay

This may seem like an odd tip, but it can help with your essay quite a lot. If you’re unsure about the motivational essay you’ve written, or maybe you’re looking for ways to make it more memorable, try creating an online survey. You can put it out to the masses on social media, or even ask a few close friends to take a read and give you their thoughts.

Ask their opinion on your writing: what points are the strongest, what areas did you struggle, and how could you improve. This will provide you with real feedback to identify any issues you may have overlooked.

5. Get to the point

It may seem alluring to include every seemingly-relevant detail in your motivational essay. However, this can make the whole piece come across as vague and all over the place. Pick a couple of routes to follow, assess your best qualities, and decide what areas of your life and background you wish to include.

Don’t try to cram in every idea that crosses your mind; this will only clutter your essay! One good suggestion is to ask your friends and family to list your best characteristics, skills, and talents, then pick a few of most common to include in your essay.

6.Professional goals matter

While showing personality in your essay is essential, don’t forget to talk about your professional goals. Clearly state your motivation for choosing this career path and why you’re most suited for it. Explain why you are the best candidate for the program. Don’t overdo it by showing off or praising yourself too much.

Instead, talk about what personality traits will help you success, and where you plan on going with the degree you earn.

Remember, balance is the key to a good motivational essay; putting less information than needed is just as bad as putting too much. Getting too personal and informal will harm your application,but so will being too bland and official.

The secret is to maintain balance, and include only the points that matter. The most important advice is be yourself and be inspired.

For more great college tips, check out the other blogs on College Basics.

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• 9 Tips for Writing a Brilliant Motivational Essay

Whether you are a high school student caught in the crossroads of your educational journey or an undergraduate debating on a graduate degree, several steps must be taken, from choosing a college or master’s program to applying for your dream job.

On the other hand, choosing is the easy part; getting into the college of your choice is a different story. Most colleges and universities require students to have excellent grades and write a motivational essay describing why they want to pursue his\her desired major at their university.

Writing college motivational essays is a required part of any educational institution’s application process. Then again, some employers require job applicants to submit inspirational articles along with their resumes.

A motivational statement allows you to show off a little more of your personality and explain why you are qualified for the university course or job position in question. This is an opportunity to stand out and demonstrate your integrity and your ability to turn your knowledge into a successful career.

This article will teach you how to write a motivational essay that will help you get into your dream university or land your dream job.

Table of Contents

9 Tips to Write a Motivational Letter

There are a few things to keep in mind when writing inspirational statements to help you write a good paper. Many students struggle to find the motivation to write an article or are simply stumped when asked “What motivates you in life?”. Motivational papers are not as complicated as you may believe. To write a perfect inspiration paper, use the following tips:

1. Research the Institution to which you are applying

It is not in your best interest to simply copy and paste motivational essay examples or templates from the internet. The first step is to learn how merit-based admissions work at your preferred college. If you already have outstanding grades, you have to figure out what other aspects of your life could boost those grades.

Many universities, for example, seek students who have good grades, participate in extracurricular activities, have some volunteer experience, and are involved in social initiatives in school and their community.

Researching your preferred university will assist you in writing a tailored inspirational essay that will showcase all of your personality and goals. It’ll also broadcast how your social and volunteer work will continue to be a factor when you get into the university. Knowing about the university and including that information in your inspirational paper will be a breath of fresh air for the reader. It will give them the impression that you are confident in your decision.

Be sure to sprinkle some positivity and determination in your motivational statement.

2.  Be Creative

I know this may seem obvious to most people but it is still critical. The first two or three sentences of your motivational letter are crucial to the reader. Remember that the person reading your inspirational statement has most likely read thousands of others before it. Keeping the reader’s attention early on will thus benefit you.

Assume your college motivation letter isn’t exciting and doesn’t hook the reader from the first sentence. The reader is likely to close the letter and decline your application at that point.

You want the first paragraph of your motivation essay to keep them guessing and interested in reading until the end. You can include a mysterious story about your motivations and leave the culmination until the end.

3. Get Personal in your Motivational Essay

Make your motivation letter specific to the employer or university to which you are applying. Your letter should reflect your distinct style and personality. Your employers or university are interested in getting to know you better and no one knows you better than yourself. So, don’t just look up some motivational essay examples and use them as your own. The inspiration article should include the things that make you tick, your passions, and more!

Many students prefer to entrust the writing of motivational letters to a professional writing service. However, I can assure you that this is a bad option because you should write the motivation essay yourself.

4. Adopt a Straightforward and Succinct Tone

The objective of a letter of motivation, as the name implies, is to demonstrate your motivation for attending college to the school board or the reasons why you deserve a job to an HR manager who will read it. Avoid using long phrases and, instead, get right to the point. Explain in simple terms what you’re looking for and what you have to offer. Concentrate on what is vital; the rest will be addressed later.

5. Clearly Explain your Motivation

Make it a point to convince the school board or recruiter that this is the right college or job for you. Hit the nail on the head as many times as possible. Demonstrate that this is, without a doubt, the best place for you. Make use of all of your persuasion skills.

If you’re a student who can’t seem to motivate yourself to write the letter, think of it more as your motivation for earning a degree paper. This way of thinking will make you come up with points that are straightforward for your motivational letter.

If you’re writing an inspirational paper to apply for a job position, make sure it includes all of the qualities listed in the job description. Explain how each of the qualities relates to you.

6. Share your Professional Goals

In your inspirational essay, don’t be afraid to put yourself in the future. Outline your career goals and how the university or job offer is a step in the right direction. Also, talk about what you’ve accomplished and what you’re proud of.

7. Find The Right Balance

Of course, you must present yourself in the best possible light and persuade the recruiter that you are the right person for the job but don’t be too smug. At the same time, don’t undervalue yourself or appear overly modest. Try to summarize your accomplishments but avoid bragging about them. Please keep it simple; don’t fill the entire page with your achievements; instead, choose the ones that are relevant to the university or job requirements.

8. Back up what you’re saying

Simply stating that you are organized or that you have a sense of responsibility is not enough. Avoid overused phrases and explain why you’re organized. In your inspirational letter, provide some examples. When writing your motivational paper, one approach is to write as if you were a narrator. Narrating allows you to see yourself through the eyes of another person, telling the story of your life and goals.

9. Ensure that your Essay is Grammatically Sound 

When it comes to writing motivational letters, grammar errors are a no-no. So, double-check and have someone else read your inspirational paper because they may spot grammatical errors that you’ve missed. Also, it would be best if you avoided abbreviations and technical jargon. Do not try to sound like you’re writing a school assignment; instead, use the most elegant yet straightforward language and tone to make your point.

Don’t make writing a motivational statement more difficult than it should be. Focus on the essential things and let the rest go. Keep in mind that the college or company is curious to learn more about you. So, stay relaxed and make use of the tips we have mentioned above and you will be on your way to a brilliant motivation letter.  For more information on college writing tips and essay writing services, check other articles on Essay Advisor .

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How do you motivate yourself?

<p>How do you guys make yourselves write? I’ve got an idea for an essay that I really need to write, but for some reason I can’t seem to get started (that’s the natural procrastinator in me). What do you do when you really need to write an essay?</p>

<p>I shut down everything except for Microsoft Word, then I pull out the mouse. That way I can’t click anything distracting, and if I need to get around on Word I can use keyboard shortcuts. </p>

<p>It’s extreme, but I’m REALLY easily distracted, haha.</p>

<p>Thanks. Yeah I think my issue is partly distractions but also just that I don’t really know how to start. It’s hard just staring at a blank screen, trying to think of something absolutely brilliant.</p>

<p>I, uh, sit down, put some music on, and engage in diarrhea of the written word until I get into an actual serious writing mindset? Depending on the situation it can take anywhere from a few words to sentences to paragraphs before I get into the swing of things.</p>

<p>Though honestly it doesn’t take much to get me writing once I have ideas- sitting down and actually doing it comes fairly easily, despite my streak of procrastination as well.</p>

<p>Personally, for these personal statements, I’ve always had a hard time motivating myself to write during the day… Since I usually tell myself that I can do other homework that I have during the break. With that being said, I’m usually able to crank everything out during the night… I don’t know how I do it, but it works. Saturday night and last night, I didn’t sleep until 3 AM… But hey, I finished an essay. I’m sure that doesn’t work for everyone, but I thought I would just tell you what worked for me, haha.</p>

<p>@Quomodo: Take out a piece of paper, and just write down whatever pops into mind. I find that using different colors to color-code certain words help me organize my thoughts.</p>

Essays About Motivation Leads to Success: Top 5 Examples

If you’re writing an essays about motivation leads to success ; you will be inspired by our guide’s essay examples and prompts. 

Motivation is the ultimate key to success. The journey toward any goal is always fraught with hardships that tempt you to quit. But with the right motivation , you can keep sight of your goals and make it to your finish line. The search to find the source of people’s motivation and how to sustain its momentum has been a favorite subject among psychologists and management experts. This interest has engendered several motivation theories applied across society, whether at home, school, or work.

Read on for great essays and prompts on motivation leading to success, and find yourself filled with the motivation to get your essay done.

5 Top Essay Examples

1. the power of positive self-talk by teri karjala, 2. the goldilocks rule: how to stay motivated in life and business by james clear, 3. caffeine, exercise and the brain: how ‘doping’ with psychoactive drugs can boost motivation by ian mcmahan, 4. how to motivate your problem people by nigel nicholson, 5. how to overcome self-doubt and a lack of motivation by leo babauta, 9 helpful writing prompts on essays about motivation leads to success, 1. what motivates you, 2. rewards as tools for motivation, 3. how to develop self-motivation, 4. maslow’s hierarchy of needs, 5. motivating children to succeed, 6. using motivation to succeed in fitness, 7. creating a motivationing atmosphere at home, 8. rejection as a powerful driver for motivation, 9. motivating team members.

“Powerful and positive self-talk can change your entire mindset, which can affect your actions. That, in turn, can have a massive impact on how successful you are on any journey you take or any obstacle you face.”

Practicing positive self-talk can help turn self-doubt into concrete positive actions toward your goals. There are several ways to establish a habit of positive self-talk that will fuel our motivation . Such habits include steps as simple as changing how we address ourselves and physical activities, such as exercising and volunteering for social activities. 

“It is hard to imagine a situation that would strike fear into the hearts of more people than performing alone on stage and failing to get a single laugh. And yet Steve Martin faced this fear every week for eighteen years.”

The essay chronicles the success of American comedian Steve Martin, offering an excellent example of someone who has applied the so-called Goldilock’s Rule. Goldilock’s Rule states that people’s motivation is at its peak when they face manageable challenges. Psychologists also add that immediately receiving positive feedback will also motivate people to work their way to success with more determination than ever.

“When motivation is low and perceived effort high, the couch wins. So if a cup of tea or coffee can get you out and exercising, Marcora’s research suggests it’s worth a try.”

This article describes how your fitness and body toning goals would have been easier by keeping motivated. It also describes the quick fix that could eradicate psychological barriers to exercise: the mildly stimulating “drug” called caffeine.

Looking for more? Check out these essays about personal growth .

“Everyone knows that good managers motivate with the power of their vision, the passion of their delivery, and the compelling logic of their reasoning. Add in the proper incentives, and people will enthusiastically march off in the right direction.”

By coaxing problem employees to do better, managers are not only demotivating them further but are stoking the fire in an already dysfunctional relationship. This is the last thing managers would like to do if they still want to unlock employees’ intrinsic motivation and channel it toward the company’s goals. Before seeing problem employees as the main cause of the problem, managers must look inward and be more flexible in setting goals.

“It can be hard to get moving when you are stuck. This is how I felt in 2005 when I couldn’t change any of my habits. It was really hard to motivate myself when I didn’t think I would succeed, when I felt horrible about myself. But I took one small step, and it felt good.”

We all have that day when a lack of motivation strikes us. This article reassures us that experiencing sluggishness and self-doubt is okay. But instead of wallowing in self-pity, we can still make that bad day count by taking a small step and changing our perception of ourselves and the world around us.

What motivates you to wake up early to get to school, do your homework, or study intently for an exam? In this essay , write about the factors that figure in your motivation equation. Next, enumerate your techniques or attempts to build motivation for your goals. How do you deal with a low motivation level on a bad day? Do you take some rest or force your effort? Finally, share with your readers how much you have progressed in building motivation and what more you want to achieve.

Several studies have uncovered the enormous benefits of rewards in motivating people. First, delve into these studies and discover the scientific explanation behind the effects of rewards on people’s motivation and success. Then, write about the kinds of rewards that have proven effective. Finally, write about rewards you have received that fuelled you to improve yourself and your outlook to add a personal touch.

Self- motivation is a strong sense of motivation that comes from within a person rather than from external factors. This essay focuses on activities and habits that can empower your readers to be self-motivated. For example, it is proven that a deep and daily reflection of goals keeps one focused on following a routine built for that goal, regardless of the difficulties.

Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory is the most popular motivation theory. So, elaborate Maslow’s theory, which proposes that a person has to fulfill five basic needs to keep motivated — physiological, safety, social, esteem, and self-actualization. Also discuss the motivation theories derived from Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, such as Alderfer’s ERG Theory, Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory, and McLelland’s Acquired Needs Theory, among others. Explore how they relate with each other or even pick out which improvised theory best captures and works with your situation at school or work.

Adults at home and school have a big role in instilling in children the importance of motivation as the key to success. For this essay , share the motivational methods your parents and teachers employ to help you keep motivated. Then, assess how these methods effectively or ineffectively build your inner sense of motivation . 

Many of us might have added fitness goals into our New Year’s resolution. And most might have deferred it or abandoned it altogether. Provide your readers with tips on how they can conquer laziness and hit the gym. Of course, the most challenging part is staying motivated in this routine . So compile tried and tested techniques from wellness and fitness experts, and encourage your readers to chronicle their fitness journey so they can appreciate their progress over time. 

This may be a challenge for parents who are working from home. Once parents feel the weight of the responsibilities at home, their motivation for work tends to slip away. So, provide recommendations on how working parents can set healthy boundaries between housework and professional work to deliver on their priority tasks. 

Now, if you want your essay to cater to students, you could also write your experience in distance learning – if any – during the pandemic. Talk about your challenges, strategies for overcoming them, and recommendations to enhance students’ motivation in distance learning. 

Several success stories are made possible because of rejection. For your essay , learn how popular figures embraced rejection. How did they harness it to generate the energy they need to reach their dreams? Finally, offer your readers, particularly those who may be experiencing rejection, some encouraging words to help them get through such trying times. 

How do you deal with uncooperative team members? Unfortunately, some team leaders just allow such instances to pass. But for leaders determined to uplift their team members’ motivation , what can they do? For your essay , offer proven practical approaches to help members align with team goals. Use case studies from the experiences of long-time leaders and managers.

For more writing tips, learn about persuasive writing . Also, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers to ensure your piece is error-free.