How can you go on a journey if you don’t take a step?

I’m a goal-orientated person.  One way I saved for Europe was to imagine each item I picked up at the shops that I wanted to buy as a hot chocolate in Italy or a subway ride in Paris.  It made it easier to put off what I wanted now for the bigger picture.

Same goes for writing when I’m on holidays – if I write 500 words I get a chapter of a book, 1000 words and an episode of my favourite TV show.

Motivation for writing when I’m busy with work and life… well that’s a whole other story.  For me procrastination comes into play; the house hasn’t been cleaned in ages, the dishes need to be washed, boy those weeds are getting higher and the rent inspection is getting closer, etc.

If you’re like me, here’s a thought: while you are cleaning, washing, etc, think about your characters.  What would they do to procrastinate or how would they react to low motivation?  Would they go shopping?  Bench press another 100 kgs?  Practise their archery just one more time?  And what would happen if they kept doing that and didn’t go on that quest or enter that dark alley or really tell their billionaire boss what they really thought about them?  What would happen in their lives?  In the lives of those around them?  Would the hot boss remain a playboy and have an empty life?  Would the hero stay home and not meet the maiden in distress (and we know what happens to the maiden dangling off the cliff – no hero = no saving, hence certain death)?

Really think about the ramifications.  It’s not that you don’t have a story if your hero stays home, it is just a different one.

While you’re thinking about all the possibilities of a world where the heroine doesn’t realize she’s brave enough – write some of them down.  Write it now so you won’t forget.

Wait a minute… did you just write something?

Excuse me for a moment, while I go and take my own advice.