Summary

The author emphasizes the importance of maintaining a consistent writing habit, even on days when motivation is low and the work produced may not meet one's usual standards.

Abstract

The article titled "If You Don’t Write Today ALL Will Be Lost!" discusses the author's recent struggle with motivation and the challenge of staying consistent with writing. Despite having work curated for the first time in months, the author experienced a decline in productivity. It took 77 days to regain focus and rebuild good writing habits. The author shares an internal battle where the temptation to procrastinate was strong, but ultimately chose to write, acknowledging that the outcome might not be exceptional. The piece serves as a testament to the value of persistence in creative endeavors, especially during times of isolation, and encourages others to continue their creative pursuits.

Opinions

The author believes that consistency in writing is crucial, even when the quality of work may suffer.
There is an acknowledgment that external validation, such as having work curated, does not always lead to increased motivation or productivity.
The author suggests that taking a break from writing, even after a period of consistent work, can lead to a significant decline in motivation and the erosion of good habits.
The internal struggle between taking a break and pushing through resistance is a common experience for writers.
The author's decision to write, regardless of the potential outcome, reflects a commitment to the craft and the understanding that momentum is key to overcoming creative blocks.
There is an appreciation for the reader's time and patience, with a nod to the shared challenge of maintaining creativity in the face of social distancing and self-isolation.

If You Don’t Write Today ALL Will Be Lost!

Staying consistent even if it means producing something below par.

Not. A. Chance! It’s only been four days and that inner voice that we all battle against is telling me to take a break.

Only recently have I found my motivation to get after it again.

From the end of January onwards, I’ve been lacking the drive to succeed and chase my writing goals.

Which is weird as around that time I had a few of my pieces curated, the first time in six months or more and it should have been the catalyst I needed to put my foot on the gas and ramp up those productivity levels, but it never happened.

Instead, I went in the other direction.

And it’s taken roughly 77-days to get me back on track and in the correct mindset again.

For the past few days, things have been going well.

I’ve been able to push through some mental barriers and force myself to sit down in front of the screen even when the temptation to put things off until tomorrow was strong.

Good habits are slowly being rebuilt.

But tonight, the devil on the shoulder revisited.

“You’ve done so well over the past few days; you deserve a night off.”

“Go on, just watch some YouTube videos in bed, check out some of your favourite journalists perhaps? See how they do things, call it research?”

And I was so close to giving in.

At first, I stayed strong. Sat down, opened the laptop and a fresh blank page.

But nothing happened.

I played around with a few headlines, even wrote four or five paragraphs on some, but again, nothing was happening.

I just couldn’t find my rhythm.

This played out for over an hour and I was on the verge of admitting defeat, shutting down the screen and coming up with some bullshit excuse that I would write two pieces tomorrow to make up for it when I decided;

“You know what, I’m just gonna f*cking write. It doesn’t have to be anything special; I don't expect anything to come of it but at least it will keep me consistent and keep the momentum going.”

And here we are.

If you’ve made it to this point then I’d like to thank you for persevering with my rambling.

During these times of social distancing, self-isolation and minimal physical interactions, it can be tough to keep your creative mindset firing on all cylinders, but all you can do is your best.

Stay safe and keep writing.

Thanks for reading.