Need Motivation?

Here’s what worked for me.

As writers, we often find ourselves isolated from the rest of the world. Whether you’re spending your nights buried in your computer while your roommates host a rager on the other side of the door, or inhabiting a lonely cabin in the middle of the woods while you tap out the next Newbery award winner on your grandfather’s typewriter, we all experience those times when the writer’s life just doesn’t seem as satisfying as it used to be.

But if we fall into the trap of constantly reflecting on the things we’ve missed out on, the friends we haven’t seen in months, or the numerous pairs of eyeglasses we’ve gone through ever since taking up this labor of love, we’re left with a growing resentment for the unfinished book in front of us.

I don’t need to tell you what happens then. But I will anyway.

When the next party comes knocking, we think, What the heck! Why not? YOLO!

When the cabin starts to get dark and cramped, we consider selling and moving back to the city. No, forget selling—let’s just burn the place down already! (Sorry, Smokey.)

Soon, our strict writing regimen becomes a little more laissez faire. Weekends become excuses not to write. So do holidays, and birthdays, and isn’t it National Apple Turnover Day? Shouldn’t we be researching recipes instead of working on this novel? After all, the deadline’s still three months away. …

Then three turns into two, which turns into one. Our novel, which we once spoke of with such passion and affection, has now become the equivalent of passing that one person in the grocery store we just can’t stand talking to, and having to stand there listening to forty minutes of reality TV recaps while the guy in Aisle Five buys up the last of the brown sugar.

What happened?

The answer is simple. We lost motivation.

If this hasn’t happened to you yet, be warned. It’s coming. We’re all human, so we all go through similar highs and lows. Some mornings, we wake up with a skip in our step and a song in our heart. Others, we can barely summon the energy to get out of bed.

That’s life.

I wish I had enough money to buy every single one of you your own personal motivator. If I won the lottery tomorrow, I would invent an app that lets you design one by calling on your favorite inspiring attributes. Muscly ex-Navy Seal with a commanding voice and an affinity for pushups? You got it. Perky blonde with a high ponytail and ten years of first place victories at cheerleading camp? Coming right up.

Then, you could order them—for free—and expect a delivery within 7-10 business days.

But I’m not rich, and I’m pretty sure this little startup business would earn me a life sentence. So you’re going to have to settle for this:

Five Motivational Books that Will Change Your Life

(Disclaimer: If these books do not change your life, then I am in no way accountable for any loss of time or money these books cost you. But seriously, give them a try anyway. They worked for me.)

1. Eat Pray Love – Elizabeth Gilbert

Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir is a deeply personal retelling of the moment in her life when she discovered that she was in desperate need of reclaiming happiness, in whatever shape or form that took for her. So what does she do? Eat her weight in ice cream? Latch onto God as her reason for carrying on? Take up with a new lover?

The answer is all of the above. After entangling herself in a passionate love affair that only ends in disaster, Liz decides that what she needs is to get away. Not for a weekend or a month, but for one year of travel to three vastly different parts of the world: Italy, India, and Indonesia, where she will learn the fine arts of pleasure, spiritual devotion, and balance.

And, lucky us, we are invited to take part in this journey with her. I can’t tell you how enjoyable it is to follow Liz on her travels, living vicariously through her as she indulges in her fourth cup of gelato in one day. Even though Liz has just gone through the most painful experience of her life, a good portion of this book is laugh-out-loud funny, with the wry humor of someone who knows that things couldn’t get much worse. As Liz grows and transforms during her travels, she shares the beautiful truths she has learned with us, and we as readers find ourselves changing, too.

I have read this book more times than I can count. It got me through heartaches, breakups, and major losses. It provided a laugh on days when I really needed one. It also got me through long, sandy summers at the beach, practically spitting out my lemonade as I rocked back and forth on my towel, roaring with laughter.

So who should read this book? Anyone with a desire to travel, to laugh, to cry, to learn, to change, to grow, to heal, to eat, to pray, and to love.

Favorite Quote: “It’s still two human beings trying to get along, so it’s going to become complicated. And love is always complicated. But still humans must try to love each other, darling. We must get our hearts broken sometimes. This is a good sign, having a broken heart. It means we have tried for something.”

 

2. You Are a Badass – Jen Sincero

This book is the reason why I’m writing this sentence right now. Jen Sincero’s refreshing take on the self-help genre is a much-needed purchase for anyone seeking to change their life. And whether procrastination, self-doubt, or countless other obstacles are what’s keeping you from achieving your full potential, Jen isn’t afraid to call you out on it. Her tough love approach might seem jarring at first, but push through it. Because once you realize that she’s right, you’ll be on your way to making the magic happen.

I started listening to Jen’s audiobook with a restless hunger in my heart. I had been mulling over the idea of starting my own business (no, not the personal motivator app) for a while, but never actually believed that I could do it.

You Are a Badass changed all that. I went from thinking, Yeah, it would be nice to freelance for a living to actually acting on my desires. Making a website. Designing business cards. Cold-calling writer acquaintances to share the good news, and hopefully garner a few clients.

So if you’re a writer lacking the inspiration to keep going, put down the pen/laptop/iPad for a while and treat yourself to this book. Before you know it, you’ll have a finished manuscript, a full wallet, and a badass penname to go with your new badass self.

Favorite Quote: “Maybe, if you put your disbelief aside, roll up your sleeves, take some risks, and totally go for it, you’ll wake up one day and realize you’re living the kind of life you used to be jealous of.”

 

3. Girl, Wash Your Face – Rachel Hollis

If you’re looking for a self-help book that you can really relate to, this book’s the one for you. Rachel Hollis shares her struggles and embarrassing life moments without holding back. The entire time I was reading her book (or should I say, listening to her read the audiobook), I kept thinking, Wow! Someone else actually does that too? I’m not the only one? And when I wasn’t comparing myself to Rachel, I was marveling at how brave it is for a young, successful woman with thousands of followers to talk about her childhood obsession with marrying Matt Damon in one breath, and the painful way that she met her husband in another.

That level of honesty doesn’t come easily. But let me tell you—it works.

After all, who doesn’t want to read a book that begins, “I peed my pants last week.”

Rachel is an Internet sensation and media mogul, a mother of three (at times more, during her foster years), a wife, and, in her free time, the CEO of her own company. But beyond that, she’s also extremely sweet. By the time I finished her book, I felt like I had just made a new friend. And not the kind of friend who only calls when she needs something, either. Rachel is the kind of friend who answers the doorbell at 3 a.m. when you show up dripping wet after sulking in the rain for three hours of post-breakup misery, offers you a towel and a pair of her fuzzy slippers before putting on a cup of coffee and your favorite Hollywood tearjerker. Even though she’s watched it one hundred times, she’ll laugh extra loud through the funny parts and cry with you through the sad ones, pausing only to comment on how unfair it is that all men can’t be as selfless and chivalrous as Jack is toward Rose. Then, when you’ve sobered up, she’ll launch into a kind but stern monologue on why you shouldn’t text him, because you deserve better—you’ve always deserved better.

Favorite Quote: “You have the ability to change your life.  You’ve always had the power, Dorothy.  You just have to stop waiting for someone else to do it for you.  There is no easy way out of this; there is no life hack.  Just you and your God-given strength and how much you desire change.”

 

4. Scrappy Little Nobody – Anna Kendrick

Anna Kendrick is one of my favorite actresses. I loved her in Pitch Perfect, the Accountant, Twilight, Table 19, the Last Five Years, Mr. Right … basically, anything that Anna Kendrick has been in, I’ve loved.

So when I heard that she had written an autobiography, I couldn’t wait to order the audiobook and listen to her chirpy voice on my way to work each morning. I expected to laugh, to learn a bit, and to laugh some more. What I didn’t expect was to be inspired.

Anna had to fight hard to make it into show business. Her tenacity, paired with her small stature, offers a lesson to anyone finding themselves underestimated or overlooked. While she insists that she’s not a “nice” person by Hollywood’s standards, Anna becomes (willingly or not) a role model for girls by the end of her book. Drug experimenting aside, Anna’s lessons on never giving up, staying true to you regardless of what others think, and always getting out on the wrong side of the car to annoy the heck out of the press, make for a solid feel-good story.

Favorite Quote: “Having to fight for the thing you want doesn’t mean you deserve it any less.”

 

5. Shaken – Tim Tebow

If you’re a dude reading this blog post, I just want to say, thank you. I also want to apologize, because many of these books I’ve recommended are targeted at females. (Although my boyfriend actually read You Are a Badass and LOVED it, so take that, gender stereotypes!)

But what can I say? Not many guys write self-help books. Or read them. Supply and demand, folks.

Tim Tebow’s book is an exception. As a huge football fan, I couldn’t resist picking up a copy of Tebow’s New York Times bestseller, even though by the time I stumbled across it he was no longer playing for my team, the New England Patriots. What I discovered was a raw, personal account of the times in Tim’s life when he felt like throwing in the towel—and the faith that got him through those hardships.

Whether or not you’re a Christian, there’s a lot to take away from this book. All of us deal with disappointments on a regular basis. While few of us have to face the intense public scrutiny that Tim fell victim to, criticism is not reserved for professional athletes and famous people alone.

As a writer, you will face criticism. The occasional negative review has the power to make or break you—if you let it.

Tim didn’t. Will you?

If the answer is yes, then by all means, skip this book. But if you want to guard yourself against negativity and learn how to truly let criticism roll off your back, give Tebow a chance.

Favorite Quote: “When who you are is grounded in whose you are, you realize it doesn’t matter what life throws your way.”

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There are many more books I could have added to this list, and many I’m sure I’ve forgotten. But the bottom line is, when you find yourself stuck and unsure what to write, read! Use the wisdom and talent of other writers to fuel your fire. As authors, we’re all in this together. Sure, there may be some friendly (or not-so-friendly) competition out there, but that doesn’t mean that you should boycott all books written by people who aren’t you. And who knows? The next book you pick up just might inspire your future bestseller!

If you have a book that motivates or inspires you, feel free to share it in the comments below!

And now, to end this Tip of the Month, I offer you a recipe for apple turnovers from my good friend, Betty Crocker.

Click here for Betty’s delicious apple turnovers recipe!

There. Now you have no excuses. Get writing!