Writing Tools: Windfall Rewards

Extra treats for extra writing.

Staying motivated while writing (and editing) is a wheel that needs constant grease. I've talked before about various tactics, including Panic Cards, the Emergency Box, and the Calendar Method.

Today I've got a new tool, Windfall Rewards.

Windfall writing happens when I go above and beyond my writing goals for the day, week, or month. This isn't easy, as it is hard enough to hit writings goals as it is. How can I improve my overshooting?

Answer, motivate myself with small, tangible rewards. They are best when ready-to-go, dangling the reward close like low-hanging fruit and ensuring a short time-to-reward mechanism. Windfall rewards makes me exited to not only meet my goal, but go beyond it. Furthermore, I don't feel pressured if I don't make the rewards.

Examples:

I was once able to get a 3-card booster pack of trading cards at the local dollar store. These rewards were small, affordable, and had the added allure of mystery. What cards would I get each time I opened the foil wrapping? The results were almost addicting.
Food is another motivator for me. Sometimes I set my reward as a small allowance ($1-2 dollars) towards eating out for lunch. Once my allowance grows to $10-15 dollars, I treat myself to a fun meal beyond the Tupperware leftovers or plastic-wrapped sandwiches of my ordinary workday.
If I need to go cost free? I pick a restful or creative activity. I might choose a favorite book in a large armchair, a bike ride beside the river, a doodle session with no expectations, or even a nap. I just make sure to make it special.

Comments

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The Mark Williamson Creative Universe

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