by Vicky Oliver, author of Firebrands
According to my anecdotal research, most people dream of writing a book, but few ever finish and publish one. Reasons for failing to cross the literary finish line include perfectionism, stalling out, burning out, procrastination, and my least favorite aspect of being a writer: rejection. As someone who has completed over 350 continuing-ed writing classes and an MFA program, I’ve seen it first-hand. Some of the brightest stars in the classroom shut their laptops and watch their dream fade.
Here are some tips that I practice to stay motivated. I hope they’ll help you write your book.
1. Make room for your writing project.
Most professional writers spend between one and five hours a day writing. I aim to spend four hours a day writing my novel and one hour a day on other writing projects, such as penning this article. To me, writing is a lot like hitting the gym. Your muscle builds over time. If you start out trying to write for five hours a day, it’s going to feel too taxing and you may quit. Instead, start by writing for 10 minutes a day. Take your cell phone and set your timer so that you don’t cheat. Then, gradually build up to 30 minutes, followed by one hour, and more.
2. Find your perfect time to write.
I learned this from one of my writing teachers. I’m a morning writer. My brain simply functions better from eight o’clock in the morning till about one o’clock in the afternoon. If I can wake up, take a shower, devour a toasted English muffin and get some caffeine in me all before eight o’clock, I know that I’ll have a brilliant writing day. In the morning, I write clearer and faster. I also question myself less. I try not to write a word after 6 p.m.
3. Make peace with the messy first draft.
There’s a lot to sort out in a novel, including: character, plot, motivation, timeline, setting, voice, and structure. You will never set down all of these perfectly in draft one, and even if you do, chances are the pace will be messed up! First drafts are scattered, slow, and frequently boring. They may be underwritten or overwritten and mottled with plot holes. Unfortunately, you’ll never reach that perfect, polished draft 50 unless you start with that ugly first draft. Plow through it, then go back and prettify it.
4. Write every day.
The best cure for procrastination is to write something every day, even on Sundays. Even if you only have 10 minutes to write, doing so every single day is better for your craft than sitting down once a week to write for several hours. Don’t wait for the muse. She’s finicky and may not cooperate. She may be helping another writer or on vacation. Be your own muse.
5. Forget the “pantser” and “plotter” myths.
In many writing classes, I’ve heard about “pantsers” versus “plotters.” Legend has it that some writers sit down and write “by the seat of their pants,” never deigning to bother with a pesky outline. Meanwhile the “plotters” are made out to be “grinders,” stoically following their outlines as they map out chapter by chapter. I believe you should follow whatever method works for you and for the project. I try to write about a hundred pages without an outline. This lets me meet and understand my characters without being constrained by plot. But eventually, I hit a creative wall. When I have no idea where the plot is going, I sit down and start outlining. If that makes me a plotter, so be it.
6. Take a writing class.
Or join a writing group, if you prefer. In most writing classes, the students are considered equals, while the teacher’s feedback is weighted more heavily. In a writing group, all members are considered equals. I’ve found there are real advantages to both, but between the two, I find classes to be more personally productive. For starters, I’m paying for the class and I’m determined to get my money’s worth by being accountable both to the assignments and to myself. In classes, there are also deadlines, which can speed a writing project over some of the roadblocks.
7. Shrug off rejection.
You can’t write unless you’re mentally prepared to be rejected. Writing is a ludicrously subjective field, and I can guarantee that not all of the rejection we writers endure feels constructive. But know that as your writing gets stronger, the rejections will sting less. And one day, when your work is accepted for publication, you’ll almost forget all of the rejections you suffered.
If there’s a technique that’s helped you write that I’ve forgotten to include, drop me a line at: vicky@vickyoliver.com and let me know.
Vicky Oliver is the author of Firebrands (Histria Books, distributed by Simon & Schuster, October 2026), a novel that has won three awards. It was a 5-star, 2026 Readers’ Favorite. Additionally, it was both a 2025 Writers’ League of Texas Award finalist and a 2024 Killer Nashville Claymore Award finalist for Best Historical Fiction. Oliver also writes nonfiction and has published six career books, including 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions (Sourcebooks), which sold 100,000 copies. Vicky’s savvy career advice has been featured in over 901 outlets, including the New York Times, WSJ, New York Post, and Esquire. She is the Nonfiction Editor as well as an Art Editor at LIT magazine, the journal of The New School’s MFA program.
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