How to stay motivated?

I'm not sure if what I'm about to write will make any sense, and this is entirely out of impulse...but I wanted to know if any of you have felt this way.


I've come to realize that I lose the motivation to work on things much faster now. Two years ago when I was inspired to write something, I did it until the end. When I started work on a game, I finished it. But recently, I lose almost all motivation to work on something after a couple of days. I still want to complete it, but that driving force is gone. Especially with Beacon, my passion project. It's all I can think about and yet I don't feel motivated to work on it. (although this one is probably out of fear I won't be able to do it justice.) Another example would be a story I began writing last April. I specifically started writing it to help me get out of this slump of non-motivation and got two chapters done before it went away. I still want to see it finished, but I just don't have that driving force anymore. So I guess what I'm asking is what you guys do to stay motivated on your projects?

Sometimes I find you need to take a look at your projects and gauge whether its still something you have a passion for. If you aren't enjoying working on it anymore it might be time to move on; you are a different person than you were when you started it, maybe that person is more passionate about something else now.


Personally, I post in the monthly goals and progress thread, its a good way to get small amounts of feedback and more importantly give you small goals to shoot for by sharing with others. It helps me to keep up my work on a project. Here's this months one:


http://forums.rpgmakerweb.com/index.php?/topic/71729-december-goals-progress-thread/


Other than that, I sometimes need to take a break and play games to help remind me why I am so passionate about the idea of making them. Try playing an old classic you enjoy or picking up and playing one of the well made quality rpg maker games you can find. I find myself re-invigorated afterwards.

I listen to music to keep myself motivated.

@Vox NovusThank you for the advice. I wouldn't say I dislike working on any of my projects, but you may be right. I don't think I've lost my passion for them, but I may have to re-invent them.


@AceOfAces_ModYeah, sometimes music helps me set the mood for a scene or while mapping.

I usually talk with other people about my project. (not pessimistic persons though)

Maybe this won't work for you, but what I usually do is think of the completed project or whatever it is. If it's a game, I think of how fun it'd be giving it to my friends and them trying it and giving me their opinions. If it's, I dunno, buying something you want that's expensive, I think about how fun it'll be once I have it.


What I'm saying is, just picture how you'd feel or whatever when you've finished what you're working on... Don't give up!


Also, hello from Ontario my fellow Canadian ;D

Remember that working on a creative project is very hard work. At the moment I'm writing a novel, and sometimes I find it so hard to force myself to go back to it -- I love thinking up how the story is going to go and running through scenes in my mind and gradually seeing them in more and more detail, but actually sitting down and making myself put words onto the page can be a slog. That doesn't mean I've lost my passion for it, it's just that it is going to be hard at times, but it's definitely worth sticking with it through the tough parts so as to get to the really fun parts -- writing a climax you've had in your head for ages, or getting to the end and having a complete work, or getting feedback from people you've shown it to.


So yeah, I don't have much advice beyond what others have already said, but don't lose hope!

@Crabs I don't think it matters whether you're optimistic or pessimistic. I'm really pessimistic, but no matter who it is, if they like your game, they'll help you.


@NeoFantasy I can relate though. I think about my game a lot, but I can barely work on it, because I get stuck on something or other. Normally to stay motivated, I do something fun in the game, and that motivates me again. And there are some songs that relate to my game that I listen to that give me ideas.  

Adding to what I've said before, maybe you need to try something different to keep it fresh and exciting, especially if its a project you've worked on awhile. Maybe you are just in a rut? Or maybe its something that would go more smoothly if you had a partner or had some feedback from playtesters via a demo.

It sounds like perfectionism is killing your desire to try.  I know that problem very well.  Why not make something purposefully horrible?  Something where you're intending it to be an awful mess?  Learn to let go and do it anyway just for the pure fun of making something.

@RMVNexYeah, a lot of the time that helps get me really excited to get back to work, but by the ti


@Aoi NinamiThat actually sounds a lot like how I feel. i try to sit myself down a lot and just right, but I guess I'm feeling discouraged because I'm putting out less than half of what I used to on a daily basis.


@HexMozart88Yeah, I listen to music a lot to help me, and a lot of the time it does help me get a little of my drive back.


@SharmThat's exactly what I did with my first project, but one of the major motivators when starting it's sequel was to make something that looked as professional as possible. I mean I went from making five maps in one day to one every week and a half (I do think somewhere down the line, it just became too ambitious for me to complete right now). I like that idea though. I did the same thing a while ago with drawing and it helped me get back on track so I'll try and give it a shot. 


@Vox NovusI could probably release a demo of Beacon II. But it ended up becoming a mess of ideas with inconsistent writing and it ended up going in a direction I didn't really enjoy. I've thought about releasing the original Beacon I made back in 2014 since I know its terrible writing may get a chuckle from a person or two, but the project kind of broke when transferring it off of my old computer. 

You need an enemy. Someone to keep you motivated purely out of spite. 

Just kidding, but having friends to talk to about your project or just people who are interested and anxious to see what you make might
motivate you to do it.  

Sometimes when my perfectionism is getting the better of me I'll think about the worst case scenario, a realistic one though, and sort through what I would do if that's what happened.  By coming up with a plan for it, it helps me put the situation into a better perspective and I know that I can handle the results of trying, no matter what happens.

@Sharm Ah, that's where my problem starts. My worst case scenarios are always exaggerated to the point where it sounds like a disaster film in my mind. But, if you like it, keep doing it, and if worse comes to worse, be like me and change things constantly. 

I start with small projects with humble goals and let them evolve naturally.


If you are a writer hindered by writer's block, try writing short stories to get your creative engine warmed up. And don't worry about incomplete stories in your documents folder; you can leave them there and revisit them later for inspiration.


Participating in game jams can be helpful because of the structured rules, the time limit, the sense of challenge, and the comforting sense that other people are doing a similar project.


Complete one small project; knowing you have one complete project, no matter how simple, will help you build on your next.

At least you are able manage to make time for your project. that is considered motivation already. I could not. I work 8 hours a day like everyone else but I spend 2.5 hours on the train to go to work and 2.5 back home. In addition I cook my food,  I wash my clothes, I take martial art class...end of the day. I bought RMMV since the release but could not have time to make one map.


I keep myself in this forum and checking out other people projects to keep me motivate, to not forget that I want to make a game. 

Hmm, I have problems with staying motivated, because I get so inspired by anything... o_o' Any...thing from a thought about a show, tv, or movie, random thoughts, to awesome dreams.  I am free to be me, because I don't hesitate, no doubt, no self confident issues. Now, that the why is explained, I will tell you what I am trying to do.  Have a set period of time that I sit down to write and then work for a certain amount of time.  Writing, it could be a certain amount of words while working on a game could be maps, quests and such.  If you did that, you'd have your game done in no time flat, and I'll be honest, it won't be easy.  That's just what I'M doing and how to deal with being stuck, just create maps in a play project to practice.  No stories or it won't help.  It's what I do, too.  (^_^)  Anyway, it's all about working at a specific time, for a length of time and getting things done.  That way, your brain automatically thinks, "Oh it's time to work on X" and then, you do other things during the rest of the day. 

(Envy, envy, envy. :distrust: ) How does that even work???


You see, with that being said, it probably is a ton more helpful when you don't loathe yourself with all your heart. Or even have the slightest bit of self doubt. Though, it is hard to find these days (a true confident person, not someone who pretends to be). So, at least pretend to be confident, and it'll probably be much more helpful.  

@HexMozart88Yeah, well, in my dreams my doubts, fears and the only thing left behind, so all I have left are my ideas.  This is what often leads me to losing interest in a project, becoming bored and continuing on with another project.  I wanted to state what make me lose interest, lose motivation, because that is the first step in dealing with what the cause is, before you can take steps in fixing it.  It's strangely enough, when I took a good look at my dreams that I began to see that I had lots of potential and had a dream where I visited a parallel universe in which I was successful writer with everything I wanted, with exception of being close to my family.


I think that the important thing is that you are not always going to want to work on a project, so even when you don't feel like it, work at your specific time.  You create a map, work on your database, write your stories or dialog, because you can go back to fix it later.  I think that those two steps are really important and the next step is why are you becoming bored.  It might not have enough action, drama, and such, so you might have to do some creative additions.


Otherwise, if we always quit, we will never get anything finished.  o_o' Being creative is easy, but sometimes, it too easy to create a new project.  You're in a honeymoon phase and then after awhile, the real relationship begins.  So to speak....

Staying motivated is hard I'll grant you that. Especially since projects can take a lot longer than you initially expect them too especially if you watch them evolve into something bigger. My Summon Core plugin that I'm currently working on is my example. I'm excited to see it finished because I know some people are excited for it. But when I run into a bug or just too much going on in life it's hard to stay motivated on the project.


When it comes to story's and games its probably harder on me. I love writing the story's. In fact my original game idea's plot has expanded far beyond my original intent and I love the direction its taking but doing it justice with my little game making experience and limited programming knowledge (I consider myself a novice) I can find it hard to really continue it. But much like Caitlin said above the story creation is much like the honeymoon phase. You're learning about all the things you love about your "relationship" with your game. But then comes the hard work. If you want the relationship (game development) to succeed you have to put your effort into it. You have to remind yourself why you're doing this and how much you love the other person (game story). If the relationship is worth it to you then despite hardships you may face you'll continue fighting so the relationship can succeed.


Note its always fine and there is no shame  in getting some counseling (help/teammates) when its really hard.