How do the rest of you stay motivated?

I know what I can produce in a week and I hit the goal every week. I don't try to do more than that. It allows me time to do other stuff and not worry about being behind.

Stepping away, for sure. I'm actually at a point where I've hit some pretty severe writer's block (at the worst time, no less), and I need to walk away in order to sort out all my thoughts and feelings about where I am and where I need to go. Diving into my other main hobby, cross stitch, definitely helps.

What doesn't help is the other two stories bouncing around in my head demanding I write them instead of my current novel or edit book 5 of my series.

On my side, I doodle stuff that I like (video games characters, things that exists, whatever makes you feel good) until I get the ''I CAN DO IT'' kinda mood.

When I'm in a slump, I set a timer for ten minutes and work (even if it's not good or coherent, even just rereading what I've written before) then force myself to take a 10 minute break when it goes off, and repeat that at least three times until things are moving again.

I do this not just for writing but for my other work too. I have attention and motivation issues generally, and I find this helps take the pressure to achieve off for me sometimes, and helps as a strategy to keep me coming back if I'm having trouble getting back into it after taking mental breaks, as you mentioned.

Goals motivate me, not having a goal makes
me quit things. All projects I worked in which
had no goals or lost their goals were dead end
streets.

Daily habits.

I use timers for things that are uncomfortable.

Balance of fun and not fun things.

I only started writing my story once I was so head-over-heels passionate about it, that writing it doesn't feel like 'work', it feels like 'time off'.

Otherwise, I write when I want to, and I avoid to when I don't. For that, a buffer is strongly advised!

(I rewrote this thing like five times I'm overcaffeinated lol)

I know how you feel. I'm fresh out of a burnout and been in a bad slump for the past two weeks, but I'm feeling more motivated atm...unless that's just caffeine...

Is there a part to your story that you're dying to get to? Make that your goal or something to look forward to.
(I got maybe five years to get to mine, but it's chugging along, albeit slowly XD)

Or maybe write something funny off to the side just for laughs (I draw my chars in ridiculous situations/AUs and that gets my dopamine boost) Get silly with it too, don't hold anything back and use that uplifting in mood to get back on track.

Now I gotta get back to finishing that upload I've procrastinated on...

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I also have a few projects going so that I can switch up if one starts to feel like a drag to write. At least one of those projects is "frivolous" (low-stakes), like fan fic or poetry that I'll probably not show to a lot of people, so I can write without inhibition.

I've heard (from Clive Barker) the advice to stop writing for the day or session when you know what's coming next so that you're eager to start again. But I also think it helps to stop when you're really pleased with what you're doing. If you force yourself to make a word count or some other goal, you may come away from the session feeling resentful about writing. That's no way to stay motivated!

Breaks. You aren't writing for some chinese webnovel agency...Yet.

One of the main things you learn when you’re doing it full time is that the ability to create consistently is a muscle that you have to work out. This is why you’ll find a lot of professional writers saying things like “writers block isn’t real” (which is a whole other discussion I won’t get into).

Creating is a discipline and it takes work! It happens little by little. I remember early on before I was full time I would go weeks without putting pen to paper and feel like I was spent after doing very little work. Now I work several hours writing and drawing five days a week fairly comfortably. A lot of suggestions in this thread are things I’ve done to get more disciplined— timers are super useful! Having multiple projects can also help (but I’ve also experienced it hurting a bit!). Stopping at a spot where you’ll be excited to pick back up again is also good practice. Having goals is also an important part of the process!

Other practices I like are engaging with media that inspires my work. Watching movies, reading books and comics, going to museums, etc. One thing that gets me going in particular is reading about writing (I just re-read Writing Down the Bones which always gets me in the mood to make stuff). Sometimes when you’re not in the mood to write and get that feeling of burnout it might be because you feel “empty” so you gotta fill yourself back up.

Another thing that could be useful is having a buddy you meet up with to write with. If no buddies are available I like to go to a public space to work. Anything where there’s some pressure to “look busy” is good. I used to share a studio with a few other artists and that was the most productive period for me because it always felt weird to not look busy when other people around you are also working.

Sometimes I like to just sit at my desk, put my phone somewhere far away and just have nothing else to do BUT work.

Other times when its tough I will work in increments of time (it can be as little as 15 minutes for me) and treat myself to something I enjoy when the timer is up. Maybe I’ll get a little treat of candy or play a game of Solitaire. Then I reset the timer and do it all over again.

None of this is to say breaks aren’t important! Sometimes it takes time to fill yourself tank back up! What discipline helps you with is having the ability to work consistently when you want to work.

Writing as a discipline is so important if it's your career. I'm one-third through a novel I have a contract to write, so even if it's not my favorite thing to work on at the moment, I still have to do it. I wasn't sure if the advice requested was for hobby writing or professional, so I went with the former.

I recall a time that I was in a class for people with executive function disorders (like ADHD). The counselor who ran the group had us make goals and announce them so we would be accountable. I was writing another novel on contract, so my goal was to write 500 words of it every day. Very modest, right? Not to non-writers, as it turns out. The others in the class kind of winced and the counselor encouraged me to modify it so it was a goal that I could actually make, especially since it was creative work and I couldn't force "inspiration," or something like that. ! I said, "Writing this book is my job; 500 words is the very lowest end of what I should be writing in a day."

Apparently, that's impressive for people who haven't honed that particular discipline. I tend to forget that writing fiction is a skill rather than just an avocation, and so I undercut my accomplishments. Thinking of myself as someone who is actively mastering a skill (though according to the degree I have, I already am a Master of Fine Arts, ha), rather than someone who is just "good at writing" is very motivating!

Work on multiple projects in rotation

If you have hobbies that require a different skillset than writing, do them! Put focus into them. Or take a walk or bike ride without music. (I know we all like having ear/headphones in and being absorbed into a mental music video while walking around, but seriously... have your brain do its own mental processes without that interference. You may find yourself coming up with a whole new thing to write about for it.)

Getting back from breaks like you're saying can be tough. Sometimes creativity relies on inertia--and in your case right now, it is seemingly so. That's why I suggest putting focus in other things that require your attention and other parts of your creativity. Get all your chores done in a day, exercise, hang out with friends. Doing all of that builds up this satisfying inertia and leads to feeling fulfilled (even if you don't end up with the desire to write afterwards, just keeping up with those other things will eventually lead into that desire.)

Don't feel down if you're in a writing rut for now! Something good might be fermenting in that brain of yours. :}

I like watching other people passionate about the subject. Thier energy helps give me a boost. So i watch shows like ‘comic tropes’ some episodes of ‘kartoon kayfabe’ or ‘strip panel naked’
Also videos like ‘the evolution of blank artist art style’ or ‘examining the artstyle of blank’, ‘the life and history of blank artist’

They inspire me, motivate me, and gives me interesting ideas that i want to try out.

Other times do go do chores i’ve been putting off. Or go for a walk to reset.

I have a few different projects I'm working on. When I get bored of one, or feel a block coming I switch to another project. I also take a mental break once a week were I don't do anything productive. I've found that switching projects helps me a lot as I had the same problem of taking too long of breaks. If you try this I suggest you have all your projects plotted so that you can remember your goals for the books or short stories.

I look forward to seeing where the world and characters will take me. The more I write the more new information I learn . That and my personal goal is too finish the trilogy for my novel.