My new video is about passion for your novel/series over the long haul, when the typical “just write!” advice doesn’t cut it.

Here are my secrets to staying motivated on long projects (2–20 years)!

⏱ Chapters:
00:00 What does an “excited author” look like?
00:16 Why passion matters for long-term creative projects
00:38 The two extremes: “navel gazing” vs. mercenary writing
01:28 The balance between loving your work and thinking about audience
01:50 The joy of writing novels (worldbuilding + characters)
02:29 Storytelling as taking your reader on a ride
03:06 Mastery: controlling emotion, pacing, and reader experience
04:21 Where passion really comes from (themes, exploration, obsession)

Completing a big project is not just a matter of slavish discipline. At the core of it all, you need passion for the project.