4 answers
CHIEMENA
Student
Enugu, Nigeria
2
Questions
Updated
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#Spring25 What are some tips I could use to help me stay motivated as I really want to do well in medical school and also grow in my dream writing career?
#Spring25
I'm a young medical student in my second year in the university. I really love writing, especially creative writings. But for someone who got awarded the Best Female Writer of the Year in my last faculty’s Awards Night, I sometimes lose motivation and I believe procrastination gets the best part of me.
Medical school isn't easy, and I don't want to stop writing as well. I have this dream that one day, I'd be awarded ‘Best Writer for A Movie’ in the popular African Nollywood movies awards, when I perhaps get grounded in screen writing and submit my stories.
I don't know how it's all going to happen. Medical school and writing for myself, combining both so that I can be a good gynecologist and finally be a screenwriter is a big overwhelming achievement. Sometimes, I'm in the middle of “waiting for the right time” or “procrastination”. I'd love to pursue these dreams and not leave one lacking.
Now I ask, what advice do you have for someone like me who wants to be proficient in such both fields? Is there any study routine that will help me balance time, and also a guide on how I can improve my writing and progress to screen writing while in the university?
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4 answers
Ivo Raza
filmmaker
8
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Ivo’s Answer
All writers go through procrastination, resistance, boredom, and non-writing phases. It is part of the process. There's a very general rule of thumb: when you feel like writing, write, and when you don't feel like writing, read. Another alternative, if you have written pages, you can always go back and edit, rewrite and polish during the non-writing periods. Often those activities will inspire you to jump back in. As long as you continue to write in the long term, it's best not to worry about a day or a week that slips by. Continuity is key. It's like exercising. With regards to having a medical career...many writers come from other professions, and often those professions are what gives them a rich world of experiences to draw from... story, characters, situations, events, conflicts, and inspiration. Also, remember to treat yourself kindly during non-writing periods. You are not outputting pages, so why add the pressure of feeling bad about it? Just make sure you do go back to it. A book that deals with this is The War Of Art. It is a great read for writers.
check out The War Of Art book.
Ivo recommends the following next steps:
Thank you, Ivo for the advice.
CHIEMENA
Hmm. So, I'm not the only one who goes through the cycle of procrastinating on and on...
I fear atimes of leaving talent for so long that it wears off and dies.
But this has given me hope. I'll try as much to continue and be consistent, and ALSO BE KIND TO MYSELF 🌟. Thanks Ivo
CHIEMENA
Juanita Joubert
I am a writer, financial accountant, social media manager, and publisher
25
Answers
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Updated
Juanita’s Answer
HI there
First of all, is writing and med school the only things you have going on at the moment? If so, I would suggest that you set times for yourself. You are most likely attending school during the day and then you have your evenings free, so I would say focus on your writing for an hour or two at night without neglecting your sleep of course.
Try to work out a routine or schedule for yourself where you break down every minute of your day. I know this can be hard because life often seems unpredictable, but believe me it's worth it. I am an accountant by trade and I also love writing stories and what I have found works best is to use your most productive time to focus on the most important tasks (which, for you, is school) and then use the rest of you day to write and do any other chores you might have for that day. Try to take the night before and write down everything you have to do for the next day-and I mean everything, whether its running errands, attending classes, doing chores, writing, whatever you have and then work out your schedule from there.
Remember with this time blocking strategy, you need to be consistent and strict with yourself. Don't start your day without a plan. Writing is all about consistency and you will start to feel more motivated to continue with your stories once you see the words coming to life on the page.
On that note, regarding motivation. When you find yourself experiencing writer's block, move back to your studies and just focus on something else for a little while. You can also read a little bit or just write down whatever comes to your mind (brain dump) and then go through and analyze what you thought about and see what you can incorporate into your stories. You have a great foundation to work on as a med student and I am sure you will be able to get some great stories out of your experiences and your job once you graduate college.
Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.
First of all, is writing and med school the only things you have going on at the moment? If so, I would suggest that you set times for yourself. You are most likely attending school during the day and then you have your evenings free, so I would say focus on your writing for an hour or two at night without neglecting your sleep of course.
Try to work out a routine or schedule for yourself where you break down every minute of your day. I know this can be hard because life often seems unpredictable, but believe me it's worth it. I am an accountant by trade and I also love writing stories and what I have found works best is to use your most productive time to focus on the most important tasks (which, for you, is school) and then use the rest of you day to write and do any other chores you might have for that day. Try to take the night before and write down everything you have to do for the next day-and I mean everything, whether its running errands, attending classes, doing chores, writing, whatever you have and then work out your schedule from there.
Remember with this time blocking strategy, you need to be consistent and strict with yourself. Don't start your day without a plan. Writing is all about consistency and you will start to feel more motivated to continue with your stories once you see the words coming to life on the page.
On that note, regarding motivation. When you find yourself experiencing writer's block, move back to your studies and just focus on something else for a little while. You can also read a little bit or just write down whatever comes to your mind (brain dump) and then go through and analyze what you thought about and see what you can incorporate into your stories. You have a great foundation to work on as a med student and I am sure you will be able to get some great stories out of your experiences and your job once you graduate college.
Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.
I really really appreciate this advice. I hope I really carry the two along in med school
CHIEMENA
Thanks so much Juanita!
You know, studying makes me want to drop the pen when I want to write 😅. As much as I love writing, I'm also concerned about my grades in school. But I really will try out this advice. Thanks so much.
CHIEMENA
James Henry
Instructional Designer
6
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
James’s Answer
Hi Chiemena,
Congratulations on your writing award - that's incredible recognition! You're not procrastinating, you're just overwhelmed by two demanding passions.
Here's how to make both work:
Start small with writing. Set aside just 15-30 minutes daily, maybe early morning before classes or late evening. Consistency beats marathon sessions. Use medical school breaks strategically - write during study breaks to refresh your mind.
For screenwriting, begin by adapting your existing stories into script format using free software like WriterDuet. Read Nigerian screenplays and watch Nollywood films analytically. Join online screenwriting communities and enter local competitions when possible.
Create a weekly schedule: designate specific days for creative writing versus medical studies. Sunday could be your "writing day" for longer projects. Use medical case studies as inspiration - many great medical dramas started this way.
Another thing to think about: your medical training gives you unique storytelling material that other writers don't have. Hospital experiences, patient stories (anonymized), and medical ethics create compelling narratives. You're not choosing between two careers - you're building expertise that makes your writing distinctive.
Many successful people balanced demanding studies with creative pursuits. Your timeline doesn't have to be rushed. Focus on building skills now, and opportunities will follow.
Keep writing!
James
Congratulations on your writing award - that's incredible recognition! You're not procrastinating, you're just overwhelmed by two demanding passions.
Here's how to make both work:
Start small with writing. Set aside just 15-30 minutes daily, maybe early morning before classes or late evening. Consistency beats marathon sessions. Use medical school breaks strategically - write during study breaks to refresh your mind.
For screenwriting, begin by adapting your existing stories into script format using free software like WriterDuet. Read Nigerian screenplays and watch Nollywood films analytically. Join online screenwriting communities and enter local competitions when possible.
Create a weekly schedule: designate specific days for creative writing versus medical studies. Sunday could be your "writing day" for longer projects. Use medical case studies as inspiration - many great medical dramas started this way.
Another thing to think about: your medical training gives you unique storytelling material that other writers don't have. Hospital experiences, patient stories (anonymized), and medical ethics create compelling narratives. You're not choosing between two careers - you're building expertise that makes your writing distinctive.
Many successful people balanced demanding studies with creative pursuits. Your timeline doesn't have to be rushed. Focus on building skills now, and opportunities will follow.
Keep writing!
James
Chris Churilla
Screenwriter / Producer / Director
4
Answers
Pueblo, Colorado
Updated
Chris’s Answer
The other two answers are pretty good, both of them saying consistency is the key. The way I see it, writing consistently is exercising your creativity and writing; the more consistently you do it, the better you get.
Personally, I like to write first thing in the morning. I will wake up and immediately start writing; I don't even bother picking up my phone and checking my email or social media; it's too easy to get distracted by them. The way I see it, when I write in the morning, my mind is fresh and not occupied with thinking about the day's events, like I would be if I tried writing at night.
Now, I'm not saying the other commenter is wrong when she said you should write at night. Every writer has their own process, and as long as they're writing consistently, it's not wrong. I'm sure there are some people who can't write in the morning. As soon as I wake up, my mind is racing, but I'm sure for others, it takes a while to get their mind going.
I suggest trying both times to see which one works best for you.
Good luck!
Personally, I like to write first thing in the morning. I will wake up and immediately start writing; I don't even bother picking up my phone and checking my email or social media; it's too easy to get distracted by them. The way I see it, when I write in the morning, my mind is fresh and not occupied with thinking about the day's events, like I would be if I tried writing at night.
Now, I'm not saying the other commenter is wrong when she said you should write at night. Every writer has their own process, and as long as they're writing consistently, it's not wrong. I'm sure there are some people who can't write in the morning. As soon as I wake up, my mind is racing, but I'm sure for others, it takes a while to get their mind going.
I suggest trying both times to see which one works best for you.
Good luck!