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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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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.

Ivo recommends the following next steps:

check out The War Of Art book.
Thank you comment icon Thank you, Ivo for the advice. CHIEMENA
Thank you comment icon 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
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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.
Thank you comment icon I really really appreciate this advice. I hope I really carry the two along in med school CHIEMENA
Thank you comment icon 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
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