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• recognize that inspiration is, essentially, a faceless trickster deity and, to control it, you must be very, very clever.
• feed it carefully. if you want it to focus on your dark fantasy rather than your optimistic science fiction … feed it darkness, feed it magic, feed it the grimmest of aesthetics.
• remember that you only have so much creative energy. use it wisely.
• set up a reward system. if you finish this draft, you can print it. it can be on your shelf. your book. on your shelf. it exists!!
• remind yourself why you started it in the first place. make a concise list of all the things you love about it (and conveniently forget those that you don’t) and pin up on your bathroom mirror. add to this list.
• share it with a close friend. make them love it. make them want to read it to the end. make them promise to swear at you if you don’t finish it.
• det reasonable goals and deadlines.
• let yourself take breaks. during your breaks, consider feeding your inspiration monster art and music and movies and peanut butter cookies.
• write down any and every idea. from the most bizarre to the most wonderful. don’t discount anything.
• stay alive. you can’t keep inspiration if you don’t stay alive. eat often (at least once a day), hydrate even oftener.