Successful writers must maintain a fresh perspective, or their writing will fall flat—no getting around it. How do we climb back aboard the optimism train when we’ve lost enthusiasm for our books, blogs, articles, poems, screenplays, or other forms of content?

It’s easy to become disillusioned when:

* We’re on a nightmare deadline.

* We haven’t been paid.

* We’re under a contractual obligation to complete a manuscript.

* It’s detrimental to our career to back out of a project.

* The project has been rejected, and a rewrite is essential.

* We’re perfectionists.

* We’re jealous of others’ success and can’t seem to eliminate the negativity from our thoughts.

* Life around us is out of control—family, friends, a day job, faith, health, and circumstances that take up our time.

How can we take the necessary steps to rekindle a fresh perspective?

Here are seven steps to help you climb aboard and stay there:

 1. Seek guidance from other writers in your quest to rediscover excitement for your writing.

 2. List your positive qualities as a writer. Place the list in a prominent place where you can review it daily.

 3. Reignite your enthusiasm for the project. Accept that the fire has died, and choose to light a match to your inspiration.

        *Discover the original enthusiasm you felt about the project.

        *Identify three things you like about it. 

        *Explore what you don’t like about it.

 4. Analyze what caused your discouragement.

        *The idea might need more plot, information, editing, research, or resources.

        *You may have learned about a similar writing project, and the thought of changing yours feels depressing.

        *A looming deadline might make finishing the project feel overwhelming.

        *The project might require a total rewrite.

 5. Commit to making changes.

        *Schedule time every day to work on the project.

        *Seek help if needed.

 6. Take a break from the project. Walk away and do something else to interrupt negative thoughts.

        *Sometimes we become trapped in our own prison, where self-doubt keeps us chained.

        *Physical activity can often break through creative blocks.

 7. Mentor another writer. When we set aside our own problems to help another writer, we often experience unexpected blessings.

Remember when you first fell in love with a writing project? Every thought about the manuscript filled you with joy. The same can be true of your writing again.

How do you rekindle a fresh perspective for your writing?