No matter how much effort you put into preparing for your writing. No matter how good your writing system. There are going to be periods where you just don't want to write. It's inevitable. As certain as rain or the sun setting in the evening, there are going to be times where you just want to chuck it and leave the whole writing lifestyle behind you.

And those times can spell "the end" to your writing career if you let them.

So how can you prevent them from derailing your career? The answer is in your mental tool kit.

Your mental tool kit consists of a set of tools whose purpose is to keep you going. Tools such as vision boards, signs and a clear vision will help you to overcome those times.

At the heart of your mental tool kit are two basic toolsets.

The first group is a set of techniques called active visioning. What is active visioning? It is a way to create focus in your life. There are a number of self-improvement gurus who tell you that all you need to do is "think positively", "create a vision of your future", "believe in yourself", and "constantly reinforce your vision". If you do then magically the world will align to your vision and everything will fall into place. Of course, very few of us believe in such magic nowadays.

However, what if you convinced yourself that your vision was actually happening? Just like they tell you to. And then you went out and made it happen. What do you think would be the result? That's active visioning. Not only envisioning what you wish will happen but backing that vision up with planning and activity. Actively chasing a realistic vision.

The second toolset is self-motivation. There are a number of ways to motivate yourself. In fact, that's part of what active visioning is doing.

The tools of motivation have long been understood. That's why pointy-haired bosses have been so successful at demotivating. They actively -- intentionally or otherwise -- break the rules. Hot buttons, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, and Needs, Wants & Desires are all descriptions of how you can motivate yourself to continue to work. The advantage to a writer is that they are the same motivations you are going to use for your target reader!

By combining both techniques, you can create an environment that will help you to continue working even when the world conspires against you. An environment that forces you to continue even when you can't take it anymore. An environment that makes eventual success inevitable.