I am in love with motivational quotes and like many people, especially love scrolling through Pinterest or Instagram on a Monday morning before starting work, to get my enthusiasm up for the week ahead.

In particular, I am a big fan of inspirational quotes on the topic of writing – who would have thought, right? However, dreams are also a theme I like to revisit regularly, as for me, writing is my dream and I think we all need that little reminder every now and then that no matter what life throws at us, we can keep moving forward towards our goals.

With this in mind, today’s post is going to be a short and sweet share of some of my favorite inspirational quotes. I hope you find them just as inspiring as I do!

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“Dreams don’t work unless you do.” ― John C. Maxwell

I recently shared this one on my Instagram feed as I think Maxwell has a very valid point. Dreams aren’t simply things we achieve through wishing for them. There has to be a certain degree of action towards the desired end for it to be able to manifest, and whilst I am a firm believer in universal truths, such as the law of attraction, without some effort on our part, we are destined to fail. No matter how hard, no matter how heart-wrenching it is at times, we have to keep putting one foot in front of the other and progressing forward.

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“Half of what I write is garbage, but if I don’t write it down it decomposes in my head.” – Jarod Kintz

This is my one of favourite writing quotes! I think it sums up the need and want to write perfectly, whilst also overcoming the fear of judgment.

Sometimes we just have to get our words down on paper as a way of allowing our minds to refresh and come up with new ideas. It’s important to never be afraid to write something rubbish – it’s all part of the process and often can lead to new and exciting ideas. Experimenting and documenting is the perfect way of coming up with new content and even if it is less than desirable, it isn’t a waste, because it frees your mind to think up other things rather than trying to hold onto an idea you’d prefer not to forget, just in case. Bad ideas or non-ideal writing samples also have their place in the world – they can be used as just that – examples of what not to do; the pitfalls and struggles of writing are equally as valuable as pro tips and worthwhile things to share.

Never leave your ideas to rot in your head. Plant them on paper and even if weeds grow, they may still be beautiful.

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“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” – Richard Bach

Sometimes quitting can seem like the only option when things don’t go right…but with every set back we become stronger writers, and we get one step closer to our goals through the lessons we learn. ⠀⠀

Some days writing can seem like a chore, especially when the muse refused to cooperate and you feel like you are having to negotiate every sentence out of your head. It can be draining, worrying, and often make us feel like impostors in our own profession. But we are writers. It’s what we do. We write.

Never give up. Start each day fresh without guilt or regret and simply move forward and try. If you don’t, you fail by default. It’s the giving up part that kills dreams, not the trying.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

You’ve got this!

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“I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.” ― Douglas Adams, The Salmon of Doubt

This is one of my all-time favorite quotes and one I repeat it to myself regularly. I will admit that on more than one occasion I have waved at a self-imposed deadline as it has come and gone and frankly not given a fig. Sometimes these things happen and whilst when it comes to professional deadlines, I cringe at the prospect of ever being late, self-imposed deadlines are more of a motivational tool rather than an iron-clad commitment.

I recently listened to the whooshing noise of my debut non-fiction book as it dissipated on the calendar and whilst I did still want to meet it, the reality of these things is, it’s better to be reasonable and do a better job on an extension then it is to rush and produce rubbish. And you know what? It was okay. I worked to make the book better and even more valuable for my fellow writers, so it was worth a little extra time and I had only trapped myself with a deadline in my own diary, so no official date or anything was upset in the process of self-publishing.

Sometimes we all need to give ourselves a little slack and just relax a bit with our writing and deadlines. Whilst it is a very good idea to be particular about meeting our goals, sometimes we are too hard on ourselves and that can stifle creativity. Let the odd one go.

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“A book is a gift you can open again and again.” – Garrison Keillor

This one is very apt, for all lovers of books, readers and writers included. Books are a fantastic gift and not just in the essence of a present. A book is the author’s gift to the reader, the guide for their own adventure. A good story is a wonder to behold, able to captivate the imagination in a wonderful way, to bring joy and express truths, carry hope, and help process despair. Books can make tough topics relatable or inspire us to think about things in other ways. They can educate, entertain and allow for escapism. And what’s more is they can be read over and over again, with each new exploration of the page bringing more depth and detail. They truly are the gift that keeps on giving.

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What are some of your Monday morning motivational quotes that get you inspired for the week ahead? Drop them down in the comments below.