How do I keep being motivated to finish projects?

[Rolling101]

Hey guys,

 

I thought I would like to discuss this as I know plenty of people have this problem like I do. Its trying to stay motivated when doing projects. People have an imagination full of creative ideas to make but only a handful of them actually get finished. My most recent attempt was make a csgo defusal map which I made a topic about here on mapcore.

 

I would just like some ideas or suggestions that would help me or anybody else with the same problem.

 

Thanks!

[ElectroSheep]

Pretty much this !

 

[Rolling101]

First off... I peed a little with the laughter that image gave me.

 

Now to a more serious point. I just thought of a way to possibly motivate yourself more or just keep you more interested in doing your project. Its trying to think of a way to make your project in a different way or style than your standard way of making things. I saw this video on you tube where this guy was making a csgo defusal map and he tried to make the map by making the different areas of the map separately from each other like making mid first and testing that part and moving on to other stuff and repeat the process until he had all the parts done. He then put all the different parts of the map together and then just detailed and released the map.

 

What do you guys think of this idea?

[tomm]

well, that's a constant battle.

 

what helps me is to do some planning, like for example, I'm gonna spend this weekend fine-tuning this one part of the map.

 

and when I actually make some progress I start to feel much better about myself and the map, it gives me this motivational boost and a will to continue.

 

also, if I start hating my map or start forcing things, I just put it on hold and do something else. I think it's always good to take a break from the map and come back to it later with a clear mind.

[Sprony]

I'm not one to give advice. I have a Quake 3 map that's 10 year in the making :S

[FMPONE]

Fail for long enough and you get really sick of it

[ShockaPop]

Finishing projects? What's that...

 

I think one good thing (mentioned here before already) is to plan your project. Not some 100% plan, but something to roughly have an overall idea what you want to have in the end. Then make it. Creative projects always "live" and change along the way, so try not to drift too far away yet from the initial plan you had. Once you have it done like planned (graybox state in levels), start evolving from there and changing things how you now want them to be. This is what I've found to work, mostly. It's because at least you have the base done for the level.

 

There's other ways too, my way could not work for you, or maybe even I could be better off with some other way of doing things.

[Puddy]

Motivation comes and goes.

 

Discipline is what you should be looking for. 

[will2k]

Here's an article I wrote a year ago, hope it helps

 

Overcoming Creative Block in Level Design

[Daniel Nilsson]

Maybe a bit too obvious but, don't set too high scopes. Better with many small projects and increase size along with maturity.

[ElectroSheep]

Make 2 differtent project in a row so when one of them is blocking you, continue with the other, etc...

 

 

Also like it's said before, finishing a part of a map on a final state help you to see how will looks your project and give you the strenght to finish it.

[kinggambit]

"fuck motivation. it’s a fickle and unreliable little dickfuck and it isn’t worth your time.

 

better to cultivate discipline than to rely on motivation. force yourself to do things. force yourself to get up out of bed and practice. force yourself to work.

 

motivation is fleeting and it’s easy to rely on because it requires no concentrated effort to get. motivation comes to you, you don’t even have to chase after it.

 

discipline is reliable, motivation is fleeting. the question isn’t how to keep yourself motivated, it’s how to train yourself to work without it."

 

-Anon   

[Nexusdog]

I have no idea, I'm useless at mapping so far but I did write up an article 4 years ago after pondering on the subject. http://www.worldofleveldesign.com/categories/wold-members-tutorials/nexusdog/l4d-campaign-design-why-less-is-more.php

[Xanthi]

I agree, it's more about discipline than motivation. What works for me is to set goals and test often. The magic of testing is that people can provide you with valuable feedback to improve your level. Or maybe if you're stuck on something they can give you some fresh ideas. Make sure to set realistic goals though, there is nothing more frustrating to not reach a goal. But if it happens learn from it and do it better next time. 

[Steppenwolf]

- Force yourself to do at least something on the project every day even when you're not motivated. When you feel creative do something creative on the project. When you don't feel creative do some technical tasks on that day. The motivation will come back when you realise you made some nice progress even when you didn't feel motivated

 

- Fill your brain with creative input from other artists/designers. For me i always feel most motivated when i just saw some cool screenshots on polycount, pinterest or something that a coworker did

 

- Choose your battles. When the project as a whole feels overwhelming then focus on a small aspect. Eventualy you will see the puzzle pieces falling into place

 

- go about the project in a way that lets you see the light at the end of the tunnel. when i worked on levels i preferred to finish it from the outside areas to the center

 

- know when to stop. a map or model is never finished if you don't declare it finished. you can keep working on it forever. so don't ocd on details

 

- when you're still learning then work on small things. Make a chair for a first model not a combat vehicle etc.

 

- set yourself realistic minimum goals for the day. It's a good feeling going to bed knowing you have achieved what you had planned. and an even better feeling when you got more done then you had planned