In Misery, novelist Paul Sheldon has a ritual when he finishes a book: he drinks champagne and uses one match to light one cigarette. (Not that I’m suggesting it’s healthy or anything. It’s just what he does.)

Interestingly, at a crucial moment in the story, this ritual will make something else possible during his time with Annie Wilkes, so it serves more than one purpose in the plot.

Sidenote: what a memorable character Annie Wilkes is! Kathy Bates brought her to life in such a fascinating performance too in the film, for which she won a well-deserved Academy Award, Golden Globe, and more. I think I read somewhere too that Stephen King called Annie one of his favorite characters, if not his very favorite. (Not trying to turn this into an Annie Wilkes Appreciation Post. But she’s unforgettable.)

The main point here is that the author sets up a finish-line ritual to keep him motivated. 

Having something you desire waiting for you at the end is obviously one way to encourage a person. So too is being able to imagine how completion affects the long-term situation. It’s also possible to feel satisfied simply by continuing to move forward one step at a time. 

But what about when you have a looming deadline, you’re not quite done with your project yet, and you need a little push…how do you inspire yourself?