No matter what story you're working on, just the fact that you're working on it means that you've already had one or two sparkling ideas regarding it, such as a couple great scenes you have in mind, a knock-their-socks-off finale or just an intriguing premise.

These highlights may not be what you're working on at the moment, but I find it helps, when I'm feeling unmotivated, to focus on the fact that these "gems" are in there, or will be in there. They give the story it's value. It's why I felt it was worth pursuing in the first place. They're what makes it great. I have to write through whatever scene I'm in now to get to them.

Then, after I've clomped over to the keyboard like a petulant 6-year-old, I focus on the task at hand and do my best job with it; I've essentially tricked myself into working.

You could also just watch a bad movie. Nothing gets your butt in the seat better than a feeling of: "I could do better than that--get me my damned laptop!"

Show up. Sit down. Get to work.

Fight through it / Write through it.

Have another cup of coffee.

Then put your helmet on and step back into the batter's box. Get your swings in... cuz you never know what you'll hit.

Watch your favorite movie.

I don't.

I listen to music instead.

While I don't disagree with Désirée's approach -- some days, you just need to take a break -- being able to write on your worst days is an absolutely essential skill-set for a professional screenwriter or TV writer, the latter especially who just don't have time to dick around. They have a calendar that simply can't be pushed. And that calendar doesn't give a hoot if you're feeling blue or not.

Hence the OP: What ways can you motivate yourself to work, even when you just don't feel like it, but the rest of the world is waiting on your damn pages.

It takes a lot of telling myself the truth. When I'm not writing, someone else out there is.

I've found the pain of regret (of not writing that day) is worse than actually sitting down to write what I needed to.

I write at least 5 days a week, I usually take weekends off to myself to unwind.