What keeps you going? What gets you excited about writing? What motivates you?
12 thoughts on “READER FRIDAY: What motivates you as an author?”
Bills.
When writing becomes your profession, you can’t sit and wait for motivation or the Muse. You produce. But it does help that I love what I do. It makes “going to work” each day not a matter of dread, but of anticipation.
Having passion for your work takes the drudge out of it. Few people know what that feels like. I feel blessed. I KNOW you feel this way, Jim. It shows in every TKZ post you write & in your books.
Creating something from nothing, that touches other people, is pure joy.
I’m not sure I fully understand what motivates me but I can name a few things. I write historical almost exclusively & believe there are a lot of lessons to be learned from the past. And researching history is just plain fun. I’m currently working on a volunteer project to write a brief bio for someone buried in one of my state’s cemeteries and the man went by 2 completely different names. It’s going to drive me BONKERS until I figure out why. The mystery of it is killing me. And who knows? Odds are good it might give me a book idea. 😎
I am also motivated to write because my life is different than most others, therefore I have a perspective that is different than most others–that may not come out in the writing, depending on who/what I’m writing, but it does mean my taste in fiction is often different from that of others.
Different is good, BK. The uniqueness of storytelling (& storytellers) makes the creative process special. A labor of love.
Story ideas. Characters. Quite often I have to force myself to stop sitting there and watching scenes in my head and actually write them down.
You think faster than your fingers can type…and the story ideas don’t stop. I love it, AZ.
Not sure what motivates me, but it’s something akin to Richard Dreyfuss’ character in Close Encounters of the Third Kind being driven to build a model of Devils’ Tower out of mashed potatoes.
I can relate. I’m glad writing doesn’t entail a heaping mound of dirt in my living room.
Late on commenting! But just wanted to say good for you for finally making the trip of your dreams. You’ll love Italy. (What’s not to love?)
As for Global Entry, I signed up years ago and man, it is terrific for foreign travel. You whip thru customs (as you ignore the glares from the other weary travelers queued up wondering who died and made you queen!). Global Entry also got us automatically enrolled in TSA pre-check. Sure, you have to give the FBI your fingerprints but it’s worth it imho.
Have a great time!!!
Now I’m doubly excited. I may spend money on Global Entry anyway, even with the redundancy. I only have the one airport leaving Italy on my last day, before I return to U.S. but on future trips (if I visit multiple countries), Global Entry could make a difference. Thanks, Kris.
3 more “What’s…”:
• What if…?
• What’s next?
• What’s that?
Bills.
When writing becomes your profession, you can’t sit and wait for motivation or the Muse. You produce. But it does help that I love what I do. It makes “going to work” each day not a matter of dread, but of anticipation.
Having passion for your work takes the drudge out of it. Few people know what that feels like. I feel blessed. I KNOW you feel this way, Jim. It shows in every TKZ post you write & in your books.
Creating something from nothing, that touches other people, is pure joy.
I’m not sure I fully understand what motivates me but I can name a few things. I write historical almost exclusively & believe there are a lot of lessons to be learned from the past. And researching history is just plain fun. I’m currently working on a volunteer project to write a brief bio for someone buried in one of my state’s cemeteries and the man went by 2 completely different names. It’s going to drive me BONKERS until I figure out why. The mystery of it is killing me. And who knows? Odds are good it might give me a book idea. 😎
I am also motivated to write because my life is different than most others, therefore I have a perspective that is different than most others–that may not come out in the writing, depending on who/what I’m writing, but it does mean my taste in fiction is often different from that of others.
Different is good, BK. The uniqueness of storytelling (& storytellers) makes the creative process special. A labor of love.
Story ideas. Characters. Quite often I have to force myself to stop sitting there and watching scenes in my head and actually write them down.
You think faster than your fingers can type…and the story ideas don’t stop. I love it, AZ.
Not sure what motivates me, but it’s something akin to Richard Dreyfuss’ character in Close Encounters of the Third Kind being driven to build a model of Devils’ Tower out of mashed potatoes.
I can relate. I’m glad writing doesn’t entail a heaping mound of dirt in my living room.
Late on commenting! But just wanted to say good for you for finally making the trip of your dreams. You’ll love Italy. (What’s not to love?)
As for Global Entry, I signed up years ago and man, it is terrific for foreign travel. You whip thru customs (as you ignore the glares from the other weary travelers queued up wondering who died and made you queen!). Global Entry also got us automatically enrolled in TSA pre-check. Sure, you have to give the FBI your fingerprints but it’s worth it imho.
Have a great time!!!
Now I’m doubly excited. I may spend money on Global Entry anyway, even with the redundancy. I only have the one airport leaving Italy on my last day, before I return to U.S. but on future trips (if I visit multiple countries), Global Entry could make a difference. Thanks, Kris.
3 more “What’s…”:
• What if…?
• What’s next?
• What’s that?
What?