I frequently lack the enthusiasm to write and wondered where you get yours from. What is it that gets you going?
Where, how, in what way do you acquire enthusiasm for writing?
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Honestly?
It's the paycheck.
I would never have described myself as a writer, otherwise. But I can write, and people will pay me.
So I'm crass and mercenary. Being desirous of food, ultimately, is my inner muse.
But in terms of motivations, I think sometimes it helps me to think, I'll do another 500 words, and read for an hour, or listen to music while I write, or go for a walk.
It's the paycheck.
I would never have described myself as a writer, otherwise. But I can write, and people will pay me.
So I'm crass and mercenary. Being desirous of food, ultimately, is my inner muse.
But in terms of motivations, I think sometimes it helps me to think, I'll do another 500 words, and read for an hour, or listen to music while I write, or go for a walk.
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It was beaten into me by an English teacher. Then other English teachers encouraged me at my peril. Then, and this is the craziest part, people bought what I wrote.
Madness, I tell you.
If you don't like writing why are you trying to be a writer?
Madness, I tell you.
If you don't like writing why are you trying to be a writer?
Primarily the money. But if I didn't enjoy the process, I wouldn't write, even for money. There are too many easier ways of earning money to make a living doing something you don't enjoy. Take away the money, and I wouldn't write. Take away the enjoyment, and I wouldn't write.
I've never been big on the concept of motivation. Motivation strikes me as something that's needed only when there's something you have to do, but really, really don't want to do.
I need motivation to do all sorts of unpleasant things, but just as I don't need motivation to read a good book, or to take a vacation with the family, or to go out to the shooting range, I don't need motivation to write. I Don't need motivation to do anything I really enjoy doing, and I don't do things I don't enjoy doing unless I absolutely have to do them. Life is too short.
I've never been big on the concept of motivation. Motivation strikes me as something that's needed only when there's something you have to do, but really, really don't want to do.
I need motivation to do all sorts of unpleasant things, but just as I don't need motivation to read a good book, or to take a vacation with the family, or to go out to the shooting range, I don't need motivation to write. I Don't need motivation to do anything I really enjoy doing, and I don't do things I don't enjoy doing unless I absolutely have to do them. Life is too short.
I'll be honest - money.
But there's another side to it. I loathe working for something I don't like. If I didn't like a lot (sometimes even love!) writing, I wouldn't be doing it.
Doing something I love and getting paid for it? My dream job.
But there's another side to it. I loathe working for something I don't like. If I didn't like a lot (sometimes even love!) writing, I wouldn't be doing it.
Doing something I love and getting paid for it? My dream job.
Wow...I'm kind of surprised that no one has hit on my reason yet: a need to CREATE something. Some people carve ice sculptures or paint or do woodwork. I write. And I have never received anything more than token payment for doing so.
Reason two is that I want to leave something behind, and writing can make you immortal, whether to future generations or simply to your own progeny. If you don't leave something behind, then you only took up space....Least that's the way I see it.
Reason two is that I want to leave something behind, and writing can make you immortal, whether to future generations or simply to your own progeny. If you don't leave something behind, then you only took up space....Least that's the way I see it.
T.S.Rex
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I'm with Lost World on this, the need to create just makes me enthusiastic. I want to tell this story I've had playing over and over in my head for so long. There are times I'm frustrated and tired, but give me a long drive to work or too long away from the computer and my mind nags at me, replaying scenes and conversations that make me itch to put this story I'm so passionate about into words.
I agree with Dandroid. Starting is hard, but once I start I do a lot of *muahahaha* and *hahahaha* and *I love this idea*. The actual writing part, I like. The sitting down and focusing part, not so much.
I'm also motivated by my goals. It's like that carrot on a stick thing. I keep going trying to reach my carrot (having something in a book store).
I'm also motivated by my goals. It's like that carrot on a stick thing. I keep going trying to reach my carrot (having something in a book store).
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I'm confused about what you mean by 'acquiring enthusiasm for writing'. I assume we're all enthusiastic about writing itself here... Do you mean getting your mojo on to write for long periods of time, adding new things to your manuscript that won't end up getting deleted without a trace?
In that case, I find I'm most productively creative when I'm juggling multiple things at once, with school, work and writing. There's just something about having only a small amount of space to write that sends my mind ticking on overdrive.
In that case, I find I'm most productively creative when I'm juggling multiple things at once, with school, work and writing. There's just something about having only a small amount of space to write that sends my mind ticking on overdrive.
Butt In Chair, Hands On Keyboard.
Seriously. I don't write every single day, because some days I'm working on wider career goals and others I'm taking a break (just as I do from my day job) - but when I've made a commitment to write a draft, or work on my edits, or outline some scenes, I sit down at my desk and just do it.
You start with enthusiasm for the shiny new project, and you keep that enthusiasm by keeping on going. Also, I belong to another forum (Forward Motion) where we post weekly goals and cheer one another on. I have beta-readers as well, to criticise my work when it's ready for public consumption, but I think it's good to have cheerleaders as well, to keep you going until you get to that stage.
this, to at least some extent.
a lot of folks who want to write seem to think it is some magical bit of fairy-fun and wonder. Sometimes I'm sure it is. But almost every interview i've seen by published, working on books full-time authors, they're pretty damn up fron about the fact they handle it like a job. Their job it to type. That means a lot of mornings they don't skip their way to the keyboard, humming and smiling, but they go there anyway.
If I'm down about writing (worried I'm not good enough, panicking about plot holes etc) I just remind myself of why I'm doing this - because the second I sit down and focus on my book I'm happy.
I'm not happy in my current profession - it's not the worst job in the world but I can get really down about it sometimes. With the current economic climate in Ireland (and it is really bad here at the moment) there are no other options for me - it's either do a job I hate or starve - there are no other jobs out there and hundreds of thousands of young people are leaving the country because it's so bad.
Writing makes me feel better about all of this. It's hard to describe it, but it just does.
I'm not happy in my current profession - it's not the worst job in the world but I can get really down about it sometimes. With the current economic climate in Ireland (and it is really bad here at the moment) there are no other options for me - it's either do a job I hate or starve - there are no other jobs out there and hundreds of thousands of young people are leaving the country because it's so bad.
Writing makes me feel better about all of this. It's hard to describe it, but it just does.
Are you trying to crush my delusion?
Yes, it very much is a job and a habit. You don't always like your job, but if you want the end result (paycheck/publication), you do it anyway. I might feel morose and completely not creative, but if I can crack the seal and get a few words down, it grows to a few more words, and soon I'm feeling much better - happy. It's fun, even if it can be a hard habit to create and maintain.
Writing's like sex. You might not feel like it tonight, you might plead a headache, but if you do it to keep other people happy, once you get into it you start enjoying it yourself.
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I write because I love to write, I need to write. Now, don't get me wrong, I'd love to get rich and famous, but that isn't why I write. Sometimes I might feel tired or even discouraged, but I never have to find enthusiasm for writing, I already have it.
Assumptions are dangerous.
I think I might inhabit a different world.
I would like to write. Fiction. Not necessarily to have a story published – that is too far off to even contemplate. At this stage my goal would be simply to finish the writing.
1. Currently I have the broadest of broad outlines for a story in my head – it goes something like this – a guy wants nothing more out of life than to stretch out under a tree, but in order to reach that goal he finds he has to keep doing stuff.
2. I am unable to flesh out that outline, to give myself something to write. My mind refuses to co-operate. I think this may be caused by various age- and health-related aches and pains preventing me from zeroing in on writing.
3. I thought, perhaps naïvely, that if I had boundless enthusiasm for the project, that that enthusiasm might override the aches and pains.
Perhaps my OP was also naïve.
I write because I think I'm good at it, and when I write more, I get better at it. That's mostly what fuels my enthusiasm.
Also, I'd like to quit my day job someday. Might not happen, but trying isn't costing me anything except the time I would otherwise spend watching Teen Mom 2.
Also, I'd like to quit my day job someday. Might not happen, but trying isn't costing me anything except the time I would otherwise spend watching Teen Mom 2.
Fiction or nonfiction?
Nonfiction is the paycheck. I do like it more than a lot of things I've done to get a paycheck, so that's a bonus. But it's not like I usually care much about the topic or anything. I care to make it so that the reader understands it well, or it's not so dry, etc. That challenge is fun enough.
Fiction is another story (bwahaha). It's just fun to write (along with all of the work part, of course). But people enjoy it in a way that feels different than a training manual or textbook success. There is an artsy creative thing there that is rewarding without a paycheck, for me.
Of course, now I'm shooting for a paycheck worth anything on the fiction front, too. We'll see
Nonfiction is the paycheck. I do like it more than a lot of things I've done to get a paycheck, so that's a bonus. But it's not like I usually care much about the topic or anything. I care to make it so that the reader understands it well, or it's not so dry, etc. That challenge is fun enough.
Fiction is another story (bwahaha). It's just fun to write (along with all of the work part, of course). But people enjoy it in a way that feels different than a training manual or textbook success. There is an artsy creative thing there that is rewarding without a paycheck, for me.
Of course, now I'm shooting for a paycheck worth anything on the fiction front, too. We'll see
I have to make up stories in my head.
I've done it all my life and I can't help doing it.
Writing is a way of trying to fix some of those floating stories.
I once thought that one naturally led to the other and because I did the one I'd be able to do the other easily. It didn't turn out like that as they are really two different things.
So writing for me is trying to turn one thing into another, it's a challenge and it's a learning process. But the stories in my head? they are an addiction.
I've done it all my life and I can't help doing it.
Writing is a way of trying to fix some of those floating stories.
I once thought that one naturally led to the other and because I did the one I'd be able to do the other easily. It didn't turn out like that as they are really two different things.
So writing for me is trying to turn one thing into another, it's a challenge and it's a learning process. But the stories in my head? they are an addiction.
Same here. There's nothing I like more than imagining a complex plot in a nifty alternate universe, and then filling it out with characters. Everytime I get too lazy or too caught up with life to write, I feel something's missing and I always have to come back to it.
Another thing is that I love to read. Some books have brought me such intense satisfaction that I felt forever grateful to their authors. My ultimate dream is to bring the same pleasure to someone reading my stuff. I don't really care about the money, I already have a well-paying job I love, but I just want to be read, and that's what keeps me going.
That sounds as if a strong and vivid imagination plays a large part in being able to write.
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In all honesty, B-Ox, it sounds less like an enthusiasm problem and more of a focus problem for your story. It's extremely vague and broad and so far shows no conflict whatsoever. The conflict, of wanting to sleep his day away in a hammock, should come from life, his circumstances and your story.
I might suggest some brainstorming and asking some questions of the story and the character. Play the What if game.
What if:
An alien invasion landed in his backyard.
While trimming the hedge, overhearing his neighbors talking about an assassination.
The kid that lives across the street is the Anti-Christ.
Or perhaps something less fanciful but ideas that would drag your MC out of his pursuit of complacency into an adventure of some sort. He'll have to solve this problem before he can go back to sleep under that tree.
Provided the aliens haven't taken it as a specimen.
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