For fellow writers: How do you motivate yourself?

R

Rich Dickardson

First time out of the vault
I've been wondering this, since I'm starting my job tomorrow, and I'd like to get as much work on one of my stories done as possible before then, and also because my preferred way of motivation, discussions about my works, is really lacking right now.

So, as said in the title, how do you normally motivate yourself to write?
 
Well it depends but do you mean like an actual novel or something you would post in parts on a website? Having done both, and only succeeded at one, the only motivation I had was actually getting recognised. I used to write stories but nobody in my family could be arsed or understood them - mostly sci-fi - and so it just seemed like I was wasting my time - I mean it was a story I already knew anyway and with no audience.

But I write a Fallout Fan-Fic that's around 60 pages in MS Word - using default settings - and I enjoy writing them because I get feedback off some people.
 
I approach writing like a bodybuilder would approach lifing weights. I warm up with a pot of coffee and read a few chapters from a book in the style/genre that I wish to write in to get me in the proper mood. Once I'm feeling it I sit down and let it flow, not worrying about filling holes or being concise until the editing phase.

I don't know how you approach writing, but when I'm feeling blocked and the pouring out of ideas doesn't work I use the snowflake method, I generalize what I want to write in one sentence or paragraph for each character development/plot event, then expand on those and fill in the gaps where they connect.

When I get a good pace I go at it like a race car driver would, coasting along on the power until I run out of steam and have to take a pit stop. When I'm feeling drained or the ideas stop flowing I do something unrelated, play guitar or take a walk or something. Like lifting weights or racing cars, the mind gets tired and I reach a point where I can't squeeze another drop from it so I have to just let it rest and simmer until it's ready to go again.

And don't get discouraged if it's going slowly. I think I read once about how famous authors write very slowly, like 1-3 pages a day max. Not everyone can be stephen king (who once wrote a 300 page novel in 10 days, fucker)


Hope that makes sense
 
The Enclave 86 said:
Well it depends but do you mean like an actual novel or something you would post in parts on a website? Having done both, and only succeeded at one, the only motivation I had was actually getting recognised. I used to write stories but nobody in my family could be arsed or understood them - mostly sci-fi - and so it just seemed like I was wasting my time - I mean it was a story I already knew anyway and with no audience.

But I write a Fallout Fan-Fic that's around 60 pages in MS Word - using default settings - and I enjoy writing them because I get feedback off some people.
Click to expand...

Something that I'd post parts of on a website, most likely. Yeah, getting recognized and getting feedback really does motivate me.

I normally write my stuff on Google Docs, and my current story is about 7 pages long right now.
 
Farmerk said:
I approach writing like a bodybuilder would approach lifing weights. I warm up with a pot of coffee and read a few chapters from a book in the style/genre that I wish to write in to get me in the proper mood. Once I'm feeling it I sit down and let it flow, not worrying about filling holes or being concise until the editing phase.

I don't know how you approach writing, but when I'm feeling blocked and the pouring out of ideas doesn't work I use the snowflake method, I generalize what I want to write in one sentence or paragraph for each character development/plot event, then expand on those and fill in the gaps where they connect.

When I'm feeling drained or the ideas stop flowing I do something unrelated, play guitar or take a walk or something. Like lifting weights, the mind gets tired and I reach a point where I can't squeeze another drop from it so I have to just let it rest and simmer until it's ready to go again.

And don't get discouraged if it's going slowly. I think I read once about how famous authors write very slowly, like 1-3 pages a day max. Not everyone can be stephen king (who once wrote a 300 page novel in 10 days, fucker)


Hope that makes sense
Click to expand...

Makes a lot of sense, actually. Thanks for the advice. I really appreciate it.
 
When I write, I don't write it for very long, 10 pages or so at max, but I do motivate myself on few, some would say, weird ways.

First, I write. Seriously, I write, I never type. If I need it on my computer, I just copy it. I don't know, I never get motivated to write when I'm on my keyboard.

Second, music. Depending on what I'm about to write, I choose different music. For fantasy, I listen to folky stuff, sometimes metal. For sci-fi, electronica or music from some sci-fi video games (e.g. StarCraft soundtrack). If I'm writing something more darker, morbid, then dark ambient comes in nicely, or if it is violent, then some brutal metal. (On a side note, I write short stories - later a bundle few of them up...usually. It's a hobby, really. Not that I'm good at it, though).

Third, writing under influence. I'm not meaning drugs (though you can take alcohol). To put it in a better way...
You know those nights when you drink a bit, have a few laughs, girl dumps you, you get your ass kicked and what else not - and you still don't give a fuck? Those nights are great for writing.
When you come home (I prefer walking - to flush bits of alcohol out) you really have a mixture of emotions and of various "aches" (be it stomach, head, butt or whatever), it is a great moment to put them on paper. Sometimes writing without plan in this moments is best, then later, when you sober up, you just clear it up a bit, correct a few mistakes and there you have it - potentially a great piece of work, or a total disaster.
Weird, yes, but you probably know what I mean.

Fourth...well, there isn't really fourth. Take some free, quiet, moments for yourself (e.g. when taking a crap) to think what is going to happen next and so on. You know the drill.

Like I said, I'm a bit weird at it. Not that I'm a loner in the method.
 
Atomkilla said:
When I write, I don't write it for very long, 10 pages or so at max, but I do motivate myself on few, some would say, weird ways.

First, I write. Seriously, I write, I never type. If I need it on my computer, I just copy it. I don't know, I never get motivated to write when I'm on my keyboard.

Second, music. Depending on what I'm about to write, I choose different music. For fantasy, I listen to folky stuff, sometimes metal. For sci-fi, electronica or music from some sci-fi video games (e.g. StarCraft soundtrack). If I'm writing something more darker, morbid, then dark ambient comes in nicely, or if it is violent, then some brutal metal. (On a side note, I write short stories - later a bundle few of them up...usually. It's a hobby, really. Not that I'm good at it, though).

Third, writing under influence. I'm not meaning drugs (though you can take alcohol). To put it in a better way...
You know those nights when you drink a bit, have a few laughs, girl dumps you, you get your ass kicked and what else not - and you still don't give a fuck? Those nights are great for writing.
When you come home (I prefer walking - to flush bits of alcohol out) you really have a mixture of emotions and of various "aches" (be it stomach, head, butt or whatever), it is a great moment to put them on paper. Sometimes writing without plan in this moments is best, then later, when you sober up, you just clear it up a bit, correct a few mistakes and there you have it - potentially a great piece of work, or a total disaster.
Weird, yes, but you probably know what I mean.

Fourth...well, there isn't really fourth. Take some free, quiet, moments for yourself (e.g. when taking a crap) to think what is going to happen next and so on. You know the drill.

Like I said, I'm a bit weird at it. Not that I'm a loner in the method.
Click to expand...

Music is something that definitely helps me out a bit with writing. Mark Morgan's "Vault of the Future" may aid with the current setting in my story so far.
 
:::SILUS::: said:
I only write in the blood of my enemies. And i use the blood of my enemies to inspire me for bleeding my enemies.
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Do you also dip bread in the blood of your enemies and eat it while you write with their blood as well?
 
Rich Dickardson said:
Music is something that definitely helps me out a bit with writing. Mark Morgan's "Vault of the Future" may aid with the current setting in my story so far.
Click to expand...

Yeah, Mark Morgan is generally good for writing. I suggest checking out some other soundtracks he has done, such as the one for Planescape: Torment, if you already haven't.
 
Atomkilla said:
Rich Dickardson said:
Music is something that definitely helps me out a bit with writing. Mark Morgan's "Vault of the Future" may aid with the current setting in my story so far.
Click to expand...

Yeah, Mark Morgan is generally good for writing. I suggest checking out some other soundtracks he has done, such as the one for Planescape: Torment, if you already haven't.
Click to expand...

Yeah, Planescape: Torment! Never played it, but I have listened to the soundtrack, and man do I wish I owned the game. Mark Morgan and Black Isle RPG games go together like bread and butter, I tell you.
 
I usually get my ideas when I do something completely different. Or when I go for a walk in the park while breathing fresh air etc. many ideas come in mind. Don't take a notepad with you. If you are at home and you still have the idea in mind without having to write it down, it was most probably a good idea and vice versa. This usually helps me a lot. I don't listen to music in the background, it only distracts me. I usually unplug my internet aswell, I do writing sessions very rarely, but when I am doing it, I churn out big amounts of it and must not be distracted. ;)

I should elaborate that I don't write stories or novels in the classical way, I mean writing for NPC, "lore" and stuff in my mod, as I'm the only writer.
 
For fellow writers: How do you motivate yourself?
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A couple of hookers, some crack and meth, and a giant dildo...oh yeah that was Henry Millers method.

henry_miller_-_1969_-_Paris_-_photo_C._Bavagnoli.jpg.scaled500.jpg
 
Surf Solar said:
I usually get my ideas when I do something completely different. Or when I go for a walk in the park while breathing fresh air etc. many ideas come in mind. Don't take a notepad with you. If you are at home and you still have the idea in mind without having to write it down, it was most probably a good idea and vice versa. This usually helps me a lot. I don't listen to music in the background, it only distracts me. I usually unplug my internet aswell, I do writing sessions very rarely, but when I am doing it, I churn out big amounts of it and must not be distracted. ;)

I should elaborate that I don't write stories or novels in the classical way, I mean writing for NPC, "lore" and stuff in my mod, as I'm the only writer.
Click to expand...

Oh man, I would just LOVE to write dialogue for NPCs, the lore of a game, and so forth. Turning this alternate Fallout universe that I thought up into a total conversion mod for a Fallout game, let it be Fallout 1, 2, 3, New Vegas or Tactics, would be a dream come true for me.
 
I smoke two joints before I smoke two joints, and then I smoke two more.
 
When I write my comedy, I have a benefit because I don't have to start from scratch. Whenever I experience, or think of something funny, I write it down. Later I can reconnect to that feeling and start extending on that thought.

However if I want to get psyched, I just watch some comedians that I like, and get to work on my own stuff.
 
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