Motivation for writers

[trappingoutbooks]

It can be quite challenging to push through the creation process on those off days. What are some things you guys do to stay motivated?

[therosesword]

When I was writing for the company (audio drama) my motivation was my paycheck. Now that I'm not there it's the fact that I've always written and, frankly, can't stop. Plus I'm a pantser, I want to see how the story ends. If I'm having an "off" day, or even days, it just means the story needs to percolate a little longer and then I'm at it again.

[trappingoutbooks]

Fully relate to that last line. Sometimes the story really does need an incubation period while we experience more life.

[cherrystark]

I remind myself that while ultimately I'm writing my work for myself, I really want to be able to talk about my work with other people. My dream one day is for my series to be made into a TV series, and I always imagine people talking around the "watercooler" asking their coworkers if they've seen the latest episode of "The Museum" and that keeps me motivated. Dream a little dream!

[trappingoutbooks]

Same, I have the lofty aspiration of creating a novel that evolves into further forms of entertainment.

A dreamer's dream is a dream well lived or whatever Pimp C said.

[crisyah]

Same here! I'd love to have my novel's world used for a Soulsborne-esque game. I'd love a series, as well. And a collection of action figures would be nice, too. But, mostly, I write for myself. I want to know what happens and, as much as I'm more of a planner, truth is, the more we write, the more ideas come to us. If I stopped writing, my mind would most likely stagnate and keep replaying the same few scenes over and over. By writing, I'm keeping myself engaged and entertained and my brain keeps spewing new ideas out to fill in the blanks. Also, allowing yourself to rest and recharge when you're having a bad day instead of trying to power through is key! The latter will just lead to burnout really fast.

[Crusoe]

I sometimes I read through the comments on my novel once again, because seeing people be so excited about my story makes me really motivated to continue

[Iridium]

I think that what motivates me the most is seeing a project done. Is seeing a concept fully executed from the very beginning to the end. It's a mesmerizing, incredibly satisfactory feeling to fully complete a project, to look at it and realize you have done it, despite all challenges life has thrown at you.

[jkb4753]

Yes! This really helps me as well! Even just a "wow nice" helps me to stay positive!

[foxnflames]

Usually I’ll have a scene that’s giving me trouble so it demotivates me a bit or there are times when I don’t feel like writing because the energy required is too much. So I do something else creative instead like draw. Other times I talk with my friends and we motivate each other to write or I workshop a scene or reread it and find out where it’s going sideways. Sometimes I’ll have someone binge and it gives me a boost. Even if they don’t comment, the likes rolling in helps a lot

[MimSS]

Take breaks! If you're burned out or have no creative juice left there's no point forcing yourself
And I don't mean reschedule for tomorrow, but let yourself be like "I'll check in with myself tomorrow" and if you're still not feeling it, then that's okay. It sucks when you get like this, but you gotta not feel guilty about taking breaks.
Like, be annoyed at yourself for 5-15 minutes after deciding not to write today but then don't think about it for the rest of the day, otherwise, that's not restful, just stressful.
Motivation will come back eventually and it'll feel really good once you get back into it all refreshed

[sarahmassey998]

I have a few devoted readers (including my mom!) who want to see how things go and love new content. In a way it's not only a support system but also motivation as you are not the only one invested in your writing. That and I still live with my parents so I get asked over breakfast every now and again when the next chapter is coming out.

Thank you to the readers, you have no idea how much your comments and likes mean!

[Kaydreamer]

I write whatever I'm fixated on at the time, in whatever order I want to. I know I'm not alone in this either, I've seen a few writers here on the forums describe their process similarly. Once I have most of the dialogue in a chapter, I string all of the fragments I've written into a cohesive plot. After that, it gets a final edit pass to ensure everything the reader needs to know is there, and hey presto; a chapter!

It's a great method. It means I'm never blocked, because even if I can't figure out what should happen next in one chapter, I can just work on a different one. I can do multiple 'drafts' of dialogue fragments, as some of what I've written is years away from actually being in my comic.

[FancyDreamer]

I may be a crazy person, but when I'm having issues writing, I take a nap. For starters, I'll wake up with a fresh mind and be able to focus better. However, that's just a bonus. I do this primarily because I have found a way to control my dreams. I put myself in one of the main character's roles in my stories by picturing what they look like, what their struggles are, what they are doing, what they want for life, their favorite colors, etc. When I fall asleep, I will be that character. From there, my dream mind can take over and tell me where my story should go. After all, they say that dreams are the subconscious' desires, so if my dream says it should happen, well then it's going into my story.

[TheDoublekey]

Is it hard to be a pantser? I can't really write a story without first picturing the beginning and the ending clearly, so it seems rather difficult to me

[itsrue]

Well, this is weird I think. I'll keep myself hungry. When I'm hungry, I write very quickly. I won't eat the whole night/morning, and I become really, really focused. This is not healthy btw.

[therosesword]

For me, no it's not hard being a pantser. I tried plotting a few times and it never worked. But, this works for me. The best way for any writer to write is to work the way that works the best for them.

I've had people tell me that pantsers look down on plotters. I've never met a fellow pantser who does that. Frankly anyone who can sit down and pull together people and places and ideas and form a cohesive story, no matter by what method, will always have my respect.

Regarding needing a beginning and an end... being a pantser doesn't mean you don't have a beginning or an ending. I usually know the endings and/or goals of everything I write I just have to find my way there. Sometimes it changes, but not very often, actually, rarely. Sometimes all I have in the beginning is an ending and I have to figure out how to get to it. My two favorite words are "what if."

People seem to think that pantsers don't think about what they're writing at all. We do. We don't sit down for hours planning things and writing them down and making outlines and putting notes on bulletin boards, etc. Sometimes we make notes (otherwise you forget those great ideas you had in the shower) and sometimes you handwrite a scene while having coffee and you're not at your desk. but scenes and ideas flow outside of the time that we're actually writing. I choreograph (physically) all the fight scenes that I write. I may not use all of the choreography but as I write it forms the base and the outcome is already known to me.

I don't worry about arcs or character development or any of that. I just let it flow naturally, let its own rhythm find its way, but it doesn't mean that I'm not cognizant of what's going on or I never think about it when I'm not writing. I've been working like this for so long I don't know any other way to work.

If I start writing things down, like an outline etc. by the time I finish it the story is done for me and I no longer have any interest in working on it. Plotting, for me, kills the creative process. Again, that's how it works for me. I know this because I've tried plotting and outlining and also collaborated with other writers (which was VERY hard). So when I say this works for me I know it does because I have at least tried the other way.

Find the way of working that works best for you and then pursue it. There is no established right or wrong way to work no matter what anyone tells you. The "right" way is the way that works for you.

[cherrystark]

I'm a pantser too. I never know the exact beginning or ending to my series, I discover it as I go. For me, I simply write the scene that plays in my head before leap-frogging to the next scene. Intuition is a huge part of how I work. I had a completely different opening worked for my series but it felt off, so I rewrote it until it felt right. I rewrote a good chunk of my current story because the flow felt off.

Arcs and character development, for me, came the same way. My MC was abandoned as a child, so her natural fear of abandonment fits appears in several storylines Now, she's developed into a rounder character than she was in part one. I explore the other characters' histories the same way. I give them one trait and let them grow.

Like @therosesword said, find the logic/method that works best for you. I am a daydreamer so I often daydream complex storylines for my own amusement even if I never write them. I also study behavior, body language, study movies to understand different storytelling methods, and more to craft my stories. I am very logical when I pants.

I stopped plotting because I'd stray away from my outline too often and then would feel guilty about not sticking to the plan. Pantsing gives me freedom. I had an entire story planned in my head and ready to write after a 30 or so minute walk. All I needed to do when I started writing was to flesh out the details.

Best of luck of your writing journey.

[TheDoublekey]

I totally agree with you, one should write the way they prefer. I'm a plotter, so this method seems strange, yet appealing to me. I never thought there were other ways of writing and this seems interesting!

[trappingoutbooks]

That's a pretty solid method IMO I like it