Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Inspiration for Writers

Motivation is an important thing that gets books written. This combined with a creative mind and a great storyline is what makes a book stand out to publishing houses. As a writer myself, I'm not always motivated to sit down and create. Sometimes I need a kick in the pants to get the juices flowing. I compare writing to a fire. The more motivation and inspiration I have, which is the fuel, the warmer and sustaining the flames are. The motivators are the fuel.

So, the big question is, "What motivates a writer?"

Tip 1:

Know where your story is heading. I'm not suggesting that a writer should sit down and write every detail and aspect before diving into chapter one. For some, plotting works. For others, like myself, I like to jump in and take off. However, that doesn't mean that I don't have a solid storyline in my head and I use it as the core path on the map. Verging from this path is fine as long as we hop back on the storyline train every once in awhile. What a writer doesn't want is to lose sight of the plot. For instance, when one is making a pot of stew they know what the end result will be--stew. However, this is where writing style comes into play: one can add their choice of veggies and meat to come up with what suits their flavor. It'll still be stew no matter what you throw in. A writer never wants to have holes in their plot.

Tip 2:

Find your place of solace. I've always needed one thing while I write: SILENCE. No music, no TV, no noise. Another motivator for me is natural light. I sit by a massive picture window and it helps the creative juice start flowing. Chocolate is always welcome at my desk. I eat a candy bar a day while I'm in my writing/mental zone. One writer friend said she sits down and reads a chapter or two of her favorite writer and it sparks her competitive side. Another author told me he works out and writes better pumped.  Find what works for you.

Tip 3:

Stay true to yourself. Write what you love. The greatest joy in life is doing what makes us happy. Follow your instinct. I don't feel like any writer must stick with one genre, or sub-genre. Being a writer means creating. My brain is chocked full of story ideas and characters. I just happen to love writing romance, but I'm not chained to that genre. In fact, I see a children's book on the horizon for me. It could turn out to be the worst book I've ever written, but at least I'll give it a shot. The inspiration comes in bringing a story and characters to life. Nurturing them into believable people. Connecting true life to a fantasy world.

Tip 4:

Set goals and stick to them. Word targets have been a huge motivator for me. Each day I choose how many words I'm going to write, but am very careful not to aim too high. The idea is to reach the goal as inspiration. Once I reach my target it gives me the motivation to continue on. A few of my writer friends have word count challenges. They either set a goal of words and see who reaches it first, or they have a free-for-all and see who writes the most words in one day. All writers know writing books is a competitive field. It's not that we want to do better than another writer, we just like the challenge of winning.

Tip 5:

Join a critique group. When I first started writing I joined a wonderful group. During that time I learned more than I thought possible. Not only did I learn to grow a tougher, thicker skin, I also got the best advice from a diverse population of writers. The critters who helped me the most are the ones who didn't hold back with the blunt truth. It made me a better writer and a better person.

What is your motivation?

 

4 comments:

  1. Interesting, and a lot of valid points, depending perhaps on your genre. As a writer and writing professor, not sure I agree with the sticking to the plot – at least it's never worked for me. The novels I was able to publish wrote themselves; the characters led me rather than vice versa. But all writers can certainly come up with their own rules, just from learning through trial and error. Nice blog.

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    1. Thank you, Sandra. My books tend to write themselves also, but I attempt to keep an abstract plot in my mind.

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  2. nice tips! I am only an amateur writer, still feels funny calling myself that...but I think I can try these tips to become a better one. thanks!

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    1. Thanks for your comment. I hope they help. These are only my tips and what has worked for me, so you'll find what works for you through your journey. I hope I've helped in giving you some "inspiration." Again, thank you. Good luck and best wishes.

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