What Motivates You to Write?

[carrie221]

I personally write not that I will ever really show anyone what I write is to get the ideas out of my head and done so that new ideas can come and bother me to write them...

 

[Saltheart]

I write because my imagination forces me to. If I didn't write I would go insane with all the ideas flooding my brain. I also write so that someday I can get awareness for crippled and diseased people who have all suffered because very few people know their ailments or can share with them love; I have huge ambitions to make my mark in the minds of men all over the world and bring joy to the lost.

 

[Jaggy Jai]

I write because I have a deep seated hatred of society and humanity. We lie, betray, cheat and steal, then excuse ourselves by pleading weakness and portray ourselves as pathetic to attain forgiveness. We are superficial and cowardly, yet arrogantly claim to be more, rather than actually becoming something greater.
I am often motivated to create a world and characters where the pre-conditions of society are challenged, or better yet ridiculed for what they are, nonsense.
I write because it triggers my imagination and sends me deeper into the realm of fantasy. Which is why the imagination is the greatest gift of all, because no matter what is happening or where I end up, no-one can invade this plain existence.

 

[Marky Lazer]

I write because I have a deep seated hatred of society and humanity. We lie, betray, cheat and steal, then excuse ourselves by pleading weakness and portray ourselves as pathetic to attain forgiveness. We are superficial and cowardly, yet arrogantly claim to be more, rather than actually becoming something greater.
I am often motivated to create a world and characters where the pre-conditions of society are challenged, or better yet ridiculed for what they are, nonsense.
I write because it triggers my imagination and sends me deeper into the realm of fantasy. Which is why the imagination is the greatest gift of all, because no matter what is happening or where I end up, no-one can invade this plain existence.

Whoa! I never heard someone say something like that (something that makes sense) while I stayed in the West Midlands!

 

[Jaggy Jai]

Where in Midlands dare I ask!!!

 

[SpaceShip]

Yeah, that's about the size of it.

Terry, in my comments on the other thread, I didn't mean I had stopped completely, but rather that I hadn't been able to focus in on one piece for extended periods of time. I write everyday. Unfortunately, it's rarely on the same pieces. That's my main problem: too many ideas on the boil at once. I become fixated on one, lose interest, work on something else, come back and do some more, wander off again, and so on. At uni I had to focus on one piece and get it done. That was what was good about it. I wasn't concerned about marks (other than passing) or what my tutors thought, because for the most part they weren't big fans of my chosen genre. But the deadlines made me focus. Now I have to find something else to make me do that. The right idea, a mentor, something that works.

That being said, of the thirty or so classmates I had, I know of one who is seriously giving professionalism a tilt, another couple doing what I'm doing, working and trying to write what they can. A few have left it behind to move onto different passions. The rest, God knows, but I doubt many of them still write. So your comments are valid.

When it comes down to it, I write for myself. If I got published, great, but I don't see it happening anytime soon. I write because I enjoy it. I write because if I didn't get the ideas in my head out on paper, they'd drive me crazy (thought they often do anyway). I write because I can never find the exact kind of story I want to read, so dammit, I'll do it myself. I don't want fame. I wouldn't say no to the money, but I'd only use it to make my other dreams come true - to open a nice, quiet little bookstore where I can hide away from the real world, and maybe tap out a few stories. Beyond that...

... and read all the books you want to!!!

I write because for years I had to work and couldn't - too tired by the end of the day and too busy at weekends. Now that I do have the time, all the stories that have been attacking my brain can be put down on paper (or comupter!) and my overloaded brain is eased - for a while anyway.

Like Auer, I am so happy when I get fan mail - it is like a drug. And it was wonderful when searching the net and coming across the Chronicles Network for the first time that I found one of the members had read my first book and had commented on it that it was "very good indeed". You can imagine the buzz I got when I read that.

The bottom line is - if you write you have to!

 

[No_one]

Question one: The main reason I write is that it alleviates boredom and allows me to enter my own world where everything is good/expected (for me anyway)
I like to be told my writing is good, but since I rarely show it to anyone I don’t get much feedback. I am trying to rectify that on this forum. I think I need outside input in order to improve. The faceless approach is much easier.
The idea of having my name in print is appealing but again, I need to get over my fear of showing others my work. And improve my writing.

Question Two: I think you would be hard pressed to become a professional writer without some motivation. If you were exceptionally gifted you might get one or two things published but I doubt you would make much of a living.

 

[SpaceShip]

Question one: The main reason I write is that it alleviates boredom and allows me to enter my own world where everything is good/expected (for me anyway)
I like to be told my writing is good, but since I rarely show it to anyone I don’t get much feedback. I am trying to rectify that on this forum. I think I need outside input in order to improve. The faceless approach is much easier.
The idea of having my name in print is appealing but again, I need to get over my fear of showing others my work. And improve my writing.

Question Two: I think you would be hard pressed to become a professional writer without some motivation. If you were exceptionally gifted you might get one or two things published but I doubt you would make much of a living.

No-one -if you are happy with it - go for it - all the way. I've self published and have a small but loyal fan base. And I absolutely love writing. How many times I've read a book and thought "I could have given it a much better ending than that". Now I can.

With regard to your question 2. What do you mean "without some motivation"?

Don't think that you migth be the only one that enjoys what you have written! It might just be what everyone is waiting for.

And who knows, with a bit of a push and a little luck - this time next year you or I could be millionaires!!!

 

[Jesabelle]

No-one -if you are happy with it - go for it - all the way. I've self published and have a small but loyal fan base. And I absolutely love writing. How many times I've read a book and thought "I could have given it a much better ending than that". Now I can.

With regard to your question 2. What do you mean "without some motivation"?

Don't think that you migth be the only one that enjoys what you have written! It might just be what everyone is waiting for.

And who knows, with a bit of a push and a little luck - this time next year you or I could be millionaires!!!

Good on you Spaceship for giving No One a bit of encouragement (now there's a weird sentence!) I can totally understand why you're feeling a bit apprehensive to show anyone your work. I think the thing is, writing is like bearing your soul to the world. You can't help but take from your thoughts on life, your experiences, and people around you and put these these things into words. So there's always an element of feeling that anyone that reads your work is having a look into your world. But it's like Spaceship said, you never know, in a year you could be a millionaire!!

 

[cletus]

I'm with Jaggy and Ark Angel on why they both write. I to want to make something of myself whether it will come from accounting, my memoir, or my sci-fi epic who knows. I also feel that society is yet to achieve, and that most individuals are not virtuous. And yet perfection in our morality is so easy, if we'd only try.

Then there's the fame issue. Yeah it would be really cool to be famous I suppose.

And my mind works in a critical fashion, I love that words almost have a set way of going together to form something.

 

[Alurny]

When I was really down in my early teens I used to write a hell of a lot. Ever since it all got better I have struggled to write anywhere near as often or as well.

It's really annoying. I need to find my motivation somehow.

Reading other people's work often inspires me. Or if I am having particulary bad day I can just write.

 

[Saolta Oiche]

Like Alurny, other people's work inspires me, fantasy creatures do, love of my characters and just generally the idea of making something.

 

[Stormpirate]

I don't really have any noble reason why I write. I have these ideas, I want to get them down on paper. I usually don't let people read what I've written; I've been told pretty much all my life that I'm a good writer and can tell a good story, but I think I suck. I've only very recently let my husband read snippets of what I've written, to get feedback.

If I get published, great; if not, then no big deal.

 

[jackokent]

When you write you are in total control of a whole world. The only thing holding you back is your own imagination and ability. There is nothing else like that power with anything else you do. Therefore, if you are a meglomaniac writing is the answer

 

[Culhwch]

The only thing holding you back is your own imagination and ability.

Damn. That's me licked.

 

[Dean F. Wilson]

In answer to the title question:

Experiences, books, movies, music, and conversations.

-D

 

[Talysia]

What motivates me to write?

Mostly, I enjoy writing. I've always had ideas for stories, but the very act of writing them down gives me great enjoyment. That's all the motivation I need.

 

[The Ace]

At the moment, nothing. For years I was plagued by ideas and inspiration. Now that I have the means to write it down.... nothing.

 

[Duchessprozac]

I have many things that motivate me. Usually music is one of the main ones, but other books, movies or games will give me the impetous to start putting words on to paper.

I write between 500 and 2000 words a day and I force myself to sit and write everyday so that I can eventually get a novel published which I have wanted ever since I was about 8 years old.

Writing is the only thing I am any good at and I have had too many people think so little of me that having a published work will enable me to turn to them and say that I have actually done something with my life.

This is one of the many things that motivates me into writing everyday, even when I may not feel like writing.

 

[mixa]

Becoming a writer was a childhood dream, I loved reading. I use to spend hours in the library whilst others would be kicking a football about in the playground.

But as sports took centre stage, writing was edged out of the window. Training twice a week and then playing two matches of rugby and tennis for local county and then regions took too much time.

After graduation, work and a career ambition to make money became all consuming. But lately, as time has passed (28 this year) encounters with the negativity of life (death, illnesses, sad depressing stuff) I have very much questioned what value I have achieved.

I don't mean in the sense of charity work, I donate what I can, etc, etc. Perhaps its more to do with job satisfaction, I have none within my occupation. And, a rekindled love of fantasy this time to write rather then just to read makes me feel content.

As I type out the words, and pages grow, reassurance and peace replaces an anxiety which I had before.

So I would say my main aim of writing if for the positive emotions that it evokes within, rather then anything material. Well for now anyway.

Thats not to say I don't get stumped like everybody else, or feel the dreaded "can't be bothered" inclination to just surf the web endlessly!!