{"id":194,"date":"2008-03-08T06:28:38","date_gmt":"2008-03-08T14:28:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=194"},"modified":"2008-03-08T06:28:38","modified_gmt":"2008-03-08T14:28:38","slug":"what-motivates-you-to-write","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=194","title":{"rendered":"What Motivates You To Write?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yesterday, I mentioned that Dan Shaurette interviewed me. He has posted the interview at his blog site. If you want to learn more about my publishing path and my thoughts about the industry, read it here:
\n http:\/\/www.danshaurette.com\/2008\/03\/07\/patricia-fry-interview<\/a> <\/p>\n

It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s interesting how writers across the U.S. are experiencing very different climates both inside and outside their homes. A friend in Ohio reports severe snow storms. Everyone she knows is planning a snow day all weekend cozied up with plenty of food, firewood and movie DVDs in their homes. A client in Florida reports lots of rain. Other writers in Florida experienced some unexpected tornadoes this week. A writer I know in St. Louis walks dogs when she isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t writing and is sick and tired of the snow, sleet and black ice there this winter. <\/p>\n

The weather can certainly affect our writing by distracting our attention, by causing power outages, by creating fear within us (that the tree outside our window will fall, that a loved one won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t make it home safely, that the river will rise, etc). Even lovely weather can be a distraction. Here in sunny Southern California, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m planning time out of the office and in the garden this weekend.<\/p>\n

But what about when we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re distracted from writing not by fierce or interesting or beautiful weather, but by something within us? Many writers suffer from writer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s block. Others just can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t seem to make writing a priority. They want to write\u00e2\u20ac\u201dor at least they think they do\u00e2\u20ac\u201dbut they just can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t seem to discipline themselves to sit down and accomplish anything.<\/p>\n

I believe I told you about the woman I met at a writers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 conference last year. She sat down with me and said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I want to write, I just can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t seem to get to it. How can I make myself actually sit down and start writing? What will cause me to do the writing I want to do?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d <\/p>\n

I gave her the answer: I said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You lack motivation. You need to determine and focus on your motivation for writing before you are likely to follow through and actually proceed with your writing.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d <\/p>\n

I explained that part of my motivation for writing is my need\/desire to earn a living through my writing. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m in love with the process of writing and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t not write.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Since writing is my passion, rather than deny myself the pleasure while, perhaps, going out and earning a larger salary, I opted to create a career around my writing. Thirty years later, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m still at it. <\/p>\n

Another motivation that keeps me at the keyboard day in and day out is my desire to help other writers and authors. When I realized the value of my years and years of writing and publishing experience, I became practically obsessed with sharing my knowledge with others. The first time I responded to an author\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s questions about publishing and saw the look of understanding and gratitude on her face, I was hooked. The first time one of the authors I coached landed a publishing contract with a large publisher, I knew I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d found my purpose. The first time a workshop attendee announced that she had been published in a major magazine, I knew that I was destined to teach.<\/p>\n

Yes, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m highly motivated to continue on my writing, publishing, teaching path. Who else do you know that gets up eagerly at 4:30 or 5: a.m. to write her daily blog for fellow writers\/authors?<\/p>\n

If you are still seeking your motivation, here are some tips: <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tAscertain why you want to write. What part of you does the process of writing feed, thrill, excite? What moves you to write? <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tConsider whether or not there is something that keeps you from pursuing the things you enjoy most. Do you have a habit of denying yourself? Is this why you can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t bring yourself to sit down and write\u00e2\u20ac\u201dbecause you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think you deserve the pleasure? Or is it because you just haven\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t made writing a priority in your life, yet?<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tChoose a meaningful topic to write about or project to work on. Maybe it is your memoirs, a story based on your family genealogy, an article related to a passion of yours\u00e2\u20ac\u201dglobal warming, going green, closing down puppy\/kitten mills, tighter border controls, teen pregnancy, steroid use in young athletes or child abuse, for example. If you believe that your writing can make a difference, you will be more likely to follow through with it.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tDetermine your first choice of venues\u00e2\u20ac\u201da particular magazine, the local newspaper, a specific publisher, for example. When we have a publishing goal in mind, we are often more motivated to stay on course.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tSet aside the time to work on your project. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t pencil it in\u00e2\u20ac\u201dwrite it in dark black ink on your calendar and treat this appointment with yourself as important as any with a client or your boss. You might have 2 hours before dinner each night to write, 4 hours every Saturday afternoon, an hour or so before work every morning or an entire day off for writing once a week. You can accomplish a lot in just a few hours per day. I wrote an entire book in 8 months once using an electric typewriter and writing only about 15 hours per week. (Now, I put in 60 and 70 hours most weeks.)<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tOffer little rewards for each accomplishment. Finish two pages (or two paragraphs) and take a stroll with your cat through the garden. Complete the research for your piece and have a latte break with friends. Save certain indulgences for only after you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve produced something related to your writing project.<\/p>\n

Find more tips and techniques for motivating yourself and disciplining yourself as well as writing well, choosing topics, placing articles\/stories, publishing and beyond in The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book<\/em>.
\n http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/rightway.html<\/a>
\nAnd if you need a additional help, be sure to order and use The Author\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Workbook<\/em>
\n http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/workbook.html<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Yesterday, I mentioned that Dan Shaurette interviewed me. He has posted the interview at his blog site. If you want to learn more about my publishing path and my thoughts about the industry, read it here: http:\/\/www.danshaurette.com\/2008\/03\/07\/patricia-fry-interview It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s interesting how writers across the U.S. are experiencing very different climates both inside and outside their homes. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3,4],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t