Motivation

My husband was supposed to be the writer in the family. He got his degree in Film. He has books and books on screenwriting, plotting, and scene setting. He always jokes that I got the benefit of his degree. In the beginning I would him why he doesn't write? He would always shrug his shoulders and grumble about how hard it is to break into the market.

Today, as we were shopping, we ran into one of his old professors. You should have seen his face light up. He was so excited to talk to someone who was once a mentor to him. The professor asked what my husband had been up to and he admitted the never used his degree. After a bit of a chat with the professor regaling us with the accomplishments of other students that my husband had known, he said something I had been telling the Hubby for a long time. "If you want to write, just do it". You can't get anywhere if you don't do the first step. He even suggested Hubby try to adapt my novels to screenplays, just to have something to do.

It was a great little chat and as we walked away and husband seemed like he was a little more willing and motivated to take the plunge. He said he was going to revisit his original screenplay and get it ready to try and shop. He also has another screenplay in mind, something he had been bouncing around in his head for years.

I have my fingers crossed that he will actually stay motivated. He can be easily discouraged at times and breaking in to film is supposedly as hard if not harder than publishing.

So today's question is about motivation.

Let's face it. Sometimes we hate writing. It's not always glamorous. We don't always get a thrill from it. Sometimes it can be boring and monotonous. Some days your characters just aren't speaking to you. Your muse might have taken a vacation to the Bahamas and not told you. In short, some days it's more work than fun.

But we still do it.

Why?

Because something deep down is driving us forward.

For me, it's a combination of dream (to hold a book in my hand that was written by me), recognition (there is a certain sense of pride that comes with saying, 'I'm a published author.'), and escapism (let's face it, sometimes the fantasy world is so much better than the real one).

All together, those driving forces push me to create.

Don't get me wrong. I don't write every day. But I do call on these little motivators when I have received a rejection letter or when I have gotten a bad critique and yes especially when my muse has left and I am struggling to get through a scene.

So what is your motivation? What is your reason to write? Is it purely a need to create? Is publishing in some form or another your ultimate goal? What do you call on when you are feeling down and need that push to get back to the pen and paper again?

10 comments:

Susan R. Mills said...

All of the things you said motivate me to keep writing. Being published is important, but it's not the main objective. If it were, I think I would have stopped a long time ago! :) I'm glad your hubby is back at it again. Wish him luck!

Jody Hedlund said...

I like all of the reasons you listed. I think mostly for me it boils down to the fact that when I write, I can create my stories to go the way that I like--I'm in charge of the story. And I get a great deal of pleasure from that!

We definitely have to want this dream or we won't stick to it. We may take a hiatus, but ultimately that love of writing never goes away and brings us back!

Jessica Nelson said...

I like your reasons too. :-) I've always written in some form but I really love writing novels and I want to be published so I can stay home after school. So that's my motivator for now. If I'm not about to be published by the time youngest is in school, I'm not sure what my motivator will be, but probably similar to yours. ;-)

Corey Schwartz said...

Funny, my husband's dream is to be a film maker too. He never went to film school, but he wrote and directed a short before we had kids and if he didn't have to worry about making money, I'm sure he'd devote himself to it full time!

JAlexander said...

How interesting that your husband is a writer too. I didn't know that.

I don't really know the main reason why I write but escape is a part of it. My escape and perhaps to give a reader out there a fun fantasy land to escape to for a while. To make someone happy.

I love Mary Janice Davidson and Tate Hallaway books. They are so much fun to read. I hope to give a reader that feeling some day.

Jenna

Danyelle L. said...

Great post!

I write simply because it's what I do. I couldn't imagine not writing. :)

Amy Allgeyer Cook said...

I think you hit a lot of reasons on the head. I definitely write for all those reasons. And also because I like to make stuff up. :)

Roni Loren said...

I agree with your reasons as well. Writing makes me happy, but I definitely have that dream of being published as well. Not so much for the money (although that would be nice) but more the idea of others reading and enjoying something I created. Plus, I'm a control freak, so being in charge of the fates of my characters feeds that need for control. :)

Tana said...

LOL we have virtually the same topic today! Yay for our hubby's.

Patti said...

I think it how it makes me feel when I see someone enjoying what I've written. It's having a half hour where words and story just flow out of me. In the end somethings that makes us happy can also make us miserable at times. Just like marriage.

About The Author

Katie Salidas is a USA Today bestselling author and RONE award winner known for her unique genre-blending style.

Since 2010 she's penned five bestselling book series: the Immortalis, Olde Town Pack, Little Werewolf, Chronicles of the Uprising, and the all-new Agents of A.S.S.E.T. series. As her not-so-secret alter ego, Rozlyn Sparks, she is a USA Today bestselling author of romance with a naughty side.

In her spare time Katie also produces and hosts a YouTube talk show; Spilling Ink. She also has a regular column on First Comics News where she explores writing from a nerdy perspective.