What can keep a writer's motivation?

[Alexa12345]

At the beginning all seems clear and great but when i start putting the words on the paper i realise that i don't know how start the topics, how to arrange the parts and the excitement dissapears. Which are your advices to keep the motivation alive?

[~Elle~]

I think all writers have some times where they just don't feel like writing. I guess you need to be inspired to start to write - I would say check out some of your favorite authors and learn some of the techniques they use, and how they go about writing:- what time of the day do they write? how many words do they write in one go? when do they take a break from writing? how do they gather ideas/assess what they have written in between writing (by taking long car rides?)? For example, there was one article that I read not long ago (I added it to my favorites) which shows how one woman developed a novel from a single photograph. Read it, it's pretty inspiring!

http://www.murderati.com/blog/2010/2/19 ... novel.html

[Perrywinkle47]

The most important thing is to jot down the interesting ideas as they come to you and yeah taking breaks is also important.. You have to keep your imagination open, and when a writer is in a process of writing, the story revolves in his mind whether he is on his desk or away and story unfolds itself and he finds clues as he goes on. So, yeah the entire process is tiring but not for those who have got a passion to write.

[BARRETT]

Admittedly I've only written one novel to date, although I'm currently working on a second one, so I'm no expert. Having said that, I can say that while working on "The Legacy of Balthazar" I first started by coming up with an outline, then promptly ignored it once I actually started writing the story. And I found that I couldn't force the story. By that I mean that I couldn't sit down at a certain time every day and produce at least a certain number of pages. Instead, I let the story percolate inside my head for days or weeks at a time, then, when the mood hit me, I'd sit down and write anywhere from 2 to 30 pages. The simplest way I found to see if I was ready to continue the story was to read what I had written so far, and see if the story continued. If I wasn't sure where I was going, I wouldn't write anything that day. If the story continued, I'd write until it stopped again. Also, I'd suggest making a timeline as your story unfolds, especially if you're dealing with multiple characters or groups of characters. If the two (or more) factions in your storyline eventually come together, you have to make sure that the same amount of time has passed, or the reader will notice. Good luck with your project.

[Perrywinkle47]

OMG! after reading this description it feels as if writing is the most difficult think in the world. I mean you have to keep track of multiple things at a time, all the characters and the story. I wonder how these all writers come up with all these interesting books in such a short time.

[patrickt]

Short term, money works.

[Perrywinkle47]

Lol, yeah I agree and I would have done it only if it were ethical..

[Seraphy]

I think readers' feedback is very important.

[Andrez]

Strong coffee.

[Maud Fitch]

Many people think writing is spontaneous, and to a certain extent it is, but to refine that spontaneity and channel it into something worth reading, you cannot go passed writing classes. Seasoned writers to offer advice and keep you motivated, peers to critique your work and offer encouragement, help with grammar and layout and where to send it when you've written that final chapter.

A goal is great but never underestimate help along the way.

[Lepa]

In my opinion writing is something that has to come out from the inside, like automatically. It simply has to steer your hand carrying a pen (or keyboard ). Seems like I am talking about something else, not the writer himself, but I think that it must be the passion talking itself. A work done of must is only a product, but the work done with passion means (I hope) something more. So if You feel like writing, do not let anything collapse your brain wave. Or maybe the thing You write is not the thing You really want to write? ;P

[Pecorino]

Pretty much the same for me, though for me it's drawing. I think that to be able to have the motivation to write, you should find a source of inspiration. Inspiration comes in many forms so you should just get out and find it.

[SJinx710]

What always helps me is reading a book I absolutely adore and really paying attention to the character and scene changes.

[Happily Candied]

I depend on all of my favorite artistic mediums for inspiration: photography, drawing, painting, writing something technical or personal (like a review or a blog post), doll and toy art.I find that expressing myself through all of the hobbies I love so much bring out my most inner senses of creativity.

It's unbelievable how other forms of art can actually inspire the mind when it comes to writing. You just have to find your niche(s).

[emberwood]

I keep a writer's journal. I suffer from great phases of writer's block and a writer's journal really helps. I got the idea from one of my creative writing teachers. A writer's journal is more of a state of mind than an actual journal. You can do it on the computer or buy a notebook to keep your thoughts in. Keep names, plot ideas, setting images, descriptions, or anything else you can think of in the book (I call them tidbits). Keep up with writing exercises to give your creative juices a jog. Keep personal experiences in there (they can really come in handy). A writer's journal is always there when you need motivation because you can remind yourself of a character name and that might spark a storyline, or at least a character. Anything to keep you writing.

Hope I helped!