What is your Motivation?

Discuss writing, including writing tips & tricks, writing philosophy, writer's block, etc. If you have grammar questions, marketing questions, or if you want feedback on a poem or short story you wrote, please use the corresponding forum below.
Featured Topic: How to Get Your Book Published
Forum rules
If you have spelling or grammar questions, please post them in the International Grammar section.

If you want feedback for poetry or short stories you have written, please post the poem or short story in either the Creative Original Works: Short Stories section or the Creative Original Works: Poetry section.

If you have a book that you want reviewed, click here to submit your book for review.
User avatar
aparsons
Posts: 271
Joined: 21 Jan 2016, 09:33
Bookshelf Size: 498
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-aparsons.html
Latest Review: "A Mirror Among Shattered Glass (Book One of the Supernatural London Underground series)" by Romarin Demetri

Re: What is your Motivation?

Post by aparsons »

Reading all this makes me want to go back and keep writing my story. Apparently moderntimes and future publishing is my current motivation.
“Would it save you a lot of time if I just gave up and went mad now?”
― Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Latest Review: "A Mirror Among Shattered Glass (Book One of the Supernatural London Underground series)" by Romarin Demetri
User avatar
moderntimes
Posts: 2249
Joined: 15 Mar 2014, 13:03
Favorite Author: James Joyce
Favorite Book: Ulysses by James Joyce
Currently Reading: Grendel by John Gardner
Bookshelf Size: 0
fav_author_id: 2516

Post by moderntimes »

Glad to help. Please send money. ha ha
"Ineluctable modality of the visible..."
User avatar
aparsons
Posts: 271
Joined: 21 Jan 2016, 09:33
Bookshelf Size: 498
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-aparsons.html
Latest Review: "A Mirror Among Shattered Glass (Book One of the Supernatural London Underground series)" by Romarin Demetri

Post by aparsons »

Lol, after reading your reviews I might pick up a copy of your book. Initially it's not my taste, but it seems intriguing.
“Would it save you a lot of time if I just gave up and went mad now?”
― Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Latest Review: "A Mirror Among Shattered Glass (Book One of the Supernatural London Underground series)" by Romarin Demetri
User avatar
moderntimes
Posts: 2249
Joined: 15 Mar 2014, 13:03
Favorite Author: James Joyce
Favorite Book: Ulysses by James Joyce
Currently Reading: Grendel by John Gardner
Bookshelf Size: 0
fav_author_id: 2516

Post by moderntimes »

Just so you'll know, I write adult-level stories. They've got some scenes which may be considered "intense crime violence" and an occasional sexy interlude. Balance that with a fairly high literary narrative and excursions into literature and the arts, with aside references into painting, sculpture, classical music, contemporary art, as well as classical literature, and the juxtaposition provides a sort of rhythm between the rough stuff on the streets with the educated mind of my private detective. But be cautioned, strong language and some "nasty bits" are scattered throughout the stories.
"Ineluctable modality of the visible..."
User avatar
Heidi M Simone
Official Reviewer Representative
Posts: 7054
Joined: 17 Jul 2015, 20:19
Favorite Book: Harry Potter
Currently Reading: Beyond the Wand
Bookshelf Size: 556
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-heidi-m-simone.html
Latest Review: Lugares Amables by Lidice Megla
Publishing Contest Votes: 27
fav_author_id: 0

Post by Heidi M Simone »

Thank you so much for giving a more detailed 'behind the scenes' look of what goes on when wanting to publish a book.

Because of the details you provided, my motivation on continuing writing has definitely increased! :D
Heidi
Official Reviewer Representative

"There is nothing as powerful as a mother’s love, and nothing as healing as a child’s soul." – Unknown
CrescentMoon
Posts: 1319
Joined: 08 May 2014, 22:50
Currently Reading: Superhighway
Bookshelf Size: 87
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-crescentmoon.html
Latest Review: "Letorian Descendants- Casey Blane Series (Book 1)" by Jodi Ann Fahey

Post by CrescentMoon »

I find that I write best when I am very emotional. A lot of the times my motivation comes from feeling strongly about certain things, whatever the feeling is. If I'm angry I write out some angry rants in a journal. If I'm sad, I pour my heart out and type up what I feel. If I'm really happy I write some really positive things. I like to use my feelings and then the writing from the feelings and put them together and try to fit it into a story.
Latest Review: "Letorian Descendants- Casey Blane Series (Book 1)" by Jodi Ann Fahey
User avatar
moderntimes
Posts: 2249
Joined: 15 Mar 2014, 13:03
Favorite Author: James Joyce
Favorite Book: Ulysses by James Joyce
Currently Reading: Grendel by John Gardner
Bookshelf Size: 0
fav_author_id: 2516

Post by moderntimes »

This is good, Crescent. But the essential idea is to use various emotions in the writing of your stories or novel. If all you're doing is putting them into a "dear diary" which nobody will ever read, those emotions are going to waste, except for therapeutic value, of course.

So it's good that you are taking your emotional input for feed into a story.
"Ineluctable modality of the visible..."
User avatar
Jonathanlee
Posts: 7
Joined: 02 Apr 2016, 00:06
Bookshelf Size: 0

Post by Jonathanlee »

I find it interesting to read how you guys find motivation to write your stories. I have published a few short stories. And now I am trying my first novel. I usually begin with an idea which I feel is novel and I want to tell people about it. But instead of telling them my idea, I create a story to convey that idea... sort of to let the reader discover the idea through my story.

My first short story : the idea was that when people are under threat they want and look for a strong leader who can tell them what to do to overcome the threat. But once the threat is removed, the same persons now want to have their own freedom and their own say. The result is that the strong leader best suited to wartime may not be the right person for peacetime. I built a story about five school boys and their leadership crisis to convey that idea. When it was published it was described as a political parable.

In my second short story, the idea was that hey! polygamy is not good for every man and not every man wants polygamy. In fact polygamy is bad for men in general. This is because for every man right at the top who has 10 wives, there will be 10 men at the bottom who has no wives. This is pure mathematics. This means that a campaign to get rid of polygamy is not pro-women. It is pro-men! So, I built a story about a pride of lions and a cub lion's viewpoint to illustrate that idea.

How about other readers? Do you guys have any other motivations for your writing?
User avatar
moderntimes
Posts: 2249
Joined: 15 Mar 2014, 13:03
Favorite Author: James Joyce
Favorite Book: Ulysses by James Joyce
Currently Reading: Grendel by John Gardner
Bookshelf Size: 0
fav_author_id: 2516

Post by moderntimes »

Jonathan, your idea of using a story to make a moral point is excellent. I always put things into my novels which I feel that should be discussed or talked about. Lecturing is usually not well received by readers, but teaching a lesson by telling a story is lots better. This is what parables are, after all.

Speaking of motivation, today I received a box of the first print copies of my new private eye novel, sent via my publisher. Opening that box and seeing the bright, colorful covers all lying there, ready to pick up a savor? That's motivation!
"Ineluctable modality of the visible..."
TrishaAnn92
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 3986
Joined: 20 Oct 2013, 15:59
Favorite Book: <a href="http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelve ... =2595">The Messenger (2)</a>
Currently Reading: A Game of Thrones
Bookshelf Size: 192
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-trishaann92.html
Latest Review: Superhighway by Alex Fayman
Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU
Publishing Contest Votes: 20

Post by TrishaAnn92 »

Having friends, especially those who happen to be authors themselves. One in particular has been a huge motivator through the whole process. My husband is also a huge motivator, he knows I have a passion for writing and even though he finds the dreams I have very odd, he supports me turning them into stories. I'm almost done with editing but have been looking at the paper and moaning over the editing task.
User avatar
Jonathanlee
Posts: 7
Joined: 02 Apr 2016, 00:06
Bookshelf Size: 0

Post by Jonathanlee »

Thanks MT. I find your take on motivation interesting. This is because I've met several people with Masters degree in literature who can write excellent reviews and critique of novels, but who confess that they cannot write a novel themselves because they don't know what to write. That's similar to an excellent driver who stays at home all the time because he doesn't know anywhere of interest to drive to. I think most literary programs and story writing workshops focus too much on the English writing skills and too little on the idea skills.
User avatar
moderntimes
Posts: 2249
Joined: 15 Mar 2014, 13:03
Favorite Author: James Joyce
Favorite Book: Ulysses by James Joyce
Currently Reading: Grendel by John Gardner
Bookshelf Size: 0
fav_author_id: 2516

Post by moderntimes »

The likely culprit in this, Johathan, is that actual "thinking" isn't valued or taught much these days, even in higher education.

Thankfully, my parents (Father especially) always challenged me to solve a problem and think of the possibilities instead of just telling me to do something. And in my collegiate studies, I was also encouraged to analyze things and consider various solutions. Even in my science (I've got majors in both chemistry & English lit). And then, working in fairly high-tech research for years, I was always needing to invent or create new venues of investigation.

For whatever reason, my mind is always going a thousand miles a minute. Ideas for stories and novels? I've got a huge accumulated file on my laptop with literally hundreds of story concepts and ideas to write about, both fiction and nonfiction. My 3 private eye novels have stimulated me to outline and sketch about a dozen new novels, the 4th of which I'm now working on. And at the same time I've got a completely different novel in progress (a supernatural horror novel) plus 3 different screenplays, all cooking along as I have time.

For me, it's not lack of ideas. It's sifting thru the numerous things buzzing in my head and deciding which to write about.

Which is why I'm clueless about folks who can't think of what to write about.
"Ineluctable modality of the visible..."
User avatar
Jonathanlee
Posts: 7
Joined: 02 Apr 2016, 00:06
Bookshelf Size: 0

Post by Jonathanlee »

Haha, your reply is so amusing. Yes, I agree with you. Let's have toast to new ideas.
I am amazed that you majored i both chemistry and literature. That's two worlds apart, one dealing with physical things and the other dealing with people and emotions and character etc etc.

I am from Singapore, the other side of the world to where you are at. I noticed that there isn't many other writers from Singapore in this website. And whether there is anyone in your part of the world curious enough to read about stuff written in Singapore and about Singapore.
User avatar
aparsons
Posts: 271
Joined: 21 Jan 2016, 09:33
Bookshelf Size: 498
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-aparsons.html
Latest Review: "A Mirror Among Shattered Glass (Book One of the Supernatural London Underground series)" by Romarin Demetri

Post by aparsons »

Jonathanlee wrote:Haha, your reply is so amusing. Yes, I agree with you. Let's have toast to new ideas.
I am amazed that you majored i both chemistry and literature. That's two worlds apart, one dealing with physical things and the other dealing with people and emotions and character etc etc.

I am from Singapore, the other side of the world to where you are at. I noticed that there isn't many other writers from Singapore in this website. And whether there is anyone in your part of the world curious enough to read about stuff written in Singapore and about Singapore.
My father spent several years in Singapore in the mid 1980s. I wouldn't mind hearing some recommendations to pass along to him.
“Would it save you a lot of time if I just gave up and went mad now?”
― Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Latest Review: "A Mirror Among Shattered Glass (Book One of the Supernatural London Underground series)" by Romarin Demetri
KatherineEWall
Posts: 27
Joined: 22 Apr 2016, 11:32
Currently Reading: What We All Have
Bookshelf Size: 4
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-katherineewall.html

Post by KatherineEWall »

I write because I have characters knocking on the inside of my head demanding to be released, for me to tell their stories. Some of them have been (are) trapped in there for decades, and others show up and get their stories told immediately. I have one poor soul who has been sitting in her rocking chair waiting patiently for almost thirty years. I am sure all the pieces will come together someday, but I think I should hurry. Her patience might be wearing thin. The rocking is becoming more erratic.
Post Reply

Return to “Writing Discussion”