Writer Motivation

In my journey of self-learning, I’ve encountered various teaching styles and explored many writing topics. However, what I haven’t found is an entry point into the motivation for writers. It seems like many assume that you’ve got your own motivations all sorted out, as if it’s a resolved matter. This assumption is further complicated by the established structures around writing, including courses both in and outside of universities, blogs (hello!), and a plethora of online resources and media. Surprisingly, none of them delve into this crucial topic. So, I’ve taken it upon myself to fill this gap. Because, truth be told, while writers might appear to have their entire lives figured out from the outside, the reality couldn’t be further from the truth.

This craft is peculiar. On one side, you need the dedication of a worker, and on the other, the esoteric understanding of a sage. As a result, you must learn to write every day and reflect on that writing. Yes, you have to learn to write every day because repetition is a skill. Writing is tough. If you only do it when you have flashes of inspiration, well, then you’re the exception and not the norm. Writing as a job involves daily dedication. You can’t make significant progress by working in bursts, but with a daily investment of time.

To achieve that, you have to power through doubt, insecurity, and hesitation. It’s a skill—an ability that can only be learned through time and self-reflection. In this age of speed, I fear that it might lead to “good enough” works that lack depth, but let’s set aside my gripes for now.

You’ll also need to learn to write every day, a complex task. Trying to focus on a storyline while reality pounds on the doors of your attention is challenging, especially in an age where the virtual world intrudes into our lives every single day. I’ve mentioned “writing rituals” before, perhaps with a touch of scorn. Not because they’re inherently wrong, but because they can become a crutch.

Yes, a crutch fashioned from the bohemian concept of the writer, of what writing is, and who writers are. The truth of the matter is that a true writer, irrespective of genre or specialization, learns to be able to write in any setting, in most circumstances. A crutch can only get you so far; it’s a self-imposed box, a safety belt for your insecurities.

Because the imp of creativity is a fickle being that only appears when he wants to. So, you’ll have to depend on your own motivation, nurturing it and taking care of it. Writing is a long endeavor that is never really done, never truly complete. If you want to be a writer, again, no matter the type, you need to be prepared for the long haul. Lots of frustration, many dead ends, plenty of moments where you’re completely lost.

Now, the question you need to answer is: Is my inner world enough to build a novel? If your inner core is a chaotic swirl teeming with beings that need to get out, then you should learn to write. Or maybe you’re a little more centered, and as such, you’ll have to depend more on your methods than your inner world. What I’m trying to get at with this bit of rambling is that just as your characters need motivation, so do you, the author, the writer. Only a compelling “Why” can help you endure the “Hows” required in the craft.

Writing for writing’s sake takes you nowhere, especially once the novelty of a shiny new story is gone. You’re left with the realization that you have a set of characters in a mostly empty world that you need to fill—the long haul. And that you’re going to have to revisit the manuscript who knows how many times.

Motivation in real life isn’t about what you can do but what you can endure in the process. The sad reality is that you can only be sure by trying, by doing. Yet, in this age, another curse looms—the sense of failure intertwined with abandonment. We all feel guilty for letting go of projects, activities, and more. I won’t delve too deeply into this topic; it extends beyond my expertise. So, let me offer a single sentence: It’s better to say “not for me” after trying than to live your life with a perpetual “what if.”

So, what is a writer’s motivation? You have to find it once you learn what you have to endure in the craft.

Until next time.