Thursday, April 21, 2011

Motivation-or lack there of...

I've been thinking A LOT lately (probably the last 6 months) about motivation.  I can be totally motivated and excited about something I'm doing and then, especially if it's a large project, I lose my excitement and motivation and I begin *gasp* procrastinating.  So what motivates me?  And perhaps that is the wrong sort of question to ask.  Maybe I should be asking, "What keeps me motivated?"  I don't have problems finding motivation at the start of a project.

I've come to the understanding that I don't really know how to keep myself motivated.  I don't know what happens to my motivation.  Maybe I need to look at my story in a different way?  Maybe I should split up the story into smaller pieces?  Maybe I should give myself a time limit?  Maybe I should have a few different stories to work on at the same time?

If anyone has any ideas please feel free to share!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Today... distractions...

I'm a writer.  I don't know if a single person who knows me knows that.  I don't share my writing.  I don't write as often as I should.  Can I even call myself a writer?  I'm gonna have to say "yes."  I want to write.  I want to write!  I WANT TO WRITE!!!

I have discovered, however, that I'm really exceptionally good at distracting myself.  I can play games on my computer, my DS, my iPhone.  I can even (and this one doesn't make sense since I HATE doing it, just ask my hubby!) distract myself with house work.  I'm also an avid crafter.  I have projects galore that need me.  And my biggest distraction of all???  READING!  I love to read.  I'm never without something to read.
 
So what am I to do?  Many authors have already discovered their own ways around these things I'm sure, but for me, I had to rethink how I was going to actually do it.  Here is what I did:

1.  I figured out that I can't write on my computer.  It is too big of a distraction for me.
2.  Because of #1 I decided I would buy myself a new notebook and pen.  That being purchased...
3.  I headed to my local Barnes & Noble to write.

Why did this work?  I don't play my games because I don't have my computer.  I don't do any housework because I'm not at home and I like getting new things no matter how small.

The story is off to a fantastic start and now all I have to worry about is the little voice in my head telling me this is stupid!