How do I get motivated?

What I do is I write (not on computer, pen and paper baby!) an outline of my story. Any little notes I have about it. What happens in the beginning, middle and end, and anything in between. And just any little small details I want to have I write off to the side. This helps me continue on with my story, and I have a lot fewer (if any) writers block moments. This is what helped me finish my first short story, Night Terror...oooo dun dun dun! Haha Good luck!!!

I am not a writer, although I've done a basic course to write stories without finishing it. I've learned that there are several techniques you can use to write. It's a hard work to be writer and you need discipline. Maybe if you try to enjoy the technique that you will choice to write, you can find a motivation. I liked your comment in my discussion and I thought you are a writer. Aren't you?

We're all in the same boat, aren't we? I guess the big thing for me is to set time aside specifically for novel writing (which I never do, of course). Sit down, don't open email or a browser, just the novel document (which I sometimes do). Go straight to the end and start typing - don't read any of the previous stuff or you'll just edit it again (oops, that's me). One thing that really helped for me was what the first response said: putting down some notes. I'm a perennial flake: I have ideas in my head, pictures of scenes, but I never wrote them down so they floated around. Once I had them noted, they started to fall into place and raised questions about other bits of the story (like, how the heck did this guy get in that situation anyway?). I use StorYbook to note stuff, since I work purely electronically. Free download, stores character info, locations, outlines, scenes and all sorts of stuff that you can shuffle into order (depending on how organised you are or want to be). Very neat and easy to use - I chose it because I didn't want to spend hours learning to use an app and it allowed me to just chuck stuff in and see what happened. Linkie time (not a referral, of course): http://storybook.intertec.ch/joomla/ Excellent news on your connection to a publisher. That's a big advantage! Bung her over this way when you're finished with her, will you?

If that novel that's still sitting there in your creative brain has something to do with your life or with a past experience you had before, I see no reason why you can't put it into writing and inspire or inform or yes motivate people.I think the hardest is when you have to write the very first paragraph which is supposed to catch enough attention or how to write the synopsis of the novel in about 100 words only to give people an idea of what the novel is about. But you must get down and start with it, for you will have to do a lot of editing later on so better start now.

Whenever I try to write something my mind is totally blank. What I usually do is write the things down in points whenever they cross my mind. Later I'll have a bit of my ideas in that piece of paper and try to add some more, remove some and that is how I do it. Motivation is one thing i lack, in everything that is

I would never be motivated to write a novel. I don't have any creative bone in me that could come up with that much material. I write factual articles and am motivated by the need to make money. If you don't have a story that is itching to be told, I would say a novel may not be your particular calling. If it is a story dyimg to be told, you'll be dying to write it.

wow! what an opportunity. maybe you werent cut out to be a writer? in any case, you might want to read the book 'bird by bird' by anne lamot. its a very inspiring book for writers who want to get started.

you have the passion to write..but being a novelist is another story..for you to get motivated,you have to search and learn of how to be a novelist..read the biographies of famous and not famous novelists and weigh it in your heart.its you who could decide.goodluck

As I write fiction I get to see game trailers, wallpapers, deviantart images of space, other worlds and stuff like that. You should go to your niche, for example find blogs with inspiration for what you like to write about, or see art, pictures, photographies, videos about it. Watch movies about it.

It really depends on you. Like you, I have two unfinished novels due to combination of too many ideas (no time to sort them out), procrastination, lack of focus and my muse abandoning me for some secret trysts. at least you have an advantage from some people who are trying to break out in the book industry. Some people keep trying and just get shunted out of the office. It's okay to struggle since even with the opportunity, you have to prove yourself worthy of that opportunity. It is still not a guarantee that your book will sell. Though I don';t mean to discourage you, it is just a realist possibility. Good luck to your book, Hope it will be a bestseller. (please wish me with the same with my works).

Organize, organize, organize...create yourself a schedule! Keep a notebook and pen handy or lacking that, a small recorder so you can keep track of any ideas or story lines that come up while you are doing other things...use your schedule to align all those story lines, build your characters little by little... A short story can be written in less than an hour, yet a novel may take several years...even so, one needs to set aside time that is devoted to the structuring of said novel, and one needs to be prepared to record any and all ideas that occur while away from the work area. Motivation isn't so much the key as fear...writing isn't as easy as most people think...so don't think in terms of novel, pages and pages, think in terms of short stories, a serial if you will, less intimidating.

Hello Awinds, For me writing a novel don't need motivation at all it just need concentration, peace, imaginative mind,lot of thinking,sharing experiences. Above all you should have the habit of sitting for hours and if you don't have it then you need to be tied up with the chair. for 1 week and then you will get habitual for it.

I think writing comes from most human experiences and emotions. So I suggest that you try to experience all the things around you. YOu should do this by being open minded and sensitive to your surroundings. Also, try to look for an inspiration or a goal to motivate you better in writing. I think having a goal or an incentive is a powerful tool of motivation.

Hey Awinds! I also had a novel in my head, and I actually sat down and wrote it. The story is still "untitled", but I've wrote 3 chapters so far. Although, I don't think I'll be able to publish it because I didn't get the chance to finish the story. I lost the inspiration somehow. I wrote it 6 years ago, and somehow I couldn't continue it anymore. My perspective just changed, so what I want to write right now is completely different from what I wrote then. So I have to start from scratch again. :)

I source my writing knowledge from my daily experience. I take a walk into town or the city centre but sometimes I go by bus if the distance is very far.I get my material from things I see in town. For example the traffic situation in Nigeria, the menace of armed robbers,the high cost of living in Nigeria,teenage pregnancy in my locality,corruption in government circles, etc

Well, do not strugglel to think about how to start. I guess you must have a good idea in your mind. Then just set your ideas down and share with us if you like, and later you only have to put them in order.

I think motivation starts with a question "Why are you going to do this?". Because in the first place, you will not think of planning to do this if you are not interested. It has to be your PASSION. Passion will drive you to do it. You wont last doing it if you get tired of it so easily. If you have really dreamed of doing this then go for it. Believe and realize your dreams. You have the potential and writer-friends to back you up whenever you feel down. Just do it and make it possible for yourself. I wish you all the best AWINDS. Keep us posted once you have started this project because you will serve as our inspiration.

I have the same problem, only I have three unfinished books, and one unfinished poetry book. I am always "starting" but never finishing! I think motivation has to come from thinking about the end! Both Stephanie Meyer and JK Rowling (I am not crediting or criticizing either of them, that's another topic) have children and have had to work around there kids to finish a "series" of stories, and now they are rolling in the cash! You have to keep focused on the "end" where you could be, who you could me, and what you could make. Sure, sure, there are tons of writers who don't make much or even to the shelves, but the point is finishing, and if you really believe, and its a great story, then who knows... your characters could be household names in no time! Good Luck!! better get back to my unfinished books!:)