AH and writing motivation

[Op_Cit]

(Snipped and pasted from Liar's Meta Motivation thread)

OK, now don't jump on me for the socratic examination, but...

What're people's thoughts on the effect this forum has on the author members' (that sounds nasty) motivations (to write)?

Do you think hanging out here has the effect of a bit of brain drain like watching too much TV?

Or
Do you think hanging out/participating here motivates you to write more?

And here's the real gold star question: For those to whom the experience doesn't seem to add to the motivation, how could this change? That is, what could be different about the environment or contributions that would help?

 

[English Lady]

(my c&p as promised)


This place insipires me to write (the challenges, some of the debatey type threads, some of the just fun flirty ones too) and it is also my breath of fresh air and my break from writing. Even when i take a break here though I'm thinking about getting back to my writing.

Would I write more if I didn't come here? maybe

Would it be as good? probably not. I've learned alot from folks here.

 

[TheEarl]

I might write more if this place didn't exist, although I was originally inspired to continue writing by this place. I would certainly get more uni work done. But I know that the stories I wrote wouldn't be as good if it wasn't for my time here.

The Earl

 

[oggbashan]

The AH can motivate me to write. It can provide a diversion from writing. It can be a distraction.

The support threads for competitions and NaNoWriMo do encourage more writing.

The fun threads can distract and divert yet some of them can lead to 'What if?' story ideas.

Even posting on a thread is 'writing'.

Whether participation in the AH promotes the need to write or distracts from the writing depends on the individual and that individual's mood at the time.

Back to Valentine's story #03

Og

 

[woodnymph_O]

yeah

The AH can motivate me to write. It can provide a diversion from writing. It can be a distraction.

The support threads for competitions and NaNoWriMo do encourage more writing.

The fun threads can distract and divert yet some of them can lead to 'What if?' story ideas.

Even posting on a thread is 'writing'.

Whether participation in the AH promotes the need to write or distracts from the writing depends on the individual and that individual's mood at the time.

Back to Valentine's story #03

Og

what Og said

 

[cloudy]

What're people's thoughts on the effect this forum has on the author members' (that sounds nasty) motivations (to write)?
I can't speak for everyone, but it helps mine....people here push me to keep writing.

Do you think hanging out here has the effect of a bit of brain drain like watching too much TV?
Not at all. Topics come up that I wouldn't think about otherwise, and I can see things from another's point of view.


Do you think hanging out/participating here motivates you to write more?
Absolutely. It also pushes me to try to get better each time.

 

[KarenAM]

The biggest benefit of the AH for me as a writer is that it shows me that readers of erotica are intelligent and sophisticated, and that it is okay for me to write my sexual stories for an intelligent and sophisitcated audience. It also shows me that it is perfectly okay with that same audience to write wet, sticky, slippery graphic sex scenes.

Being by nature a prude, that helps me a lot.

 

[impressive]

I wrote for Lit for about a year before ever even surfing this (or any other Lit) forum. I can see a MAJOR improvement in my writing since I crashed this party. I went through all my older stuff and posted revisions, but it's still not of the same quality as the newer stuff. Plus, the quantity of output has increased as well.

So, no. This place is NOT like TV to me.

 

[Liar]

I think that it's a bit of a catch 22. The AH steals alot of time from me being creative and productive. But without it, I probably wouldn't have an incentive to write at all instead.

This place is like TV to me. But much nicer. It's real people at a non stop slightly tipsy party. If I had to choose permanently between coming here and writing, I'd give up writing.


#L

 

[Guest]

Sometimes this place is like a car crash.
Sometimes it's like a haven.
Sometimes it's like a coffee bar.
Sometimes it's like a strip club.
Sometimes it's like a morgue.
Sometimes it's like a soap opera.
Sometimes it's like a house party.
Sometimes it's like a library.
Sometimes it's like a schoolroom.
Sometimes it's like a lecture hall.
Sometimes it's like a dentist's.
Sometimes it's like a circus.
Sometimes it's like a nursery school.
Sometimes it's like an office.
Often it feels like home.
And it can be one hell of a time waster.

But, I don't 'arf bloody miss it.

I haven't written a word of any kind of story since I've been away. Admittedly, there are other factors involved in my lack of writing recently, but this place motivates me. Well, no, it's not the AH that motivates me, it's the people here.

Lou

 

[carsonshepherd]

Get writin' LouLou. We luv ya

 

[carsonshepherd]

Seriously, this place is a time waster, but it's just time I'd be surfing for porn or watching TV or something anyway. I've met the nicest and most helpful people here. As far as spats - I just avoid them.

I probably would get more writing done if I hadn't found this place, but now I have an audience for all my witty banter.


Umm.... hey, why isn't anyone laughing?

 

[dr_mabeuse]

This place is, among other things, like the water cooler or coffee machine for me, or like the commons room in a dorm. Sometimes I get fried writing and just want to go hangout somewhere for a while. And then sometimes I do my writing while I'm taking breaks from the AH.

Considering the crap that goes on in most bulletin boards, this place is a sea of peace and sanity.

---dr.M.

 

[Guest]

Even posting on a thread is 'writing'.

I have a small collection of posts saved. Some for the very fine writing, some for fine thoughts and ideas. A few of Ogg's posts caused me (and others) to suggest he write more (family histories especially). I've actually learned things from more than a few posts/threads, and from quite a selection of the writers. Sometimes my own posts are worthwhile to me as I learn from the thinking involved. That's why I become disappointed or frustrated when there's a dearth of 'serious' posts.

Other than that, keeping up with friends is worthwhile. I only 'waste' time here on purpose, but not often.

Perdita

 

[rgraham666]

For me, AH is like the neighbourhood I don't have in real life.

I like almost all the people here, enjoy talking to them and listening to them. I've found and given support. As well as made some good friends.

As far as motivation goes, since it's such an internal thing for me, I can't say they motivate me per se. But when I get feedback from an AH denizen, it means more to me than the rest, good as other's comments make me feel. I know that I've touched people whose souls are worth touching.

 

[NoJo]

I used to think that everyone else on the AH except me was working for a secret organization and was trying to extract vital government information from me. But I now believe that this is probably not the case.

 

[Guest]

I used to think that everyone else on the AH except me was working for a secret organization and was trying to extract vital government information from me.

Do you have vital government information? Just curious.

Perdita

 

[NoJo]

Do you have vital government information? Just curious.

Perdita

I might, and I might not.

 

[Guest]

I might, and I might not.

Well, I wasn't that curious. (I know where you live though.) P.

 

[carsonshepherd]

But Perdita, he lives in England, so why would we care about his vital information anyway?

 

[NoJo]

Carson, I've been wondering whether you're working for us or for them.

Out with it. Are you one of us?

 

[carsonshepherd]

Carson, I've been wondering whether you're working for us or for them.

Out with it. Are you one of us?

First, I need to know who we are, and who are they?

 

[NoJo]

On a need to know basis, you don't need to know that.

I think you might be one of us posing as one of them.

 

[carsonshepherd]

On a need to know basis, you don't need to know that.

I think you might be one of us posing as one of them.

Obviously, since they haven't told me who we are.

 

[NoJo]

Can I be Blunt with you, and you can be Philby with me?