How do you get yourself motivated to write?

[NorthwestRain]

What's your particular method?
Do you have a trick?
Do you utilise drugs, such as alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, or the illegal ones?
Do you use meditation, dedication or artificial insemination? (just sounded good!)
Alienation?

 

[KillerMuffin]

I destress. I cannot write when stressed. I set aside a block of time for writing alone, threaten all awake inhabitants of the home with a fate worse than death if they bother me (they do anyway), and I write something. Even if the only thing I can write is a list of words.

I write at one in the morning these days. Unfortunately, the StudMuffin has taken it upon himself to stay up until I go to bed, too.

The rat bastard. He's half deaf and watches TV too loud. He has to make sure I don't want anything from the kitchen when he makes himself food (He eats every two hours).

So I waste time here or do calculus problems.

 

[Whispersecret]

I think about seeing my book on a shelf at B&N.

I read a bad book.

I look at my calendar and realize I only have X number of days until my critique group meets and I need to get cracking.

 

[NorthwestRain]

Do you guys aim for the 1 hour a day objective?

 

[MathGirl]

Motivation

I'm supposed to be sitting here writing my doctoral dissertation.

Believe me, writing ANYTHING is preferable to that. Great motivator to write dirty stories. I highly recommend it.

 

[Dirt Man]

Writing filth calms me down enough to write other things...

Since I write poetry, short stories, novels, and other things legitamately, writing erotica calms me down, and still gets the fingers moving across the keyboard with a goal in mind. When I get tired of writing erotica, I work on my other projects, and vise versa. So basically, the thing is to just write, no matter what, where, or when. If you're having trouble writing erotica, then turn to something else.


As Always
I Am the
Dirt Man

 

[MathGirl]

Re: Writing filth calms me down enough to write other things...

So basically, the thing is to just write, no matter what, where, or when. If you're having trouble writing erotica, then turn to something else.

That's really what I was saying. I get tired of writing about the semiconducting properties of C-60 nanotubes and its application to molecular computers. I take a break by writing about fucking.

For some reason, spending some time writing a dirty story or fooling around on here makes it easier to go back to the drudgery.

 

[Dirt Man]

KISS=keep it simple stupid...

That's really what I was saying. I get tired of writing about the semiconducting properties of C-60 nanotubes and its application to molecular computers. I take a break by writing about fucking.

Absolutely Mathgirl. And even though you're writing a lot of technical jargon that doesn't mean you have to make it complicated. I've talked with a great many people who write technical stuff for hire, and I'm always telling them to KISS. Now does simple mean slovenly? NO, it means make it readable to the point that any almost any laymen would understand it. Having a wonderful vocabulary doesn't mean you have to flaunt it in the face of those who don't. Many authors when they first start out writing short stories, and poetry go to their thesarious first thing out of the gate. They don't talk that way, but they seem to think that they should write that way. It's worse for those who write techical manuals. They seem to think that the harder something is to understand in the first place the more they should use $7,000,000.00 dollar words to explain it. And that just isn't so. In fact the easier reading manuals are the ones that never get rewritten. The same is true for any technical journals, and disertations. Write them as if you were explaining it to your grandmother, and you'll find success comes knocking at your door. After all, if you don't understand what you just wrote, why should anyone else.

As Always
I Am the
Dirt Man

 

[Kate.E]

methods

I always try to write at least something every day. Sometimes lots, sometimes a few lines.

Any time I have difficulty getting the words out I leave whatever it is and turn to something else. As the DM says, I try to write. I have lots of work in development so I find it easier to slip into character in something I know so well as opposed to trying to force something I am having trouble with.

I work on screenplays a lot and always find myself acting them as I go along. I find this is a good method for getting dialogue to sound right. I have also started doing writing exercises when i am having a 'block', just to coax ideas out and get my brain into action. Seems to work. Sometimes.

 

[MathGirl]

Re: KISS=keep it simple stupid...

Absolutely Mathgirl. And even though you're writing a lot of technical jargon that doesn't mean you have to make it complicated.

In a thing like I'm writing, though, the big words are more meaningful and a single word can take the place of several sentences. It's made to be read by people familiar with the words, not by laymen. That's a whole different thing.

 

[sirhugs]

I sdon't have free time every day. Every day that I do, I write if I have something to say. I tend to rehearse plots and scenes in my head first, so the physical recording is secondary.

 

[jon.hayworth]

Like SirHugs I often find that I am writing in my head when I am away from the PC. I always try to hit the minimum 500 words a day even if they are crap!

More often if a story is running, stopping is my problem. Today I have written 1000 words so far and think I will probably write another 500 before I pack-up.

As someone who lives alone I do not have to be disciplined, like setting aside a time. The only one who makes demands on my time is the dog.

If I am staying with my friend I often email a story to her, then I work on it on her p.c. and send it back when I am returning home.
Or I work using floppies. Might sound antisocial, but if I don't I get "itchy" to be back home working on the story.

jon

 

[snicker69]

I don't force writing. I only write when I have seen, felt, or day dreamed something that sparks an idea. That said, I ususally write once or twice a month. Most of it is crap and I file it away.

 

[TheEarl]

Apples. And loud music.

The Earl

 

[NorthwestRain]

Apples! That's a new one Earl. I just watched this show about apples raining somewhere in Texas. Maybe you'll get lucky and can write 'War and Peace' or something with all those apples.

 

[pop_54]

Re: Re: KISS=keep it simple stupid...

In a thing like I'm writing, though, the big words are more meaningful and a single word can take the place of several sentences. It's made to be read by people familiar with the words, not by laymen. That's a whole different thing.

Me I write when I feel like it, simple as that.

As for the tech stuff I agree it should be kept simple for the masses, I like to use simple examples and language.

Like:

If friction causes heat:

How long does it take 4 monkeys to gang fuck a pan of water to boiling point?

pops...........

 

[MathGirl]

Re: Re: Re: KISS=keep it simple stupid...

How long does it take 4 monkeys to gang fuck a pan of water to boiling point?

4 hours, 6 minutes, 23.093 seconds. At standard temperature and pressure, of course.

 

[Pookie]

No music, no noise, no fiancee, no roomies, no friends, no phone, no icq, and no msn messenger is a good start for me.

I usually write during the afternoons after classes. I have to be able to focus completely on what I'm writing or it just won't happen.

I can write about 6-8,000 words in a two day period if I can focus on it. That means I've spent quite a bit of time beforehand thinking about what I'm going to write as well.

Pookie

 

[pop_54]

Re: Re: Re: Re: KISS=keep it simple stupid...

4 hours, 6 minutes, 23.093 seconds. At standard temperature and pressure, of course.

Damn you clever mathamaticians you always get everything right.

pops......

 

[Sabledrake]

My main motivations for writing are:

1. The joy I feel while doing it.
2. The guilt I feel when I know I should be and I'm not.

I don't do the hour-a-day thing, but I have a schedule. I do most of my writing during my four nights at work (gawd I love my job) and aim more for a weekly word count of around 8,000.

Sabledrake

 

[Fyrefly]

The only way i find to get through writers block it to keep on writing. Sounds dumb but seriously, it works for me since i've takent hat approach.

Fyrefly

 

[gauchecritic]

I can't even start writing until I have everything in my head. I'll be sparked by something I read, someone I see or something someone says then let that simmer for a couple of weeks/months.

Then the reason for the story appears, then individual scenes, and I know I've got everything in my head because I feel the need to write it down.

As soon as I start writing my fingers know every character, every scene and the beginning, middle and end so I set them to work.

Having said this, often the characters are so fully formed that they want to do other things as well, so I just let them.

As I write I re-read the previous paragraph/s for continuity and inspiration, then when I get to the end I stop. Everything. Writing, re-reading, editing everything except the final speel chuck.

That's how I work and that's also why I'm

Gauche

 

[MathGirl]

Gauchie

As soon as I start writing my fingers know every character, every scene and the beginning, middle and end so I set them to work.
Having said this, often the characters are so fully formed that they want to do other things as well, so I just let them.
e

It must get awfully crowded there around your desk. Do you have a video camera?

 

[The_Fool]

I have to have a plan. Either a written outline or a mental one. If I am writing fiction, The story is a movie to me. I have to see the story before I can write it. Makes for some great boners with erotica.....

Then I have to sit down and start. Second biggest hurdle. Once I start, then it's almost done.

 

[KillerMuffin]

I read a bad book.

I got a few for ya. Anything by Norah Hess, baby. She sucks. Especially the older bajillions of startlingly bad crap she put out.

Do you guys aim for the 1 hour a day objective?

Heck no, I just flat don't have the time.

Of course, I consider some of what I post here to be "writing" because it does take a little bit of thought to put it out there.

Usually, though, I do write a little something every day.

My objective is 2,500 words per week. This week, I made just over 6,000. To bad 5,000 of it came in java code. *sigh*

When it comes to writing objectives, I make sure that I set workable goals based on my schedule and health. Mostly, however, I do what I can to schedule a block of time for just me and my word-processor. Sometimes, I just go back and read old stories I've written and analyze them for weaknesses; sometimes, I write. Of course, I'm not under contract at the moment.