So, we all know why we write what we write (or we at least have a good idea), but what keeps you writing when all you want to do is skip a night or stop altogether? I mean, what do you use to keep you gong? Coffee? Music? Dogged determination?
Partly I'm looking for suggestions, and partly I'm just posting out of regular old curiosity. And It keeps my mind alert for another two minutes or so, since I've been at this for about uh.....ten hours or so?
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The first draft of anything is shit.--Hemingway
50,140 / 50,000
Nov 9, 2007 - 09 41
Dogged determination and a timer set for an hour. It's the best motivation in the world!
And then I take inspiration from music pertinent to my topic. There is a lot of Celtic music out there about sailing and pirates and women. It helps a lot.
10,549 / 50,000
Nov 9, 2007 - 16 53
Second on the dogged determination. I've been slacking (not totally my fault, I've learned that there are some meds I just really *shouldn't* write on), but when I can, I pretty much force myself to write, even when I don't feel like it. But I only have to force myself to start; after the first two hundred words or so, it takes off on its own and then, sometimes, I have to force myself to quit and go to bed (the munchkin usually wakes around 7 am, and I only get the chance to write when both she and the husband are in bed, around 10 pm. Not a large window, but I need solitude to dive in). Facing actual deadlines and assignments in my freelance work has really helped me to get better at writing when I'm not "in the mood", thank goodness.
50,027 / 50,000
Nov 9, 2007 - 18 23
What keeps me writing? Honestly, my flat out love for it! I've wanted to be a writer since I was a little kid, and that has never changed. I don't just do Nano for the thrill of writing 50,000 words in a month (and yes, I find it thrilling xD) but simply for the love of writing! I look forward to Nano all year long, and can't wait to get started! The motivation for me this year in particular is that I want to write -more- than 50,000 words, so I'm pushing it into overtime xD
I had a rough spot a few days ago, where my story was in boring 'explaining the characters and cities and plot' mode, but I've pushed past that into the plot itself and now all I think about is writing xD I love having a story to tell, and I want to tell it :3
45,356 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2007 - 19 15
What keeps me writing is the inability to concede a defeat easily at this point. I've come too far to quit now, and it's too late to turn back.
I even made a profound realization about my own novel this evening, but damned if I'm not so tired that I lost it immediately. But the important part is that the *feeling* that the thought inspired is still there.
Also, original poster posting in own thread for great justice is GO. (I really should not read ED when I'm tired. It sticks in my brain like poo on a shoe.)