I think about this often. I am not a lazy person. I'd even call myself self-motivated for the most part. But there are just some days I need inspiration.
My great example is exercise. I fight myself. I've slept in exercise clothes, worn them all through the next day, and still not exercised. My secret desire is the effort to wear the clothes will inspire me to action. The flip side is the awful feeling of wearing spandex all day and accomplishing nothing toward my health goals. Then I beat myself up. Sadly, I know exercise makes me feel better, so why is it so hard to motivate myself to do it sometimes?
"Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere." Anonymous
Writing calls to me, but sometimes I sit down and find myself uninspired. The words don't flow and no amount of time commitment can force it. I can wear my writer's hat all day and not write a single word. It never fails, though, that a thousand words come to me while driving my child to swim practice or volunteering in school.
"Motivation will almost always beat mere talent." Norman R. Augustine
I've learned to embrace inspiration whenever it hits, but also to put myself in situations where it's easy to act. I keep notebooks in the car for jotting down ideas and even a small notebook in my purse. I use the Notes app on my IPhone. Anything I can do to not miss the moments.
For motivation, I join challenges like A Round of Words in 80 Days for the accountability and support. I know I exercise more when a friend is waiting on me at the gym, so I knew a writing community would be a great inspiration for my writing. ROW 80 has been just that. My inspiration.
On to my check in:
Our sequel is humming along. Sleep is suffering, but we are one-third of the way done with the first draft. Not bad! The story and characters are getting along beautifully. This week I am changing my goal back to achieving word count, but I'm going to ease back in and hope for 500 words a day.
I've surpassed my 5 page a day edit challenge and posted on this blog daily. Goals met! I hesitated to add these goals to writing, but I've found both make me a better writer. I look forward to reading everyone's progress this week and checking in on some great blogs. Talk about inspiration! Find some of my fellow ROW 80ers listed below.
And finally I finished and reviewed a book for Rebecca's Reads. The review link will be up on my Mom in Love with Fiction blog in the next day or so along with an additional review later in the week. My hope anyway! I love to read, but time to do so has suffered lately.
Now back to my original question, what inspires you?
9 comments:
Sounds like you are doing well!
I found that sometimes inspiration strikes when there is no way I can write...that's when the recording app on the iPhone comes in handy. I can talk through the idea, even if it doesn't come out elegantly, and then listen at home when I have a moment to jot it down.
My inspiration? I can't pin it to just one thing. It comes from everywhere, I guess.
Hmmmm....inspiration - that fickle imp. I'm most inspired when I've just had a chat session with my siblings. I'm one of nine kids (well, we're not exactly kids anymore) and I have two siblings who also write. Their offer of a fresh perspective on a scene or plot item that is stumping my muse usually does the trick.
I also tried out an idea posted at ROW80 by Deniz Bevin, which was to read a piece that is wholly opposite to the piece I'm attempting to write. It worked wonders! The contrast sparked something in my brain....hope it will do the trick for you, too! ~ Nadja
I know what you mean, sometimes I sit with time on my hands and struggle to make the words come, other days I can't fit much writing in but feel if I sat down reams and reams would flow!
I get inspired by other blogs, books, films, just about anything really! And inspiration really does strike at the most awkward moments!
Have a great week!
that empty hole where sparks ought to be - dreadful dreadful - I think, garden, jot down notes of things to do, listen to music oh everything -it has always fizzed back lets hope it always will
I think you are exercising. Thinking tends to be a harder job than doing. It must be, because, when I think, I know my body's drained. Sounds like a good check in. Have a productive week.
I find inspiration in a lot of places: dreams, working, talking about my writing with one of my writing buddies or my husband, in other stories, on my favorite blogs (especially Janice Hardy's and Juliette Wade's), and all over.
Good luck with your exercising goal. I need work more on exercising, too. My pants are getting snug again. I haven't done as much as I wanted this week, but I've done better than I have been.
Have a great week! :D
Some great suggestions and encouragement. Thanks so much! I love ROW80 for so many reasons, but especially for the inspiration, constant writing lessons, and support. I feel honored to write among you!
Inspiration can come from just about anywhere. You just have to be ready to recognize it and store it in your brain...or your notebook.
ROW80 is great, isn't it? So much support!
It sounds like you're doing well on your goals. Good luck this week!
Thanks, Laura Lynn. I've been inspired at the beach this week... unfortunately my computer was inspired to fail. Such is life. I'm writing down all my work and hoping my files are retrievable.
ROW80 support is amazing!
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