Hi to all,

Ive been writing for over ten years, and will admit there are days when I just dont want to turn on the computer!

How do you all keep yourselves motivated? Is it the money? The enjoyment of the job?

I can give you an example....today Im in the middle of a project of 75 SEO keyworded articles on dogs - boxers to be specific.

If I say I have 6 cats at home...you can see Im not really a dog person....to me this project says just one thing

Christmas Present Buying! and with that in mind, I *know* that I will finish it before Xmas :-)

How you all keep yourself motivated? Any tips for those horrible days??

pp

Most writers some point in time are going to be unmotivated, this could be as simple as not knowing what to write about or what you're writing is boring. Best thing is to be honest with yourself and talk to some friends or family.

I try to write more for enjoyment than anything else. Articles that I can't relate to are just too difficult to make for me. I turned down a high-paying, $60-per-week job because the articles the guy wanted me to write had to be nothing but technical jabber about things I know nothing about.

I do get motivated by money sometimes, especially when I know that I can get the job done quickly and easily, but more than anything, I need to enjoy what I'm doing, or I just won't write anything good at all.

I am somewhat spoiled, as I typically will only write on topics that already interest me or sound fun to research. Still, there are days I'd rather yak on the phone with a friend or curl up with a good book. Those days, it is the paycheck that propels me to the keyboard. Also, I love to write fiction but will not let myself write so much of a word of that until my "paying" work is done for the day.

I guess it goes to show that money really does matter, getting in the way of the things I enjoy. I suppose I could call myself spoiled as well though. I'm still inching my way into the writing business, so I just take jobs when I want to and when I know that I'll stay interested with it.

If I have a project for which I'm not very motivated I'll decide not to even try to write it for x amount of time. I know how long x amount of time I can afford by figuring out how long I'll need to write, when the deadline is, etc.

During the time before writing I incubate ideas, approaches, etc. and generally stew over the project.
Having x amount of time to freely stew allows for the ideas to come, so by the time stewing time is over I have different approaches and ideas from which to choose.

At that point I choose, sometimes based on the approach that yielded the most material during the incubation/stewing process; so by the time I start motivation is no longer a factor. Its then just a matter of writing some version of what I already have.

Essentially, its a matter of separating writing from the need for inspiration/motivation. Lack of motivation doesn't matter during the stewing process, and the stewing process gives me a headstart when actual writing time begins.

Well, money is always the great motivator for me but as for writing fiction, usually I get inspired after having conversations with friends and reading great books and knowing that without hard work I will never be able to say anything important through literature.

Job writing, I just have to keep my eye on the prize as it were and know that there are far worse ways to earn a buck than by doing what I love.

i just do it, and dont think about it if i dont do it i cant pay my rent so i need to do it
or else i cant eat food and play around allday in my shorts hihihihi
but i do like this job it makes me happy

artel

As far as I write it gets easier to create. Thats my motivation.