What Motivates You To Write? by Beth Barany

What Motivates You To Write by Beth BaranyWhat motivates you as a writer?

That’s what I would like to know.

Do you want to leave a legacy? Do you want to write down your stories? Because.

Just because.

Because your characters are talking to you. Because you love the trance of storytelling. Because you want to create the experience you had as a reader when you were young or younger.

I notice I motivated by all of those.

When I get lost and I don’t know what to write, or I’m stuck with my editing like I have been lately, I come back to what motivates me because that is the engine that propel me forward.

When you connect with what truly drives you as a fiction writer, then it can help you in the tough times when you’re stuck.

Like I’ve been feeling, even though I have ben editing my WIP.

The other day I was talking to a potential client and I asked her this question and she was stumped. At first, she gave me an answer that sounded rehearsed, like she’d said it many times, but it feel flat, like a balloon with no more air.

She said she was curious about this character who based on a family member.

The I rephrased the question to dig a little deeper: Once you have your book published, what will having that do for you? Once you have explored this character who’s based on your family member, what will that bring you?

She paused for a moment, then finally said, “Wow, you’re making me think.”

I chuckled and waited without a word.

Finally, she said, “This story is really about me, about the tough times I had in a marriage I left. I really want to explore that.”

“Great! Yes!”

I could feel her energy deepen into her motivation and curiosity for the story. It was like a key fitting into a lock. Now she had something personal that she wanted to say.

Writing this book wasn’t just an intellectual exercise.

So how about you? What motivates you to write your fiction? What do you want to explore that’s personal to you?

I’d love to hear. Post in the comments below.

In other news…

AFTER NANOWRIMO

If you’re doing Nanowrimo and plan to finish your first draft by the end of the month, or you have a first draft that needs work, you may be wondering: what’s next?

In that case, you might be ready to join our Group Coaching Program for Genre Novelists.

Early Bird Enrollment Bonuses will be available by the end of November. Stay tuned!

NEXT YEAR!

If you’re interested in planning and writing your novel in 60 days, I’ll be running our 60-day challenge course with this focus in April 2020.

Early Bird Enrollment will open mid-February.

If you want to dive into planning your novel now, check out our book or our home study course.

Let me know if you have any questions and hope your writing is going well.

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  • Marianne Hull says:

    I have been more and more aware recently that creating characters and worlds, the scenarios and the conflicts I create, are what do it for me. And although I love reading and love words, the actual writing–not so much.

  • Jeri says:

    What motivates me as a writer?
    If I don’t write, I get irritable, ungrounded, and snappy. If I don’t write, I will lose all my friends and clients.
    That is why I am writing.

  • Beth Barany says:

    Thanks for sharing, Jeri. I so know how you feel as I get that way too.

  • Beth Barany says:

    I hear you, Marianne. Love writing but it’s hard. Agreed.

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