Motivators keep us pressing forward

Different motivators keep us pressing forward regardless of the task.

For example, do you exercise? What motivates you to exercise? If we’re part of team sports, we desire to be in shape so we can perform at our best with our peers in competitions. Other reasons to exercise include losing weight, toning our muscles, being healthy, and looking our best. Whatever the reason, exercise requires working hard and breaking a sweat.

Some of these incentives apply to our writing life too. We’re motivated to write daily to improve our craft so we look our best. Regular writing polishes our work as we apply new techniques and implement new knowledge. Just like in sports, our writing muscles grow stronger, and as the muscles strengthen and we learn our agile moves, our confidence expands. When our confidence increases, fears lessen.

Fears never disappear altogether though. They lurk to raise their ugly heads for long-time professionals, as well. Best-selling, multi-published authors wrestle through doubts like novices. They realize they’ve beat it before, so they can beat it again. Knowing this encourages us to keep planting our seats in the chair and typing out our stories.

Sometimes I believe writing motivation is that unquenchable desire that can’t be stomped down. I set my novel aspirations aside during certain seasons of life, but the desire never died.

William Carlos Williams said, “I think writing is a disease. You can’t stop it.”

Isaac Asimov said, “I write for the same reason I breathe—because if I didn’t, I would die.”

I write because I find pleasure in writing and feel closer to God at times. Sure, I join you in wanting to publish multiple books loved by readers. But at the end of the day, whether I have that coveted contract or not, I’ll still write because I cannot not write. (Am I starting to sound like Piglet in Winnie the Pooh?) If I refrain, a cloud descends upon my soul.

Perhaps experiencing joy motivates your writing too. Getting the story onto the page and going back to edit and shape the words just so provides profound satisfaction. That satisfaction keeps me moving forward toward the prize.

I haven’t published a book yet, but I have published numerous articles. I imagine published novels the pinnacle of a writing career.

Achieving that dream motivates me too.

Having a desire to write, improving our craft, and achieving a dream are three ways I stay motivated. Just as we exercise to stay physically healthy, we write to nurture our spiritual and mental health too. We may sweat (even cry) over our words, we may get knocked down and discouraged, but we keep getting up again, pressing toward the prize because these motivators keep us in the race.

What keeps you motivated?

Running photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash.

Weight lifting photo by Gursimrat Ganda on Unsplash.

Girl at computer photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash.