Tuesday, November 4, 2014

When It Isn't Fun


Al Ganksy shares a great word about the need for discipline in any work, job, or vocation.  There are plenty of times when it simply isn't fun and we have to dig in our heels and work. . . .

No matter our occupations, there are days, weeks, even months when we don’t want to do the work. With a “regular job” we are motivated by the thought of suddenly being unemployed or by the fear of other people’s opinions. That’s the problem for most writers—especially those without a contract standing behind them cracking the whip—no one knows if we don’t show up at the keyboard, and let’s face it: writers are creative folk who can conjure up an excuse or rationalization without a second thought.

William Faulkner gets credit for saying, “I only write when inspiration strikes.
Fortunately it strikes at nine every morning.” The Great Gatsby author has a point. There are many other similar quotes that drive home the idea that writers write even when they don’t want to.

Inertia is the problem. When we’re at rest we prefer to stay at rest. Hence the oft spoken line, “Honey, since you’re up, would you mind to bring me a soda?” An object at rest (in this case, the writer) changes its resting state when acted upon by an outside force. For working writers (meaning those who write to eat) income plays a key role. The fear of missing a deadline is highly motivational, but most writers I know still work from a desire to produce material to be read. This is true for journalists to the writers of epic fantasy.

Read the entire article, "When Writing Isn't Fun," here.

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