Monday, September 22, 2014

The Motivation to Write

Being on a diet, I’m a little obsessed with food and have been craving something extravagant, my favourite indulgence being seafood platters. I turned to hubby and said, “When I get my book published, I’m going to take us out to some fancy restaurant with the money I earn.” He said, “So you’ll be ordering a scallop then?”

Ah, yes, he understands most of us don’t write for the money. We can, of course, dream and work toward achievable goals. If money were my sole goal, then I probably would’ve stopped writing a long time ago.  

What motivates you most to write?

--
Out now: How I Found the Write Path, compiled by Carrie Butler and PK Hrezo. This is a compilation of letters to our past selves, sharing the secrets of the writing trade. With over sixty authors around the world contributing to the book, it’s well worth the read. I have the honour of my letter being included as well. So go grab yourself a free copy today.

Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, Kobo, iTunes, Smashwords, Txtr, Scribd



--
The IWSG Guide to Publishing and Beyond
Once again I’d like to thank everyone who has already sent in their submission for the book. If you haven’t already sent in anything, then your deadline is October 2nd. You can find the details here.

Important note: In the interests of copyright laws, we request you don’t use any direct quotes from other published writers unless you know without doubt it's in the public domain eg Shakespeare.

So far we’ve received a lot of submissions on writing, which is fantastic, but we’d also love to see more entries on publishing and marketing so we get a good balance for the book.

86 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

A scallop! Tell him for that comment, he gets one oyster cracker.
Got my copy of The Write Path. I need to reread my own entry as I don't even know what I said...

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

lol, he already said he'd order the lobster and pay for it himself. No meazily single scallop (or oyster cracker) for him! ;)
I've been slowly reading through all the entries in The Write Path and am thoroughly enjoying them.

Stephen Tremp said...

I still need to submit my submission. Its outlines. Just need to fill it out. This will be a fun book to read and promote once its finished.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

There's still plenty of time. I'm looking forward to reading your submission.

Botanist said...

LOL! I think I've earned enough for a modest lunch but that's about it! Glad your husband is so understanding of the realities :)

Unknown said...

With the money I've earned over 5+ years, a scallop is out of my price range. I'm stubborn so I'll continue on for another few years, but at some point, I'll just have to accept that I'm not capable of being successful at writing. Sometimes those things happen. It won't be the end of the world by a long shot.

Kyra Lennon said...

*giggles* I love your hubby's response!

The thing that mainly motivates me to write is knowing it's the only way the characters in my head will stop talking!

Carrie Butler said...

Thanks for the shout-out, Lynda!

I think your husband should buy you a seafood platter as a reward for finishing every book. ;)

Natalie Aguirre said...

Definitely go order the whole platter as a reward. I write for the personal satisfaction. With all my life changes, I'm not even sure anymore if I'll take it beyond that.

Theresa Milstein said...

I'm excited to be part of the How I Found the Write Path compilation. I confess that I wrote a writing piece for the Insecure Writer's Support Group Guide to Publishing. I didn't have much to add to the publishing and marketing sections.

Good luck on your diet!

Nana Prah said...

Your husband is funny. When will your book be finished?

L. Diane Wolfe said...

My husband wants a Ferrari. I tell him I'm still working on that.

It's not the writing that pays the bills. It's all the extra things you can do as an author. Like professional speaking.

Jemi Fraser said...

These both sound great! :)

H. R. Sinclair said...

Humm, a good scallop is hard to beat. I writing for a good computer chair.

Terri Tiffany said...

And then I've leaned it takes forever to get a gutsy check!! Not counting on money as my reason to write.

DEZMOND said...

I'm on a lifelong diet... and I will die hungry and fat.... that should be my epitaph too

Luanne G. Smith said...

I'm on a lifelong diet too. Blah, blah, blah. But I feast on words. Heh, see what I did there. That really is what motivates me. I love language. I love creating scenes with words.

Jay Noel said...

I cut out wheat and grains. It's been fantastic. Dropped 54 lbs. So it worked for me!

As far as what motivates me to write, I actually thought about that a lot recently. With the anniversary of the World Trade Center tragedy, I have to say that 9-11 motivated me. Life is too short to not do what you're passionate about.

Pat Hatt said...

Submitted mine the first day at my bay. But yeah, we don't do it for the dough, that is for sure

Suze said...

You'll pay for a trough of lobster, Lyn. xx

Anonymous said...

I like scallops, but can't eat just one. I understand about the diet thing. Whenever I use that word, all I think about is food.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Everything motivates me to write. Lately time hasn't been cooperating. Lynda, after 47 years of dieting, I finally gave it up, then I lost 10 lbs. My new motto is to eat anything my body wants when I'm hungry. Who knew it could be that simple!

Sheena-kay Graham said...

Writing for love not money is best. Your hubby is a real comedian. I plan to have my submission ready for next week.

Anonymous said...

Blogger compilations are fabulous. I've been buying them and am so pleased to be part of one.

When I splurge, celebrate, or have a diet fail, I buy Thai food.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Ha, let's hope so, Suze. A lobster palooza would be sweet!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

lunch is good! And yes, it is great to have a hubby who understands.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Honestly, I don't think it's about skill. I think it's about perseverence and hard work and a love of what you do. Throw in a bit of luck in there too.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Writing can be essential in that way ;)

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I like your thinking!!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

That personal satisfaction is often enough.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I've actually read your piece and loved it. Wonderfully encouraging and I've been thinking about it ever since.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Now there's a loaded question if ever I've heard one. I don't think any of my stories ever get finished in my head, even the published ones.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I hear that a lot--it's not the books alone that earn the authors enough to live on. I guess it's a good thing I've done public speaking in a former life.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Thanks, Jemi

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

A good computer chair is essential. My back can attest to that!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Yep, not counting on the money as your reason to write is a good thing.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Ha, I can relate. It doesn't seem fair. Good chocolate is going to waste because I'm not eating it! Bwaaaaaa ;)

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

You clever thing, you.
And yep, I'm with you. The love of language--weaving nuances that build a moment, a scene, a story--keeps me going.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

wow, I'm impressed. I'll admit, I do like my bread... sigh.

Those events, while horribly tragic, make good reminders not to waste time.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Gotta love organised people :)

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I know, right?! When I'm dieting, my food plans are a whole lot better because I'm constantly thinking about food.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Ha, yeah, I never follow a diet plan or fad. When I diet, I simply cut down my portion sizes, cut out chocolate, and stop eating out so much.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Everyday, he makes me laugh or smile.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Oh my gosh, I love Thai food. But it soooo bad for the diet.

Mark Murata said...

Thanks for the tip. I didn't know How I Found the Write Path was out.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Yep, hot off the presses (as it were).

Denise Covey said...

Hi Lyn. A diet??? Urk!! That only makes you more obsessive about food. I must get my finger out and write something for the IWSG book.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Loved your husband's scallop comment. Some days I feel exactly like that.

cleemckenzie said...

A scallop! What a guy. He must keep you in the real world all the time. :-) That seafood platter has made me crave lobster and it's only 8AM.

S.P. Bowers said...

Ha! Totally get your husband's comment, though I'm not a seafood fan. Chinese or Vietnamese is what I usually crave.

It's true, though, that money can't be our motivation.

Optimistic Existentialist said...

My lord I love me a good seafood platter. I had seafood kabobs once and fell in love.

Chris Edgar said...

I never considered the possibility of ordering an individual scallop -- that sounds like a potentially useful dietary or budgetary strategy. For vegetarians like me, the equivalent would be ordering one strand of seaweed.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

It does, but my version of a diet is just cutting back (and no chocolate). At least it seems to be working so the pain is not for nothing.

And yes you must!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I had a feeling others would relate... ;)

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Yes, he does, but he does it in a wonderful way that makes me smile.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I crave those too... If it's food, I crave it. Sigh.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Waa! Now I'm craving seafood kabobs!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

lol, a strand of seaweed would fill you right up! ;)

Scribbles From Jenn said...

Not only is your hubby a realist, he's funny, too! I keep seeing How I Found the Write Path, I guess that means I must get a copy :)

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Yes, yes! Pick up a copy! It's great reading.

Leovi said...

Wonderful job of Carrie Butler and PK Hrezo

Cathrina Constantine said...

I did get my copy of How I found the Write Path and started to read it yesterday!!!!

Carol Riggs said...

Your food photo is making me hungry!! Yum. LOL--"a scallop." Just downloaded my copy of THE WRITE PATH! Thanks for mentioning it. :)

Unknown said...

Doing it for food might make me write faster!

Carol Kilgore said...

I'm motivated to get the stories out of my head - to make room for more :)

Nas said...

I never could adhere to a strict diet...fall off the wagon in days only!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Absolutely!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Awesome! I really enjoyed it.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Yeah, everytime I look at it, it makes me hungry too. It's a photo of my birthday seafood platter, taken this year. Yum.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

hahaha Food is a mighty powerful motivator!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Those stories do have a way of clamouring away in our heads.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

That's why I never follow a strict diet. Too painful. I just cut back and cut out chocolate and junk food.

The Happy Whisk said...

If you have a Staples near you guys, last year they ran a KILLER sale on office chairs. It was only one day but the prices were low, low, low.

The Happy Whisk said...

Much luck on your goals.

Mark said...

That is the question...I realized that I ultimately write for myself and my wife. If I write a story that she truly enjoys then the work is a success. Anything after that is just icing on the cake.

emaginette said...

I'm looking forward to the IWSG Anthology. I know it will be inspirational :-)

Anna from Shout with Emaginette

Misha Gerrick said...

Hahahaha it's nice to have someone who understands. :-P

Victoria Marie Lees said...

My children are usually my motivation to write...or at least to get out of the house and hide in the library to write. Our family camping trips inspire many of my short story adventures for YA audiences.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Thanks so much, Spooky Whisk.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Gotta love that icing and the sugar rush it brings, though ;)

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I've read many of the articles already, yours included, and they are all fabulous!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I couldn't do it without him.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Your comment about hiding in the library made me laugh out loud.

Blue Grumpster said...

I'm writing a book on academic writing (I know). Why? Because all the books that are available s.u.c.k. They are way too theoretical, making my students nod off in a flash.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Darn, I missed it!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Oh wow, that sounds brilliant. Some of those texts are truly dry.