Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Internal versus External Motivation

No, I'm not talking about character arcs, which is an entire post in itself. I'm talking about your own motivations as a writer, be they external (e.g. editor deadlines) or internal (e.g. desire to hit the NYT Bestseller list). I've always responded really well to deadlines, whether self-imposed or other-imposed. I knew I needed to finish revising (okay, re-writing) the second half of my book for a writing retreat I'm attending this week. I finished yesterday with two days to spare, but as excited as I am about the retreat (my external deadline), that wasn't the only motivation behind my late nights this week. 

Last week, I mentioned my obsession with Shiny New Idea. I was so motivated to start it, but wouldn't let myself until I finished my "old" manuscript. Last night, I literally hit the "compile" button in Scrivener (coolest program EVER) for my old document, then opened up a new one and wrote the first chapter of SNI. The internal motivation to get my new idea on paper is what helped push me through the torture of a bazillionth revision (only a slight exaggeration) of my last ms. I get so geeked out over first drafts that I'm going to enjoy this time while it lasts...after all, I know that first revision is just around the corner.

What about you? Are you motivated more by external or internal factors?

6 comments:

  1. I'm motivated by internal. I'm just so driven to write right now that I don't need to make external deadlines.

    Hopefully some of my manuscripts will get signed soon and I'll have external deadlines... :)

    Great post!

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  2. Yeah, I'll take that kind of external deadline any day! Good luck w/ the writing. :)

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  3. I can only work on one thing at a time. And since I don't really have any external motivators, I guess I'm more internal. For now.

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  4. My motivations are definitely external when it comes to sitting down and write - whether it is a beta reader sending a feedback or a friend asking me about a WIP (or their own WIP), talking about specific stories (not writing in general) miraculously opens up documents and has me tapping away on the keyboard.

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  5. External works for me. I was a newspaper features writer for years and know the rigidity of the presses. Being in crit groups helps me keep up the external deadline. If you want feedback, you gotta write.

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  6. Wow! I wish I had that kind of internal motivation. That's rare for me, although I do think an awesome SNI might work. Mostly I'm motivated by the external. I hate to let other people down, lol. Myself... well, I can wait.

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