hello Everyone I am Ursla , a novice novelist , working on my novel Red Doll. Just wanted to post the question that what motivates YOU to write? Is it the prospect of fame? fortune? self fulfillment?
Interesting question, Ursla. I suppose it's a mixture of all three for me. Right now I'm focused more on the self-fulfillment and pride I'll get when I type the final word before smacking a big THE END at the bottom of the manuscript. It's enticing to imagine it on the shelves and having a small following for it. But right now, at this moment, it's to finish it for my own personal satisfaction. I found it relieved me of a lot of needless pressure.
Self fulfillment, but that includes communication, so I need at least some readers--I'm not fulfilled just by the writing.
I have a story I want to tell. So like @ChickenFreak, I need at least some people to read it, but money and fame are not my goal.
Money and Fame? That comes with what i want but that's not my goal. I just want to be remembered forever and make enough money where i can just sit there and write as much as i want until i get bored and plan on doing something really fun without having to worry about bills and showing up to work. I'll have my own production company, but it will be set up where i can take time off when i need to and come if there's something that requires my presence. Basically writing, screwing around, and contributing to production-based projects.
I don't have a story to tell and I find it very difficult to write. But writing is the only art form, or a means of an expression, where I have some understanding, some access, a shared thing where I am free. Other people dance, other people sing. I have tried their activities, and have consumed three large glasses of wine, am a very philosophical being tonight. Writing is like a jigsaw, so in inspirational terms think of me writing, an old lady in her shawl, fireside with jigsaw. Some success would be fine. When you find the fringes of success, you don't necessarily like it, or even like yourself. I like people to belly laugh with abandon, almost senseless. I also enjoy engaging a serious mind. I don't mind if I am low-brow, high or middle, some voice, somewhere is good enough. x What I [don't] mean is - when you do get a magazine, or a sub-editor liking your stuff, having your face plastered about the place, a million dollars, well it's trifling ambition. The fun stuff is to imagine a little old fella chortling away to your 1000 words - 1000 years from now. That is the sum of [my] modest ambition.
Hopefully that guy will be wearing a straw hat and call himself 'Lemex' on internet forums. If that happens, history literally would be repeating itself. :-3
This is exactly me, i just want people reading my fantasy novels like they still do with The Lord Of The Rings. Not that it would be better or be more important, but i mean by the longevity and the consistent readership. Maybe some of my lighter material will be read in some schools. The chances of that are very close to zero, but it's fun thinking about it. As long as the kids find it engaging and fulfilling, i'm all for it. I only care about the money because my parents have it hard and i just don't want to struggle like them-so just enough to have the freedom I've always dreamed of. If i make millions, that will be cool cause my chartial dreams will be met. Writing isn't even my only hobby i plan to make the big leagues on, so we'll see where everything takes me. The fame would be nice too but it's not all about me.
I'd like to change the world for the better. Failing that, I'd like to change myself for the better. Failing that, I'd like to provide an opportunity for someone to dream. Failing that, I'd like to provide an opportunity for someone to laugh - be it a chortle or a guffaw, I don't mind. Failing that, I'd like to provide an opportunity for someone to smile. Plus nothing beats learning, and I am learning a tonne. Overall it's the journey that I seek and enjoy. The exploring, growing, evolving and perhaps most of all, the connection with others.
I dunno. I mean, 11 years ago I was drunk (not literally) on the idea of eternal fame and glory, that I'd be the American JK Rowling or something. I pressured myself on it (which, ironically, affected my writing) until recently that all changed. I could just be selling myself short here, but, deep down, in the deepest recesses of my subconscious? Ignoring my pride and ego? I'm OK with never really making it big, if my books sort of disappears into the faceless mass of books that grace the shelves. Just knowing that it's out there, that someone could read it on a hot summer day over a cup of coffee/beer/tea is enough for me. I'll still work to improve my craft, but I wouldn't be on a desperate quest to make my name known. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, that's OK as well. It's personal happiness that's the key to life, not eternal fame and glory.
I'm really surprised it took until the 13th post in this thread for someone to say something about getting laid. Either you guys don't want to get laid, or I'm just missing the chip in my brain that stops me from saying such silly things.
I think that'd be kind of creepy, "I've never seen you but i've read the words you put on paper, have sex with me."
I'd make those type of jokes, but i reserve those for you since that's your niche. But yes, once for me would be imperative too lol.
Famously Pablo Neruda and Benjamin Franklin, i think. More so with Neruda since he wrote a crap-ton of love poems.
Ben Franklin spent many a time in brothels and having orgies. He was also a member of a satanic group in England. They won't teach you that in grade school.
I had a feeling i was right about the orgy thing lol, but i wasn't too sure. Some historians argue that he was a spy within the Satanic clubs, which i disagree. I know a lot of outside information that school never touches on.
The guy pretty much plowed half of France short of the Royal Family. I bet that's how he *ahem* convinced France to join the war effort. “Help us win, and I'll let you...declare your independence from your gown.” *is shot hundreds of times for his lame joke* Had no idea about the satanic group in England. Kind of odd they'd let him join considering he was pro-Independence.
