Absolute Chaos Discussion Boards

Fic Talk => General Discussion => Topic started by: Sakabelle on March 10, 2008, 10:48:22 AM

Title: Lost Motivation?
Post by: Sakabelle on March 10, 2008, 10:48:22 AM
Blah!  I just do not have any motivation to write lately.  I know what I want to happen in the next chapters of my stories... but I just can't seem to get it out on to paper (well, on to screen really..) I started at Microsoft Word for an hour and hardly got anything written.  When this happens to you, what do you do to get the motivation back?  I just can't seem to put my mind to it.
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: sweet18_2003 on March 10, 2008, 11:58:15 AM
I either just type until everything starts to flow, or sleep on it for a few days, working ideas around in my mind. I am seeming to have the same problem lately. I have ideas to finish chapters...but ...I just cant get it down on the screen. Its frustrating... but it eventually gets worked though. Another thing I find that helps is writing out an outline with the main points of each chapter. That way you have something to look at to guide you through and motivate you. Most of my stories have outlines started out on chapter 15 or something. lol
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: MellzBellz on March 10, 2008, 02:31:55 PM
Sometimes what helps me Steph is to reread what I have so far. It puts me back into the mood of the story and reacquaints me with the characters and what's going on. Sometimes it also helps to work on something entirely different like another story or a short story.

Most of the time its just a matter of getting down to it. Once you start writing you usually get back into the groove.
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: nicksgal on March 10, 2008, 02:51:19 PM
That totally happened to me last July! I'm not the best person to ask, because I ended up taking a six month hiatus from updating.

But like Mel said, usually rereading what you have helps. :)
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: DaniGiggles on March 10, 2008, 02:56:02 PM
Weird that you were to post this today because these past couple of days I've been getting on AC and going "Where the hell are Steph's stories!?!?!?! I need them!" and I'm sad everytime there's not an update. I was gonna message you to see what was up, but now I know!

And loss of motivation is totally normal. I'm a bit in a rut myself. I know exactly what I want to happen, but actually getting it down is a problem. Like Mel, I sometimes reread a couple chapters to get me back in the mood, and like Ash I wait a couple of days and try and rework scenes in my head to see if I can make them more interesting, and thus more fun to write. Don't worry, you'll get back into the swing of things, it just might take a week or so :)

But uh, I'm waiting... *cough*patiently*cough* for an update, so no pressure or anything lol!  :D
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: Kagoma on March 10, 2008, 03:11:49 PM
I know excautly how you feel. I have ideas for Mater's and TAOTFFH, but I just can't seem to get in the mood of writing anything. But I did actaully add a few new things to 'Attack of the Fifty Foot Howie' I guess there is hope for me.
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: Sakabelle on March 10, 2008, 03:48:44 PM
Weird that you were to post this today because these past couple of days I've been getting on AC and going "Where the hell are Steph's stories!?!?!?! I need them!" and I'm sad everytime there's not an update. I was gonna message you to see what was up, but now I know!

Aw Dani I'm sorry!  I've been in such a crappy mood all weekend and spent most of it with Derek.. and then I figured I'd better update this morning since you, Kim and mary were probably wondering where I was lol... and it then I just couldn't write!  I'll try best as I can to get something up tonight or tomorrow.. hopefully the motivation will come back soon =)
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: DaniGiggles on March 10, 2008, 09:47:17 PM
^Aww, Steph! Don't write unless you want to. I don't want you feeling obligated or anything, but if you do feel like updating, then that's all the better. I'm not going anywhere lol And I hope everything's going okay with Derek!
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: Sakabelle on March 11, 2008, 12:30:50 AM
^Well I also would like to get my stories done instead of moping around hehe.
Thank God you're not going anywhere lol, I don't know what I would do if more people left!  Things with Derek are much much better, thanks dude :)
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: Rose on March 11, 2008, 01:13:32 AM
Rereading helps, but so do writing exercises. Like on the Alias section of the board. It can get you back into your character's heads. It may remind you of their motivation, which can give you back your own muse and motivation. Usually helps for me. Plus they can be fun :)

Hope that helps.
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: mare on March 16, 2008, 08:06:46 PM
Sometimes what helps me Steph is to reread what I have so far. It puts me back into the mood of the story and reacquaints me with the characters and what's going on. Sometimes it also helps to work on something entirely different like another story or a short story.

Most of the time its just a matter of getting down to it. Once you start writing you usually get back into the groove.

this is totally off topic but everytime I see your avy I teeny a little lol
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: honey on March 17, 2008, 02:46:18 AM
lol it's ok Mare, I think you're entitled.
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: julilly on March 17, 2008, 08:34:43 AM
I will start getting motivation to write in the summer... when I should be outside lol Years past have shown me that I just can't get writing done in the winter.
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: honey on March 17, 2008, 10:46:03 AM
I'm a lot the same way. I pretty much don't do a lot of anything in the winter. Yay for seasonal depression lol. But when the sun comes out and it warms up I get sooooo much done. Although, my typos increase a ton because in the summer I take a notebook with me and write other places. Then when I'm just copying something on computer that's already been written, I mess up a lot and we all know I suck at proofreading things. Why is it that I can't read something like 4 times and never see all the typos in it? I should really just invest in a laptop and take that with me instead of a notebook.   Anyway, yeah, yay for summer!
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: julilly on March 17, 2008, 02:04:29 PM
I'm a lot the same way. I pretty much don't do a lot of anything in the winter. Yay for seasonal depression lol. But when the sun comes out and it warms up I get sooooo much done.

You live in California!!... I had the car windows down yesterday and was swaying in the breeze and it was 35*F lol I was like aaaaah, one day there will be a sun, and I will witness it... meanwhile in happy sunshine land you're stealing my sun lol
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: honey on March 17, 2008, 03:14:38 PM
aww, I know it's not snow, but it still rained and was foggy all freakin' winter. Thant's why I moved back to southern cal, so that won't happen any more.  :P


If it makes you feel any better, I grew up in Colorado and then Michigan and went to college in Idaho. I'm no stranger to miserable winters. I just finally got smart and headed to the land of the sun!
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: nicksgal on March 17, 2008, 05:48:16 PM
*officially hates winter*

The good news is that the first day of Spring is March twentieth. :) *wills the current snow-stuck ground away*
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: RokofAges75 on March 17, 2008, 06:04:09 PM
It was BEAUTIFUL here last week, and now it's all cold and rainy again.  I like winter, but I'm getting sick of it too.  Ready for spring!  Ready to wear my spring clothes!  Yay!
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: honey on March 17, 2008, 08:14:31 PM
It was BEAUTIFUL here last week, and now it's all cold and rainy again.  I like winter, but I'm getting sick of it too.  Ready for spring!  Ready to wear my spring clothes!  Yay!

ooh ooh YAY for spring clothes!!!
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: julilly on March 17, 2008, 08:53:01 PM
aww, I know it's not snow, but it still rained and was foggy all freakin' winter. Thant's why I moved back to southern cal, so that won't happen any more.  :P


If it makes you feel any better, I grew up in Colorado and then Michigan and went to college in Idaho. I'm no stranger to miserable winters. I just finally got smart and headed to the land of the sun!

It does make me feel better... I know I don't suffer alone! :P

I need to move to California... oh wait... that's right... I'm not American and Canada doesn't come with a "warm winter" feature lol
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: honey on March 17, 2008, 08:59:44 PM
hey, here in california we don't discriminate against canadians... our own president and people who destroy the rain-forest maybe, but not canadians, so come on over!


ps.. does canada ever get warm?  at all?
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: AJsKellyMouse on March 17, 2008, 10:06:31 PM
Arizona is pretty nice for the weather, too.  That is, if you don't mind the skin-melting heat in the summer.  Winters aren't too bad though.  Except we had 80 degree weather in February, and March.  Scratch that, stick to California, lol.
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: julilly on March 18, 2008, 07:47:20 AM
hey, here in california we don't discriminate against canadians... our own president and people who destroy the rain-forest maybe, but not canadians, so come on over!


ps.. does canada ever get warm?  at all?

I only wish that were true! I had been trying for a long time to get into the states because there were so many more careers in my field, but they only let you come if you already have a job, already have someone willing to fork out a couple hundred dollars to sign some papers and bring you there, and already have a place to live... so yeah that didn't pan out, so I joined the military lol OH, but Canadians are allowed to join the US Armed Forces without a visa... I learned that. Twisted? Yah I think so.

It does get warm, just not during the winter lol It goes up to about the mid 80's fahrenheit here during the summer, and it's humid. It gets a lot warmer in other parts of the country though! 
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: honey on March 18, 2008, 12:24:54 PM
aww so what you're saying is, I need to find you a nice sugar daddy who will give you a green card marriage... I hear Nick is single and usually up for an adventure... I'll get right on the for ya.
Title: Re: Lost Motivation?
Post by: julilly on March 18, 2008, 02:56:48 PM
aww so what you're saying is, I need to find you a nice sugar daddy who will give you a green card marriage... I hear Nick is single and usually up for an adventure... I'll get right on the for ya.

Oh good, that'll work out very well I think! lol