Inspiration-less

You know how some writers face the dreaded writer's block, right? Well, thank God for me, I rarely face writer's block these days because there are always something to write about. No, what I face these days is, in my opinion, worse than writer's block; it's laziness and lack of motivation.

Yep, lazy lazy lazy. I went to Singapore for a two-day trip recently and the days before and after the trip were just pure laziness. I was too lazy to write, too lazy to even bother checking my traffic stats, too lazy to even reply anyone's messages on Facebook!! What's happening to meeee?? :hypnotized:

I need to get off my lazy bum and start writing again. Oh, wait, if I get off my bum then I'll be writing while standing. ?:-) Whatever!! I need to get motivated again, get more inspiration.

But....

It's kinda hard to be wanting to write when the one important thing I need to write right now is my Master's thesis. Wahhhhh!!! :cry:

Why I Continue Writing

"You don't write because you want to say something, you write because you have something to say." - F. Scott Fitzgerald

What is it about that blank piece of paper that calls out to me? What is it that makes my heart lift in an unexplained emotion whenever I pick up a new notebook? What is it that fuels my creative fire whenever I open up the Microsoft Word?

For most creative writers, we can find inspiration and stories no matter where we are. Sitting in a cafe, we can glance up, catch someone rushing somewhere and come up with a storyline. For some, the pitter-patter of rain can stir up an emotion which we transform and convey into a piece of writing. Even relaxing in bed, a simple thought can stimulate the creative juices and mold the starting of a plot.

I noticed that I don't write as much creative writing as I used to. I remember my brain being filled with dozens of stories itching to escape my brain, through my fingers and onto my ever-ready notebook. There were times when I lost stories that were important to me and it felt as though I have lost a wonderful friend, blown away by the forgetful wind before I could grab onto the trailing tendrils.

There are times when I feel disheartened with the world. How many times have writers heard discouragement from the people around them, telling them that creative writing is not a way to make a career? Sure, there are many needs for writers out there, but the difference in writing business articles and imaginative stories are as far apart as night and day. And so, many artistic lights die out before they can even be forged into a raging fire, all believing that it is hopeless before they even begun.

Yet...we still write.

Quietly and secretly, we rekindle the flames of our imagination, hiding its light from those who scorn us. Then, when we can no longer hold it back, we simply let go and watch as it grows bigger and brighter in the hopes that by chance, our writing will touch the hearts of those who need it, those who understand it, and those who, like us, are trying to keep our creativity alive.

I love the above quote and have often recited it to myself. Recently, however, while I still believe Fitzgerald's saying is right in a way, I also believe that we write because of both the reasons; we want to say something because we need to keep our writing hopes alive, and we have something to say because we are constantly fueled and inspired by life.

Here's hoping that creative writers and storytellers will never fade away in a world so concerned with business facts, political statements, commercial information and financial details.

Money-Making Writing

You know, there are tons, and I mean, TONS, of blogs and articles on how to make money online and through blogging. Let me shatter your bubble here, I've written it before (Cleaning Up & Making Money) and I'm going to write it again; making money through online writing is really, really hard. No, it's not impossible, it's definitely do-able, but it's no piece of cake. And pgrundy has written one of the best blog article about this subject at 'How to Make Money Writing Online'.

There are alot of writers online and offline, all of them wanting that one break to penetrate the writing market and making oodles of money, just like their favourite author. I'm shameful, yet proud, to admit that I am one of them. No career is ever easy in this world, well, unless you count flipping burgers and sweeping the streets. But even those have their own ups and downs, such as servicing grumpy customers, working long hours, facing inconsiderate litterers and drivers, stuff like that.

pgrundy mentioned in her blog that one way to get your writing career started is to self-publish your work. She even has a list of big-time authors who started by self-publishing their writings. I have a college friend, who's very talented in writing, and he too had published his science fiction story in the US. He showed it to me but I never got a chance to read it. If you think it's vain to self-publish, well, honey, let me tell you that it's a dog-eat-dog world out there. If you're not going to toot your horn amidst all those other horn-tooters, then you're never going to get noticed. Have some confidence in yourself.