What Motivates You by Terri Weldon

Hey, guys, I first ran this post in 2016, but since I'm needing motivation to write more I decided it needed a second chance. Actually, I need to hear from you guys so I can get myself in gear!

When I sat down to write this post (in 2016) I was watching Dr. Who. And it occurred to me that at times my inspiration comes from movies, other books, television programs, sermons, a sentence in a conversation (mine or someone else’s), and most definitely scripture.

Do all these sparks of inspiration turn into a book? Not even close, but they do spark my creative juices. I’ll never write a character like Dr. Who, but while watching the program I might wonder why people are so drawn to him, so devoted, and willing to follow him anywhere. That query sends my mind in two directions:

1. Can I write a strong hero, perhaps military, whose troops would be willing to follow him anywhere?

2. It would be totally wicked to write a villain with that kind of pull over people.

I’ve stopped counting the number of times I’ve watched The Fugitive. Trying my best to figure out how the writer wrote a screenplay that draws you from the beginning and refuses to let go. Wouldn’t we all love to have that gift?

When I’m reading my daily Bible I might run across a verse that inspires me or even just a few words. When I do I jot them down in the notes section of my phone. One day I simply listed the book, chapter, and verse and said good scripture for a suspense novel. A word of caution, put in a few more details. There have been times I’ve looked at that verse and wondered why I thought that.

Since I’ve shared a little bit about how I find inspiration I’m hoping you will do the same. What inspires you? What sparks the creative genius in your brain? Trust me, I REALLY need to know.

Terri Weldon is the award winning author of The Christmas Bride Wore Boots. It won the best novella category in the 2016 Lyra Awards. She enjoys traveling, gardening, reading, spending time with her family, and shopping for shoes. One of her favorite pastimes is volunteering as the librarian at her church. It allows her to shop for books and spend someone else’s money! Plus, she has the great joy of introducing people to Christian fiction. She lives with her family in the Heartland of the United States. Terri has two adorable Westies – Crosby and Nolly Grace. Terri is a member of ACFW and RWA. She is a member of the Seriously Write Team (www.seriouslywrite.blogspot.com). Readers can connect with Terri at www.terriweldon.com

Books by Terri Weldon

The Matchmakers
The Christmas Bride Wore Boots
Mistletoe Magic

 

 

 

Does Reading Motivate You to Write? by Terri Weldon

Okay, I’ll confess, I love to read. So just in case I’m looking for a good excuse to read more books by great authors I wanted your opinion. Does reading motivate you to write?

Reading books is what made me want to try and pen my first book. I’d read a book and most the time I would lose myself in the story. Occasionally I would finish a book and think of things I would have changed (especially endings).

From there I took a leap of faith and developed my very own story idea. A story you will never read! A common occurrence or so I’m told. But I’ll let you in on a little secret, I still like the premise of the story.

Today I read as much if not more than when I began writing. I read in a wide range of genres and I still immerse myself in the world the author created. However, I find myself looking at fiction with a writer’s eye as much as a reader’s eye. More and more often I pick things I’d change. Oftentimes those changes lead me totally away from the book I’m reading and place me in full author mode. Before I know it, I have another book idea.

So tell me, am I just making excuses to spend more time reading? If not, leave a comment telling me how reading motivates your muse.

A Match Made in Sheffield — Natalie Benton bounced from one foster home to another until she landed on Ellie Alexander’s doorstep. Natalie’s vagabond childhood caused her to yearn for a secure life, which led to Natalie’s five-year plan: complete her law degree, marry the perfect man, become a partner at Montgomery, Haynes, and Preston, and produce one child. Getting arrested wasn’t in Natalie’s plan. Needing a public defender wasn’t in her plan. Falling for Grady Hunter, her public defender, definitely wasn’t in her plan. Can Grady convince Natalie there is more to life than her five-year plan? Is Ellie the only one who sees a future for Natalie and Grady?

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Terri Weldon is a Lead Analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys gardening, reading, and shopping for shoes. One of her favorite pastimes is volunteering as the librarian at her church. It allows her to shop for books and spend someone else’s money! Plus, she has the great joy of introducing people to Christian fiction. Terri has two adorable Westies - Crosby and Nolly Grace. She is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. Terri is the award winning author of The Christmas Bride Wore Boots.

Staying Motivated by Rachel J. Good

We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand — and melting like a snowflake. Let us use it before it is too late.”    ~Marie Beynon Ray  

As snow falls here in the Northeast, blanketing us with white so deep we have no choice but to stay inside, it’s a good time to ponder our goals. Back in January, when the year was new and shiny, many of us made resolutions. Often by now, we’re off track, and all those promises we made to ourselves seem even farther from reach because we’ve also lost our motivation. The passion that birthed those resolutions has long since died. And that makes it easy to forget our dreams and plans, to let the pressing details of everyday life keep us stuck. 

We have so many commitments, we have little time to squeeze in the things that are dear to our hearts. Perhaps an emotional or physical crisis is draining our time and energy. Once this is over, we tell ourselves we’ll make time for writing. But before that difficulty passes, another takes its place, and soon we’re spending all our time dealing with emergencies. We shelve our dreams, but it’s “only for now,” we promise ourselves. We’ll get back to it someday, but soon a few days stretches into weeks, months, or even years. 

So how do we stay motivated once reality has set in, and we’re not finding time for our writing or other important projects?

One of my favorite pieces of advice is to look back for motivation and forward for inspiration. Planning and dreaming can inspire us to move ahead, but looking back can be valuable to see how far we’ve come. I’ve found it’s often the perfect solution to getting unstuck.

The key to looking back is not to beat yourself up over uncompleted projects, but to remember your past successes. Even if it seems these have been few or nonexistent, reframe your past from a positive perspective.

For many years, my only progress consisted of stacks of rejection letters, half-finished manuscripts, and a brain full of ideas. Although I put in work, I didn’t feel a real sense of accomplishment. Now I wish I could go back and appreciate those achievements, because if it weren’t for those years of drudgery and disappointment, I wouldn’t be published today.

So wherever you are on your journey (whether in writing or other pursuits), honor the hard work you’ve put in — even if it didn’t bring the rewards you hoped. Find a way to keep track of what you’ve done and celebrate the small milestones along the way. Rejection letters indicate you’ve been submitting, partially finished manuscripts prove you’ve been writing, doodles in your sketchbook show you’ve been drawing. Yes, you may not have gotten as far as you’d hoped, but rather than looking at where you expected to be, rejoice in how far you’ve come. You’ve made progress, and that’s the most important thing.

Another way to look back is to ask yourself what you wish you’d accomplished at the end of your life. So many times, we forgo the important things for the petty. How valuable are the activities taking up your time each day? Would you rather spend your time sweeping dust bunnies in the guest bedroom or touching lives with an important message? Thinking in terms of an eternal perspective can also be motivating.

And as the quote (and the Bible) reminds us, we have no guarantee of tomorrow; the only time we have allotted is now. This point was driven home to me this week when a beloved writer I know lost her battle with cancer. Although those of us who knew her mourn her loss, we’re grateful for the books she’s left behind – books that still have the power to change lives for years or even generations to come. What about you? Are you waiting for someday? If God has given you a message to share, do it now. Don’t put it off until it’s too late.

 

Inspirational author Rachel J. Good writes life-changing, heart-tugging novels of faith, hope, and forgiveness. She is the author of several Amish series in print or forthcoming – Sisters & Friends series, Hearts of Amish Country series, and Love & Promises series – as well as the Amish Quilts Coloring Books. She also writes the contemporary inspirational series, Hope Chapel, and the first novella in that series, Angels Unaware, recently released. Her March release, Buried Secrets, is on blog tour with Celebrate Lit. You can connect with Rachel on Facebook and her website.

Links

www.racheljgood.com
https://www.facebook.com/racheljgoodnovels/
https://www.facebook.com/people/Rachel-J-Good/100009699285059
https://twitter.com/RachelJGood1
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14661177.Rachel_J_Good
https://www.pinterest.com/racheljgood1/