Jill C. Baker
It depends what kind of writing. If it's copywriting, PR, or web content for a client, the motivation is practical: they have need and I have a deadline. If I want to be paid, I need to deliver. Chances are, I'm excited about the project as also want them to succeed, which for me, means the bonus of something positive to put in my portfolio.
If it's literary writing (for myself), motivation comes from believing I have something original, fun, or compelling to say. I often mull it around in my head for a while, dream it, research it, jot down ideas on a yellow pad, but when the forces of creative expression reach 'a boiling point,' then I sit down and start typing. There is no choice. It's as natural a breathing. Sometimes I first have to clear my head of nagging tasks, daily chores, and 'to do list' items, but once the distractions are set aside, writing takes on a life of its own.
If it's literary writing (for myself), motivation comes from believing I have something original, fun, or compelling to say. I often mull it around in my head for a while, dream it, research it, jot down ideas on a yellow pad, but when the forces of creative expression reach 'a boiling point,' then I sit down and start typing. There is no choice. It's as natural a breathing. Sometimes I first have to clear my head of nagging tasks, daily chores, and 'to do list' items, but once the distractions are set aside, writing takes on a life of its own.
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