Shannon Peel
asked
Jason Howell:
The gamification of promoting oneself and their books can inspire motivation to keep trying; to keep adding to their following, their ratings, and their reviews. As a writer what goals do you measure and how do you use gamification to motivate yourself to keep going?
Jason Howell
What a question, Shannon.
I try really hard not to use game mechanics as a motivational tool. It's one of the aspects of the internet I like least because I know it's only there to keep me "engaged," to keep us all staring at our phones so that we'll see ads, and I don't really want my work to be driven by a compulsive kind of a thing like that.
Not that it can't be useful, or hasn't been for me in the past. Gamified environments can be good places for learning and building confidence. I just personally don't like them as SOP.
Conversation and sharing are two of the things I like most about the internet, and I try to keep them as the central motivator. I like talking to writer peers about most anything, and if we hit on something interesting, I like to share those conversations. If I happen to write a good piece of fiction, I'll make sure and package it and extend from it in a way that makes it as shareable as possible.
So goals are to do good work, keep trying new stuff, keep talking to people, keep sharing. If I get too wrapped up in "scoring points" or whatever, it really takes the life out of things for me. I know because I lean too far that way every so often. It's almost impossible not to.
What about you?
I try really hard not to use game mechanics as a motivational tool. It's one of the aspects of the internet I like least because I know it's only there to keep me "engaged," to keep us all staring at our phones so that we'll see ads, and I don't really want my work to be driven by a compulsive kind of a thing like that.
Not that it can't be useful, or hasn't been for me in the past. Gamified environments can be good places for learning and building confidence. I just personally don't like them as SOP.
Conversation and sharing are two of the things I like most about the internet, and I try to keep them as the central motivator. I like talking to writer peers about most anything, and if we hit on something interesting, I like to share those conversations. If I happen to write a good piece of fiction, I'll make sure and package it and extend from it in a way that makes it as shareable as possible.
So goals are to do good work, keep trying new stuff, keep talking to people, keep sharing. If I get too wrapped up in "scoring points" or whatever, it really takes the life out of things for me. I know because I lean too far that way every so often. It's almost impossible not to.
What about you?
More Answered Questions
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more