I can't seem to stay motivated to write.

[Antisocial_Worker]

Writing is about all that keeps me sane, especially considering my job, which has me looking at doodads for 12 hours straight while wearing earplugs. You have nothing but your own thoughts for company -- there's nobody to talk to, no music to listen to, nothing. And so, I think about terrible things that I can have happen to my character in the novel I've been s-l-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-w-l-y trying to write. However, when it comes time to buckle down and put all this stuff on the screen I always seem to have something better to do.

I think part of it may be that I have no one to read my stuff whenever I do manage to get anything done. That, and I have no one to encourage me by saying, "I like this and if you do not write me another chapter within two weeks' time, I will batter you grievously about the head and neck." My friends and my boyfriend are too busy most of the time.

However, I'm leery about posting anything on the 'Net because I really would like to make something out of this storyline and its characters and I'm afraid of it being stolen.

What can I do? I'm thinking that if I had one or two people to critique and hopefully encourage because it's good stuff maybe I could get more done.

Suggestions? Volunteers? Help!

[Amina516]

I volunteer.

I love to read. I also like to beat people when they dont listen to me.

Write with no abandon.

I can PM you my email addy if you like.

[Kaylyn]

If you need a reader, let me know! My time can be a little weird, but if you send it in small bites, I can read quickly and offer my opinion. I promise to be nice!

[technical.angel]

HH, I've a long history being a beta reader. I'll be more than willing to help!

[Andara Bledin]

Participate in NaNoWriMo.

The community around the event can be amazing. And I strongly suspect that were anyone to steal someone's writings from there, they'd get lynched.

^-.-^

[MoonCat]

I've been a member of an online writing crit group. My sister is currently on another one. Seriously, I wouldn't worry about people stealing your ideas. Most people are much too involved in their own ideas to want someone else's.

[Eireann]

I volunteer!

[Sarlon]

heres a thought...

Get on interstate 26, drive over to the TN border, go to exit 22 and call me.

I'll offer booze, chocolates, dinner, and writing critics.

[Jester]

I'll volunteer as well.

PM what you've written.

And if you've read my comments on this site, you know I'll be honest, sometimes brutally so.

The only thing is, I may not always get back to you in a timely fashion. I am bad like that at times, I really am.

Now you already have several volunteers. So, what's stopping you now?

FUCKING WRITE, DUDE!

There, NOW are you motivated?

[Amethyst Hunter]

I can relate. Writing keeps what little remains of my sanity intact...

...but ever since starting this new job, my energy levels have gone straight down the toilet. It really bothers me that I haven't been able to devote my time to writing, because by the time I get home, all I want to do is flop in exhaustion. Someone once told me about the 'spoons' analogy, and I find it particularly fitting. So I wish you luck in your creative endeavors.

(For anyone curious: the spoons analogy goes like this: You have so many 'spoons', or energies, that you can devote to each day, be those spoons mental, or physical, or even both. Problem is, you have to ration out those spoons for whatever tasks you have to do during the day, and you can lose spoons if you're having a particularly bad day - illness, stuff going wrong, etc. By the end of the day, your spoons may be used up, and you have to start all over again at the beginning.)

[Antisocial_Worker]

Well, with the addition of Jester, that makes six volunteer readers... and I already have a review back from one of you guys. Thanks to all of you.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I have been posting an online serial for about two years. (I think it's been about that long). Nothing quite keeps you as motivated as people showing up every week to read your stuff.

All you can do is stick a copyright on there. It's date stamped to your blog. I'm not saying it would be impossible to steal, but it would be hard. It would be easy to prove you wrote the stuff first if you had to. Print it out periodically and mail it to yourself if you are that worried about it. That way you'll have a postmarked, sealed envelope with your originals in it.

I look at it this way, not only do I have everything date stamped, but I have a crap ton of witnesses. Several of whom are regular commenters and even fanfic contributors. And all THAT is date stamped.

And I've got a couple professional artists I have actually paid money to do artwork for me. I have dated money transactions with them. I have a cafepress store and THAT'S got a date stamp on it.

And last but not least, I have the knowledge that I wrote this stuff, I can write other stuff.

Do not let worry about stuff like that keep you from writing. I'm not making any money off this. I can't imagine how someone else might.

[technical.angel]

HH, I haven't had time to finish reading yet, (almost done!!), and I definitely had time to write up a decent review, but I LOVE IT!!

Just wanted you to know that now!

[42_42_42]

RK: The only problem w/ putting stuff up online, is that it constitutes publication and publishing houses won't publish previously published work.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

RK: The only problem w/ putting stuff up online, is that it constitutes publication and publishing houses won't publish previously published work.

Yeah, I know. I don't care. You can't sell what you can't give away.

My goal is not to get published, my goal is to write. If by doing so I get into a position to get published, that would be pretty cool. But it's not my goal.

And it's not like it's my only story. I can sit here and make up stories and write them down till the sky falls.