Hello everyone, I didn't plan this blog today, however this is something that does crop up, especially with me and that is "reasons to write".

What are your reasons to write? What motivates you? What inspires you?What keeps the words flowing from the keys/ pen to paper/ word document? What keeps you going when you feel like giving up? Let's explore this.

My reasons to write are as follows:

1.I love writing.
2. I enjoy seeing my work in print with my name above it.
3. I find happiness and enjoyment in writing my stories and this in turn also motivates me.
4. My writing is a calling, not a job.
5. I feel strongly that my character's stories need telling.
6. I WANT to write.


Now what motivates you? All of us are motivated to do something in life. Motivation is a strong thing, it keeps us focused and guided by this feeling that we are doing something worthwhile that will bring us to greatness.

Here are my motivations:

1. I don't like being bored and creativity stimulates me and that alone is motivation.
2. Not wanting to be like anyone else. (This is kinda egosticial some say, but I pride myself on the fact I am different.)
3. Nature and the Universe.
4. My loved ones.
5. Seeing that people love my writing/ novels.
6. Hearing that somebody has bought a copy of my novel.
7. Hearing congratulations on your latest book!

Inspiration and motivation are different things, so before I list my inspirations and what inspires me, let's look at what inspirations are.
Inspiration is something that comes in the form of an idea, a few words, an image, maybe visual with sounds and images so clear, it may like watching a film. People may inspire you, as well as places, thoughts and things.

My inspirations. What inspires me:

1. Love. This may sound cliche, but it's up there for me!
2. Nature.
3. Weather. Especially Thunder and Lightning, this is something that definitely inspires me.
4. Kind words from strangers.
5. The beauty of the world, that is our universe.
6. The magick in everyday day life.
7. Positive Quotes.
8. Human beings that I may know/ or encounter. (Some people have ended up in my stories and have no idea) :P
9. General occurrences in every day life. (This may sound mundane and boring but I observe, and when I observe, I see.)

What keeps the words flowing? Now this is a big one for many of us. Not many of us would like to admit it, but at some point, we ALL suffer from the good old demon writer's block! It happens. It is life. It is something that sometimes we simply can't avoid, but the real question is how you do you keep things flowing when everything seems dry? What brings the words to the screen/ the paper? What can you do to keep them flowing when all seems lost? You're typing the words but yet you feel like they don't fit in with the story or maybe you feel like they are meaningless and are ready to hit the delete button!

Here are my ways to keep the words flowing:

1. Re-read what I last wrote. So in this case I would re-read the last 5-8 pages that I last wrote.
2. Read them about 5 times.
3. Take a moment to stop and think about where the story is going.
4. Think about where you want it to go.
5. Browse positive quotes on google.
6. Take a break. Stop what you are doing, do something else, then come back to it!
7. Envision your scenes as if they are actually happening. (Imagination is a big part in writing)

Now for the last part, what keeps you going when you feel like giving up? What is going to be the crucial moment that stops you from giving up and keeps you going? What is going to stop you from saying, "This is a complete waste of time. I give up!" ? What thoughts are going to keep you focused and motivated? I know I'm asking a lot of questions here, but I want you to think. Think deeply and carefully about each question and what it means to you. It is our thoughts that strengthen us and in turn, can also motivate us. The more we think, the more we learn.

Here are my things that stop me from giving up:

1. Not wanting to disappoint readers who won't know how my stories are going to end if I give up.
2. If I start something, I have to finish it.
3. By giving up, all the people that aren't fond of me win by me failing, by me giving up.
4. Giving up is not an option.
5. By not giving up I get stronger.

I hope this post inspired you and gave you reasons to write, perhaps you would like to share with me what you thought? You can contact me here on Goodreads, you can email me at israsravenheart@gmail.com, you can message or follow me on twitter at @israsravenheart, https://twitter.com/israsravenheart, you can also contact me on Linkedin under Isra Sravenheart https://www.linkedin.com/in/isra-srav... I am also available on Facebook under Author Isra Sravenheart, https://www.facebook.com/IsraSravenhe... :)

Until next time, Isra xx