Custom motivational posters for writers

Writers need motivation—always. It's part of the job. Finding what motivates one is key; however, writers can get sidetracked from writing while spending time "researching" what moves them to wordiness. But that is a post for another time...

Motivational mantras and quotations sometimes get me in flow, often the funnier, the better. Laughter dislodges writing blocks and gets my thoughts moving again. So when I found a site where I could make my own motivational posters, I went a little crazy. Silly crazy, that is.

Here are a couple I made. Feel free to be motivated by them, also. If you'd like to make your own, jump on over to the AutoMotivator.

This image came up randomly for the first poster I made, and interestingly, I have written a couple of posts about the monarchs' miracle migration to Mexico here and here. I find their journey and Mama Nature's mysterious processes inspiring.

Ah, funny but true. I'm still giggling softly to myself over this one. (P.S. I'm making a stack of even sillier motivational posters which I'm keeping under wraps. Perhaps I'll unveil them during the wordy mayhem of NaNoWriMo this November.)

So, what are you waiting for?

Thanks to the quality visual wit of [BB-Blog] for this find.

Comments

[Melissa Marsh]

These are great!

[Vanderleun]

Those are just infinitely and retroactively sad.

[KG]

Melissa Marsh — Thank you! :)

Vanderleun — LOL! Thank you, too — I think. ;)

[Vanderleun]

I've worked with (and paid -- often handsomely) hundreds of writers, real writers, over the years.

One thing a real writer doesn't need is "motivation." Their problem is not that they can't turn it on, but that it never turns off.

People who want to be writers have the reverse disorder.

Depend upon it.

[KG]

Vanderleun — Thank you so much for your clarification and right-on-target comment. I tend to agree with you on who makes it as a writer — it's those who cannot turn off the wordy spigot. They're seem born for writing, as they just can't help themselves.

Almost every writer I've known needs a little kick or a twist or inspiration to jump start a stalled writing motor every once in a while. One of these silly motivational posters most definitely won't do it, I'm sure. ;)

Question for you: Have you ever known a writer with such severe autographia that their need/impulse to write interferes with normal functioning in daily life? I don't know enough about successful writers' personal lives to think of one, but those examples of eccentric artists completely dedicated to their writing craft who tune out all else might qualify.

[KG]

Vanderleun again — Ooops. I mention "autographia" in my previous comment but I meant "hypergraphia."

"Autographia" probably refers to those who write their name repeatedly without ever stopping — like sports stars and celebrities. ;)

[Vanderleun]

It's not autographia - hypergraphia - or anything like that. Mental disorders have nothing to do with it. Continuing to want to be a writer when you cannot write is a mental disorder.

I realize that those who want to be writers are the bread and butter of this page and many thousands like it. But "jumpstarting" the writing motor has nothing to do with the real process.

Steve King, as a leading example -- and a writer I've worked with -- writes more (or in years past wrote more) than anyone could possibly publish. He's a somewhat extreme example but not unusual at all. Even good poets like Gary Snyder has work that fills huge rooms at the University of Washington.

[KG]

Vanderleun — I understand what you're saying — you're alluding to a depth of the writing process that motivation has absolutely nothing to do with. I have heard that Stephen King (how amazing that you've worked with him!!!) and Anne Rice are both examples of that kind of prolific writing ability you describe. I believe those folks are one in a million, and they are doing what they were probably put on this planet to do. Their examples are inspiring to study, but I don't think their gifts can be learned. Their work ethic can certainly be emulated, however; they do sit down and write every day, almost without exception.

I read recently about a neurologist at Harvard who developed hypergraphia quite severely after she gave birth to two sets of twins (the first set of twins died, the following ones survived). Going with this flow, she's now working on publishing her fourth novel. As her children have grown, the word flow is not turning off for her. (Her most known book is called "Midnight Disease".)

As far as motivational posts being the bread and butter of this blog, I make no money from this. There are no ads anywhere here for readers to click on, and that is very intentional on my part. I make money from my own writing and editing — my blog is a labor of love. Maybe one day I'll include ads, but it doesn't fit with what I'm doing right now, even though I could probably make a bit from doing so.

Thank you for getting this conversation started. It's has gotten me to think more deeply about writing. I think it will even inspire a post or two. I appreciate that.

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Hee hee, I LOVE your posters! I could have used them over the past few months as I've been working on that book I told you about (finally finished the first draft!)

And now I can see myself spending a good hour or so thinking up my own and chuckling to myself all day. A waste of time? Possibly--but we need to laugh! :)

[KG]

Sharon — Congrats on finishing that first draft! HUGE accomplishment! I am very proud of you.

Will you share some of your motivational posters? Laughter is not a waste of time, my friend. :)

[anon]

Brilliant!

[KG]

anon — Glad to hear you enjoyed them.