Shop Talk Tuesday: Motivation

I’ll admit: sometimes I procrastinate. Like now. Currently, it’s Monday night and I’m writing this blog. But I’m writing it because I SHOULD be working on the scene I’m almost done with but I just don’t wanna. The scene is hard. It’s required more research than I’ve done during the rest of the book combined.  (Magnetoencephalography. Go ahead and look it up. I’ll wait here…..  See?  Zzzzzzzzzzz)

 

I have exactly no motivation to read another thing about the electrophysiology of the brain. Or the different lobe functions. Or whatever else. I find parts of it fascinating, don’t get me wrong, but when they start talking about all the research that’s been done on the brain, all the different scientists, limitations of the work, etc. well… my eyes glaze over and MY brain shuts down.

 

So, I hit the internet. Pinterest, you saucy wench, I’m looking at you. Oh, another recipe for a cream cheese dip? Don’t mind if I do. Then I scan my FB timeline and I start chatting on Twitter.

 

Let’s face it: if we want to escape from a task, there are no shortage of places to get lost here. In fact, writing this blog is productive, in comparison. At least this is work related.

 

Where am I going with this? Oh right. Motivation. What keeps me going back for more? Because this sort of stuff is hard. I’ve written other stories that have required research. Sometimes it was awesome. I’d fall down the rabbit hole willingly. Other times, not so much. The night I spent trying to figure out how long it would take to get from point A in England to point B, on horseback, for example.  Ugh. I had to know, but I would have preferred to pass over that and get back to the story. Right now I need to know how the brain functions. At least with passable authority. That has required a bit of research. Into science. For this English major.

 

I know. Ouch.

 

But, the story requires it so I need to do it. I will remind myself that it serves a greater purpose: making my story into the best end result I can manage. Then I will focus on that and it will get me going again.  

A great end result. That's the goal. Sometimes I need a reminder. And some weeks I need more reminders than usual. Like weeks that require neurology lessons.

So, tell me… what motivates you?