• Original Publication: MCRW Monthly Newsletter, Love Notes
• Original Publication Date: May 2003
• Author: Lori Mofield

***Intro***

We, as writers, must be self-motivating in order for us to reach whatever goal we set for ourselves, and goals must be realistic, attainable and modifiable. The goals not only allow us to feel a sense of accomplishment although we are yet to be published, but also to set a road map to publication. How does one become motivated when you tell someone you’re a writer and their response is, “Oh, how many books have you published?”

Well, ah, none, but I’m almost published and have been for years. That statement alone is defeating to my motivation.

It’s such a hard business to break into, and like a lot of struggling songwriters and singers here in Nashville, you must be at the right place, at the right time, with the right person and have lots of luck to even make your way out of the slush pile. How do you stay motivated when odds are unlikely that you will become a successful published author, and a billion to one shot that you may become the next household name? Motivation was slipping through my fingers like sand.

So many odds and then being a working mother of four sons, my oldest serving proudly for our country in Afghanistan and married, and myself happily married, it is difficult to stay motivated, especially when life so often gets in the way. So, I ask you, “What’s the use?” Especially after I received another rejection today, and let me think, that makes 102 of them. Whew, catching up to Stephen King pretty fast.

After polishing off a Domino’s pizza with extra cheese and pepperoni, I wonder why I bother. And that’s how I began my quest to look for the all-knowing, wise person who can tell me how to stay motivated with such overwhelming odds. So, being the shy person that I am, I began asking everyone what kept them motivated either in their job, hobbies or just life in general. Fortunately, I work and live in the city of Mt. Juliet, Tenn., as the municipal codes enforcement officer and auxiliary police officer and know many people around town. Using that network, I have documented my quest for the perfect motivation and thought I would share it with you.