Help with motivation

[late canopy]

I really want to write, but I don't want to write something that's mediocre. I feel that what people deem the most beautiful art is that which comes from the deepest and truest emotions, whether they realize it or not. Because of that, I really have been limiting my poem writing to moments of emotion, but should I just write despite the lack of motivation? Maybe it's that I'm having trouble harboring that emotion but I don't want to do something unhealthy just to be motivated. Any advice?

[gray zealot]

Wonderful! @late canopy has just progressed to level 3!

[upper wigeon]

i think its important to separate the quality of art with how "beautiful" or emotional it is. a confessional poem written from grief or love can be beautiful - but in terms of craft can be considered "bad"

the best poems come from discipline and consistency. emotion and inspiration can be a great foundation for your writing, but its revision and effort that builds on it. writing is a skill! dont wait on motivation - let yourself struggle, think hard, write mediocre, write badly. then revise. sometimes, you'll find your inner emotions spill naturally onto the page.

[dense depot]

It's art. You don't have to do it. If it's the writing you're missing, then, yeah, just sit down and do it until something clicks. If you don't want to write something mediocre, then just be fully aware of what you're putting on the page. (This will include its context, which means you need to do at least a little reading of contemporary and historical poetry, which is always a good place to start.) But if it's the deep truth you're missing, there are lots of ways to engage with that beyond writing. Being still in mind and body for a while or endeavoring to help others are two direct ways to cultivate a direct experience of life.

[dense depot]

I’d also warn: if you write because you think you should, you may end up writing what you think you should. But you shouldn’t write that. You should write, first, what you need to write, and next, what you want to write

[upper wigeon]

i’m interested in what you mean by “what you need to write” vs “what you want to write.” how do you differentiate between the two?

[late canopy]

thank you I will take note

[late canopy]

I see I see

thank you all indeed

[dense depot]

This is gonna depend on your needs and desires but “need to write” may include:

• Emotionally urgent and potent things
• Things that help you evolve as a writer or person
• Things that your society or community needs to hear

“Want to write” would be more like:

• Ambitious projects that meet your desires or approach your aspirations
• Things you’d like to try just because they look fun
• What you most enjoy writing

Of course, you can do both in one piece

[late canopy]

fire fire

good coms!

[upper wigeon]

gotcha! for me, anything expressed in writing or art is, in a way, necessary for the self, as sort of a reflection/understanding of the psyche. but i understand your distinction

[trail bear]

I dont have this huge motivational paragraph I can come up with, but the greatest lesson i learnt with art is to just make. Dont worry if it turns out mediocre. I feel like that might be whats stopping you from writing; the need for your work to be perfect. Just getting it down is an amazing way to get started, even if the product is bad

[late canopy]

yeah that makes sense