2026 Motivation Thread

[RedMage]

If you're really feeling the writing itch, maybe banging out a short story that serves as background for a character or a scene that happens off-page in your latest or next work, in which you flesh out what happened. I find, when I'm in a lull, my writing isn't quite as dynamic since I'm forcing it a bit. So, spending the words on a short story that may or may not ever see the light of day scratches the writing itch without much in the way of stakes.

In short, I use these times to serve the bigger project in other ways.

That's not a bad idea! Thanks Jonas.

I did have a new idea on Sunday. By the time I was able to jot it down a few hours later, I had mulled it over enough to see that it might work as a second storyline in another project I'm still in the ideas phase on. They're separate atm, but I've included the note that they might be combined.

I have a number of other stories, things that are more than ideas/concepts, but which need a lot more work or even an overhaul to their plots and characters before I can do anything with them. And to do that I have to figure out just what to do. Lol

So any of those, or a short story... I like that idea a lot. Most of my shorter-than-a-novel ideas are for novella length stories. An actual short story though, that's longer than a flash but short enough I can do it in a week without getting too attached. Now, what prompt??

 

[Alan L]

@djv124 @RolandsFarblood @STEKI @EricJ @Alan L @Jonas Stark and anyone else.

I'm sure you've all noticed things are fairly quiet around here. Is there anything we can do to support you in your writing? Do you need an accountability partner? Regular motivation and/or inspiration? Critique partners? Somewhere just to hangout and chat about writing, be it story-specific issues or general ponderings?

Are there other things we can do to help you in your writing or provide you with a writing community and friends? Maybe regular, weekly writing sessions or writing contests or games?

Basically, what would you like to see from SFFWorld?

Maybe it's just the hot summer doldrums, or maybe it's just that forums aren't trendy anymore (which suits me just fine, I've got more than enough trendy in my life already.)

Personally, I had a rough couple of months where writing was a slog. Past tense. I just posted in some detail about this on the "New Post your Progress" thread. The TL;DR is I'm finally into draft 2 and hope to get that done relatively soon.

What do I want to see from SFFWorld? Since the days of BBSes I've used forums like this to build connections with like-minded idiots people, some of which have transitioned into friendships around the world. I'm not sure there's more to it than that.

Once my book is ready to put out there, I'll be going into production and marketing mode, but there are lots of niche sites that have the mechanics of that covered. I'm going to have to step out of my comfort zone and turn into a promotional monster, but I'm sure as hell not going to go spamming forums in the process. If someone manages to give it a review here, I'll be over the moon.

Maybe some of the people I connect with will be open to sharing marketing ideas and working together, but my impression is there's not a lot of folks like that here. If that's not correct, that's a bonus.

 

[Jonas Stark]

Maybe some of the people I connect with will be open to sharing marketing ideas and working together, but my impression is there's not a lot of folks like that here. If that's not correct, that's a bonus.

Funny you mention this, because I am strongly considering the self-publishing route and I am willing to put my money where my (book) is on this, and that includes my own marketing, etc. I will try the traditional route early next year after I've reworked the first book in the series that's going live, but I'll probably be working a parallel track for my own publishing effort.

So, if you find such a place where there's an exchange of ideas, count me in.

 

[RedMage]

Maybe some of the people I connect with will be open to sharing marketing ideas and working together, but my impression is there's not a lot of folks like that here. If that's not correct, that's a bonus.

And @Jonas Stark

We're a very small community of scifi, fantasy and horror writers these days. It's not that the people aren't here... Uh, well, they aren't. Either they've stopped writing, turned into lurkers rather than active members, or they've migrated elsewhere.

What I'm saying is that it's not always possible or sufficient to arrive at a place that already meets all your needs. Sometimes you must build it. Sometimes you must be the agent of change.

So, when the time comes, start a new thread about the topics you want to discuss. We want members to do that, just as much as we want them to jump into discussions in threads others create.