Motivation is not the same as inspiration

   Today, I would like to reflect on the difference between ‘motivation’ and
   ‘inspiration’. I think that the two concepts are quite different despite the fact
   that inspiration can propel motivation and help us bring about our writing
   goals.
  
   Motivation is the reason behind one’s actions or behaviors. So, for
   instance, if you intend to write a book in a year, you should be motivated to
   perform the regular writing tasks in order to produce the manuscript.
   Inspiration, on the other hand, is the ability to feel something behind the
   activity. Its like a coloured landscape instead of a grey and white one..
                                               
     Thus, it is not enough for a writer to be motivated to write; (s)he must
   also be inspired to write in order for the project to get completed. I believe
   that reasons alone are not sufficient for a writer to bring about his/her
   writing projects over the long-term. The writer must also be inspired and
   have a passion to write. Passion is very necessary in that it flavours the
   writers motivations and gives them significance. Let me explain.
  
   Consider the following scenario. Say you prepare a wonderful stew but
   you forget to put salt, pepper and some spices in your stew. Although you
   love stew, it tastes bland. You eat it the first day but it doesn’t give you any
   real enjoyment. The next day, you have some leftover stew but you don’t
   want to eat it. So, you decide to order Pizza instead and try to eat it the next
   day. However, the next day you can’t face the stew either. Ultimately, you
   throw the stew away because you can’t bear the thought of eating it.
  
   We can say similar things about writing with inspiration. When you write
   merely from a motive to do so, your writing may be bland. And although you
   may be able to stick to a writing schedule for a few days, you won’t be able
   to stick to it for longer than that because you are not inspired to write. It
   just becomes a bland activity that isn’t seasoned that you perform without
   much passion.
  
   So fellow writers, why not season your writing goals with inspiration.
   Your daily practice will be much more meaningful and consistent when it
   isn’t bland and you will look forward to it as you would look forward to a
   nice warm, salty and spicy slice of Pizza.
  
   Happy New Year, and may you find not only the motive to write but also
   the inspiration in 2010!
  
   Irene

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