[Karli Phillips]

Hello! Sorry, I'm kind of freaking out right now..!! Anyways, I have some questions about your writing process and stuff.

For starters, how do you find inspiration, and how do you keep finding ideas to keep your books going?

Second, how do you keep motivation? I LOVE writing. Like LOVE. But I can never find motivation to keep going. Part of that it from me not planning out my books at all, heh. I kind of need help with that too, LOL.

Lastly, do you have any tips on how to not overthink so much about, "This story has to be amazing!", "This story might get published one day, don't screw it up!", because I have those thoughts a lot :| I just want to know how to write just to have fun writing. Not because it needs to be the next best Gordon Korman book wink wink ;)

Thank you for creating this forum for people like me to ask these kinds of questions, this will really help :)

Sincerely, Karli

[Gordon Korman]

Hi, Karli,

Thanks for posting and for trusting me with all your questions and worries. I hope I can be of some help.

I don't need inspiration, and most authors don't either. We write because we have something to say, a story to tell. That's what starts us scribbling. And I don't need to find ideas to keep my stories going, because I plan my work before I ever put a single word down. That's something you're going to have to work on, Karli. You can't say anything properly unless you know exactly what you want to say. And you can't know that unless you plan it out first.

And I don't need to work at keeping myself motivated. Writing books is the profession I chose. It's my work. Of course I'm motivated. As for worrying about your story having to be great because it may be published one day -- you've got that backwards! If your story isn't good, or if you "screw it up," it will probably not be published at all.

My advice? Write what you like, what pleases and amuses you. Learn how to make it great, polish it up, self edit what's good and what's not so great. You say you love writing, so do it! And love it! And have fun with it. All you're missing is a little self-discipline. You need to develop a system -- dream up a story, make a few notes, plan the settings, characters, and events.Plan out th ending so you're always writing towards something. Do the writing. And -- VERY important -- enjoy it. If you like your results, chances are other people will like your results too!

OK? Good luck!                                                                                          -----Gordon Korman-----

[Karli]

Thank you :) This helps a lot!!

[Helen]

Someone needs inspiration but someone doesn't. I have to say I'm the one who is looking for inspiration to write. Maybe it's because I live in a crowded city and noise and pollution make me tired? When I searched for info regarding overpopulated places on our earth I found even this type of brief writing https://artscolumbia.org/free-essays/overpopulation/ . Can you imagine that this topic is popular even at school to write essays or something like that?

I love reading and writing. But to become a writer in future I should move to a calm and quite place where I can sit and overthink my ideas and dreams.

[Gordon Korman]

Hi, Helen,

You're right, of course. I was describing myself and some of the authors I know, but everyone is different. Some people need utter solitude and quiet, and others can write in a boiler factory with all steam outlets pumping! Some feed and nurture a single idea and take a very long time to write their story, and some have ideas coming out of their ears, and are working on 3 or 4 projects at a time. Most writers are somewhere in between those extremes.

Whatever works for you. I hope you find the perfect setting for it!                                       -----Gordon Korman-----