FIRST PLACE
Motivation 101
By Kathy Altman
King George, Virginia
Weight-loss guru Susan Powter observes
that "the motivation is in the doing." The
very fact that you've started a project, no matter
how slow your pace, is enough to inspire
you to continue.
I have
discovered the truth in this on my treadmill, but not
in my writing. I'm haunted by the number of story fragments,
plot outlines, article ideas, clever titles, and catchy
character names that I've abandoned. They mock me from
the notebooks
and folders and clippings strewn over the surface of
my desk. Until
recently, my "doing" had
resulted
in very few "dones".
So what finally motivated me, after years
of false starts and procrastination, to finish four
poems, two short stories and a personal essay, all
within a matter of three weeks? What could compel me
to finally see a piece
through to its finish? What inspired me to actually send for writer's
guidelines?
A friend of mine signed me up for a creative
writing class. As an actor, she continuously exercises
her own artistic leanings, and is convinced that I'm
committing an unpardonable sin by neglecting my writing.
She enrolled me
in
the class as a birthday gift.
The course would span three Sunday afternoons.
My first reaction was to mourn the loss of three consecutive Sunday afternoons.
Then good manners reminded me that my response should
be gratitude, however weak. Finally, I entertained
the idea of conveniently forgetting that I even had a class to
attend. Guilt
made me suppress this temptation. Besides, the gift of a class
is not
something you can put away on a shelf and still assure the giver that
you use it at every opportunity. Especially when I knew that my friend
was not beyond asking to review my homework. The first day of class, I
was nervous, skeptical, and self-conscious. Within fifteen minutes, I was shedding
private tears. My throat was clogged with excitement,
regret, and a sense of belonging. This is what I had
longed
for.
This is what I had needed. Assignments, readings, feedback, structure,
deadlines.
The instructor, a published author, was
familiar with every variation of every excuse every
author ever used to dodge writing. To our dismay
and eventual gratitude, she accepted none of these.
Our
assignments amused and frustrated
and overwhelmed and embarrassed us. In the desperate end, they inspired
us. When the third and final day of class
arrived, the other students and I earnestly discussed
forming a writer's group. Email addresses were
exchanged and congratulations offered and challenges issued.
Since the end
of the class a month ago, I have managed to continue a regular writing
schedule. But just in case, I plan to sign up soon
for another
course as a gift to myself. I have been delighted to find that a creative
writing class qualifies as the priceless kind of gift that keeps
on giving.
Copyright (c) 2003 for the
author, all rights reserved.
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