Motivation and Writing

Writers should explore their motivation.

New writers should understand why they want to write. Do they want to get rich? Do they want to convince something of something? Do they want to popularize a cause?

I was planning a book on the Curtis String Quartet (1927-1981), the the longest-running quartet in American history at the time they retired. The gold standard in quartet playing at the height of their career yet no one knew anything about them. They were gold standard among quartets during their prime, yet nothing had been written about them.

A lawyer I talked to said, “Why don’t you just write a letter?” Good question. I considered it, but I wanted to do something more far-reaching, and besides, I didn’t know who I would write to. So I went ahead. It’s waiting for me to finish it.

Experienced writers should understand why they want to write, too. Maybe their motivation has changed recently.

NEXT: THROW MOMMA FROM THE TRAIN.