Feb 16, 2026
From one of Kelly’s readers: What keeps you motivated on tough writing days?
This question is surprisingly hard for me. What keeps me motivated at all? I haven’t made a name for myself, and am barely breaking even monetarily. Some days, I feel like I’m writing into a void. But then I run into one of my local fans, and their kind words cheer me up. Or maybe it’s something that a fellow author says online.
Some days, it would be easy to give up. But what really keeps me motivated are my characters. They want their stories to be told and get upset when I ignore them. (They also argue with me over the plot of the story. )
And is there a moment in your journey so far that completely surprised you?
I am continually surprised by lessons and people along the way. The way other vendors at cons and festivals supported me as I tried to sell books. How poorly I do at some big events and how well I do at some small ones. What has surprised me the most? How much fun it is to sell a copy of a book out of the back of my Jeep at the local Dollar General. The joy I get when I complete a book, when I hold a physical copy of a new story, when I meet a new fan.
That takes me back to the first question. What motivates me on tough days? The search for that joy, and how I’m addicted to feeling it again.
What motivates the other authors on this blog hop? You know the drill. Follow the links below to find out.
As always, please stay safe until the next time.
Goal update: I’m at 38,000 words. Major progress! And the plot finally reached a turning point I’ve been striving for.
My characters won’t let me stop, they just keep on shouting until I pay attention. And I agree about holding a book you’ve produced in your hand. There’s no feeling like it.
And I never get over the feeling, even when it’s only additional copies to sell at an event.