Why did you create your stories? And what motivates you to continue?

[NotaNuffian]

I write because I want to write.

Would I ever post it?

Maybe

 

[gaylolis]

it helps to listen to myself better

especially when i took my time instead of simply trying to fulfill a deadline or quota

writing every chapter feels like its own journey, a lot more than simply reading great works, even if my writing isn't good.

doesn't matter much if nobody reads it, i write cuz i want to. if i'm not in the mood, i simply don't write.

 

[Valmond]

it helps to listen to myself better

especially when i took my time instead of simply trying to fulfill a deadline or quota

writing every chapter feels like its own journey, a lot more than simply reading great works, even if my writing isn't good.

doesn't matter much if nobody reads it, i write cuz i want to. if i'm not in the mood, i simply don't write.

So what you’re saying is, we need to take you hostage to get you to write.

 

[Clo]

As a neurodivergent person, I feel like my voice isn't represented enough in stories, on TV or otherwise.

I also think many stories don't focus on the things that matter to me. They often deal with external threat -- archdemon lord, evil queens, etc.

I also love slow-burns, character-focused stories with mutliple layers and point of views on the same theme. How someone might see one event as a curse, and someone else as a blessing.

So I went ahead and wrote a story where all the conflict and tension is internal, and where neurodiversity is everywhere. Plural system, autism, alexythima, aphantasia, anhedonia? It's all in there.

How I stay motivated? Well, my beta readers are always excited to read what I write. And my readers on both RR and SH? They all rate it highly and seem to love it.

It's not a story for everyone. But for people who are looking for the kind of thing I write about? I think they get it, and they like it.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Started in general? Dad worked at a newspaper and brought home a roll of newsprint that was "crooked" and would have messed up the printing machines, but the company had paid for it and was going to throw it out.
I started drawing (really bad) comic books on it (along with anything else I could think of) - I think this was just before my sixth birthday (got another roll about a year later; the last bit of the second roll lasted until I was about ten).
After a few months, I realized my art was never getting anywhere, but I seemed to have a knack for coming up with scenarios. Some of my teachers after that encouraged me to write (my parents always said "that's something you do as a hobby or a sideline, don't try to make a living at it"), and I dabbled a little but never really got into it until I bought a game called "Dungeons & Dragons" (for those who know what these terms mean, this was the revised Holmes Basic and Expert editions with the Errol Otus covers) back around 1980. That inspired me to try to create my own world so I would not have to rely on other people (and would not have to worry about violating their canon). That also made me want to write stories about that world.
It has changed a lot over the years (and was blown up back around 2000, though segments survived to become part of Garweeze Wurld for HackMaster via the "Dead Gawd's Hand" module), but is now playing a part in Between Worlds.
Also, back around 1982 I was introduced to a game called Champions - a superhero role playing game. In 1988 I submitted an idea for an adventure that wound up being published as "Demons Rule" (bits and pieces of that intertwine with and form the backbone to Jack Diamond's adventures) and got me back into superheroes as well.
And, in 1981 I was introduced to the works of Howard Phillips Lovecraft, partly through Deities and Demigods, a supplement for Advanced Dungeons and Dragons and partly due to my sixth grade English class having two collections of HPL's stories (along with a bunch of monster movie books and some Classics Illustrated) in the "Free Reading Rack" for our mandatory fifteen minutes of reading each day - that got me interested in horror, especially Cosmic Horror.

So basically, games and comic books got me started and I have taken a few breaks but never really stopped.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

I loved reading stories that transported me to their worlds and gave me little butterflies inside. I am not a very emotional person mostly, but when I'm reading I become emotional every time. I've cried more from reading than anything else.

I wanted to give people something that they can enjoy. I don't believe I inspire many emotions in people, but I do have people that are entertained by my scribbles.

 

[Golden_Hyde]

am just done with most LNs having wimpy protagonists, and not a gigachad one (but not to the point of being assholes), so I made one

 

[Hoshino]

I write so i can read what i write.

 

[gaylolis]

So what you’re saying is, we need to take you hostage to get you to write.

i write whether you like it or not

 

[Valmond]

i write whether you like it or not

 

[AmbreaTaddy]

First novel dates back from long ago.
Our family did have one computer, it was one of those big square things that weighted a ton, but it was solely for my mother, for her work. There weren't any cellphones at the time, or the only ones you could find were those heavy bricks. So what did you do when you were at home ? Well, it was either going outside or reading books. I think by 10 years old I had read the entire content of our three bookshelves. That year, while I was bored out of my mind, we went on a family trip in an old house without any electricity. We would roast potatoes in the fire, or sleep with bricks heated in the chemney to keep warm at night. I was getting a little bored, so I took a stack of paper, a pen, and started writing MY favorite book, a book that brought together all my favorite things, a book tailored just for me.

Eventually, my mother read it and found it quite good, so she decided to tapp it on her computer, and publish it independantly, just so I could have my little book that I like. (I still have it to this day. In a twist of fate, it was sold to a few hundred people, thanks to my grandfather pestering his friends to buy it, and their kids actually liking it). After that, I think I never stopped writing. I only started webnovels this year, because I was reading a ton of them and thought 'I want to write something different, a lighter story with a freeer style without long prose', and here we are.

 

[PancakesWitch]

Mostly escapism and also to earn money (secondary). Since I started writing that I stopped feeling depressed, even if its tiring sometimes, its, at the end, rewarding to start and finish story arcs, create and write characters, interactions, worlds, battles (i like writing action a lot) and more. I also enjoy readers interactions but it's not like not having them will make me stop or drop my novels.

 

[Bobple]

Basically because I enjoy it.

Reading was what helped me realise I could write, as my talent in other creative mediums was certainly lacking. I have always enjoyed telling stories to myself, and writing is an extension of that, but now they feel more real. Not that the characters are setting are real, but what I have made is a real piece of fiction.

Still, the base reason is that I just enjoy writing. I've learned a lot, and I have still have a lot I need to improve on.

 

[Estamel]

Because the idea will fester in my head if I don't. My recent stories all started with an idea from 2013 I had while hauling cement. It was essentially 'How silly would it be if elves drove semi-trucks?' and it snowballed from there into a whole sci-fantasy universe following various groups of characters from vampires to spaceships with intersecting stories.

I enjoy writing, too. Even if I sometimes stare at a blank page for five seconds and then spend the next three hours getting distracted by trying to put music on and instead fell down the rabbit hole of what obscure modifications were done to Model Ts, and what gas pumps were available in the 1920s. Or spend a week and a half trying to figure out if the scene is working or what to do next.

 

[Arch9CivilReactor]

I wanted to challenge myself. Show to myself that I can create something that it interests my constantly bored brain.

 

[Cardon]

And you, what motivates you and why did you start?

The idea of adult magical girls tingled me, but most adult magical girls like Nanoha made it their primary job instead of keeping the secret identity thing among working adults.

That and the ending of a light novel I read directly addressed me and said 'bring it on, write your own stories'.

 

[Fakeminsk]

Starting writing a story as "practice" - didn't put a lot of pre-thought into it, just had a fully realised opening and some clear ideas of where I wanted to end, and started writing. The intent was to get better at writing so that I could publish a "real" novel someday. Published online as I went along, and people seemed to enjoy it, feedback was good. It also felt like I was getting better at writing as I went along--at least, as much as it's possible to tell within your own head and story. Played around with different points of view, nested narratives, flashbacks, that kind of stuff.

Wrote about 108k words and then... stopped, for reasons. Stopped for about a decade. Yet the story kept lurking at the back of my brain and eventually, again for -reasons- I started typing away again. This time, I established a routine. Published in the old places and discovered to my shock there were still people who wanted to read my novel. Started a Patreon, which also helped with motivation. Now, it's approaching 500k and it's nearly done. I reckon it'll be finished by April or so. Well, the full first draft, anyway, then it's editing time. Still, a pretty awesome feeling to know I'll be bringing a long project to completion.

 

[beast_regards]

Engagement. If people engage with the story, it motivates me to continue.

 

[RepresentingThree]

Is kinkshaming allowed here?

I checked the rules and there is nothing about not kink shaming. So, go ahead.

 

[NtrAddicted]

I was reading stories here, specifically transformation and gender bender the ones i found were good or decent. But i wanted more details and some did explore certain parts but forgot or didn't address other topics. So i got so annoyed that i wrote two chapters to see if i could even do it.

Sorta liked it, posted them here and boom, i accidentally created something i and others liked. From there i developed the story more, planned plot points and lore.

In my story I wrote a quick chapter about gender bending, well... not exactly, an evil character was transformed into a femboy and every time he tried to reveal his identity his body felt the urge to sleep with other men. Unfortunately some readers didn't like it but it gave me the idea of creating a separate story with this premise.

It's really a good topic

Honestly, I look at all the garbage on webnovel and realize that as long as you continue pumping out chapters or give it a proper conclusion. It doesn't matter how bad it was; someone is going to have enjoyed it. When I click on the smut tag and view the 20 most popular stories on this site, I see on that list two stories by the same author that are both awful, but he keeps posting, so no matter how bad the writing gets, there are people invested in his work. I don't even leave a review because to give that author a fair shot, I'd have to read more than what I have (I read 86 chapters of one and 32 chapters of the other), and I can't bring myself to do it; the stories are just sitting in my "paused" reading list. His character development, dialogue, and plotlines are awful (his story concepts all have potential though).

Almost the same, I started at Wn as a reader and most of it was garbage too. Some of it hurt my head to read and I had to make an effort to understand. That was one of the reasons I startedAlmost same, started

Is kinkshaming allowed here?

We are free to say what we want as well as free to listen to criticism. If you have something to say, you can say it, I don't see a problem.