The formula for better writing
Is writing a chore? Do you deploy every available distraction to delay getting started? Laziness is probably not your problem. So what holds you back?
Psychologists have a formula for motivation: E1 = E2 + E3, a simple expression revealing a powerful relationship. E1 is the energy someone has for a task. “Energy” in this case is “motivation” or “drive.” Following the formula, motivation is the sum of two factors: experiences of success (E2) and expectation for continued success (E3).
It makes sense. Your enthusiasm for a task increases if your previous experiences were positive. Anyone who has ever tried to lose weight will tell you that the motivation to continue (E1) is dependent on multiple experiences (E2) of success. If the diet is working, it's likely to be sustained. What's more, after a few positive experiences (losing a pound a week for five consecutive weeks), people come to expect continued success (E3). These expectations, formed by experience, generate long-term motivation.
This explains why so many people don't like to write. Too often their experiences have been negative. Miss Periwinkle may have chastised them in the sixth grade for a dangling participle. Prof. Framis in freshman English may have called their essay "incoherent." To many people, the writing experiences have included fumbling about with sentence construction and syntax (whatever that is), laboring to connect pieces that didn't quite fit and then enduring criticism and humiliation when their work was rejected by some authority figure as "wordy and unfocused." This is hardly the experience that will stimulate a lot of energy to do it again.
In my writing coaching, I don't teach people how to write. I teach them how to organize data and thoughts before they write. The objective –– to introduce competence and confidence into the writing experience –– would please any formula-drafting psychologist. The strategy is simple: Help people experience success a few times and they begin to expect more success. At that point, motivation rises to overcome resistance.
Psychologists have a formula for motivation: E1 = E2 + E3, a simple expression revealing a powerful relationship. E1 is the energy someone has for a task. “Energy” in this case is “motivation” or “drive.” Following the formula, motivation is the sum of two factors: experiences of success (E2) and expectation for continued success (E3).
It makes sense. Your enthusiasm for a task increases if your previous experiences were positive. Anyone who has ever tried to lose weight will tell you that the motivation to continue (E1) is dependent on multiple experiences (E2) of success. If the diet is working, it's likely to be sustained. What's more, after a few positive experiences (losing a pound a week for five consecutive weeks), people come to expect continued success (E3). These expectations, formed by experience, generate long-term motivation.
This explains why so many people don't like to write. Too often their experiences have been negative. Miss Periwinkle may have chastised them in the sixth grade for a dangling participle. Prof. Framis in freshman English may have called their essay "incoherent." To many people, the writing experiences have included fumbling about with sentence construction and syntax (whatever that is), laboring to connect pieces that didn't quite fit and then enduring criticism and humiliation when their work was rejected by some authority figure as "wordy and unfocused." This is hardly the experience that will stimulate a lot of energy to do it again.
In my writing coaching, I don't teach people how to write. I teach them how to organize data and thoughts before they write. The objective –– to introduce competence and confidence into the writing experience –– would please any formula-drafting psychologist. The strategy is simple: Help people experience success a few times and they begin to expect more success. At that point, motivation rises to overcome resistance.
Posted by Edward D. Miller at 9/23/2010 8:03 AM 
Categories: business writing, motivation, fear
Tags: success expectation experience
Categories: business writing, motivation, fear
Tags: success expectation experience
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