Tag: writing is an intrinsic reward

Writing Should Be Its Own Reward, Right? Wrong!

August 22, 2018

When we’re in the flow and the words flow effortlessly, writing is its own reward. We don’t need to reward ourselves then; in fact, giving a reward for something that is intrinsically rewarding can be counterproductive. But writing isn’t intrinsically rewarding all, or even most, of the time. The misbelief that it should be creates … More Writing Should Be Its Own Reward, Right? Wrong!

What’s Wrong with this Picture of a Writer?

April 1, 2014

What’s wrong with this picture? The writer is asking to be rewarded; he should be rewarding himself! It’s no accident that the Get Around Writer’s Block flowchart says “Reward myself,” not “Ask for reward.” The research is clear: when incentives are offered for routine work, they work; when incentives are offered for creative work, they … More What’s Wrong with this Picture of a Writer?