Beyond Passionate Writing

There is a thing which most writers do talk about, but might not understand: passionate writing.

Passion for writing, is a component to what writing is about, but it is not the only thing. For example, I can writing about say, the history of Germany, but I might not be as passionate about writing it than the research about the area. (Which for the record the “Germany” which I am referring to is after 1871, when the North and South German confederations united… but that is not what this post is about!)  If I say I am passionate about writing fiction, I might not be passionate about the editing process of making sure the plot if sound and each character has the correct voice.

How do you go beyond the idea of passionate writing? Here are three ways I have gone beyond passionate writing, to a more solid foundation:

1) Dedication to writing better:

I had to be dedicated, I had to write more and write with a sense of purpose. I was passionate about what I wrote, for the most part, but I also avoided the things which only through practice would help me with my writing and the joy of writing. I learned that editing, even a bit of editing is important to keeping the passion in your writing alive. If you get the same comments time and again this is not a good sign.

I have dedicated myself to being passionate about all parts of the writing process.  Dedication doesn’t mean I will enjoy and be passionate about each part of the writing process, but what it does mean is that I know where I am strong as a writer and where I need to develop.

2) Forgiving yourself when things do not go well:

There is a fine line between not doing something because you do not feel it is right to do (avoidance) to doing something again and again and it does not seem to work. this is where you need to forgive you the writer for not getting either the work done, or pushing yourself too hard on the one part which is not going well.

The next step to forgiving yourself when things do not go well, or as planned is to find another route, or way, to fix the problem.  Generally, I find I am the maker of the problem in the first place.  I pushed myself with unrealistic goals, or I gave myself too many breaks.  Whatever the problem was, it was because I began it.  It’s time to forgive, learn and move forward.

3) Beyond passionate writing means finding a balance:

If you have say, ten blogs, and other assorted online articles, and then you are also writing a book and then planning to publish said book and then market this book, while writing another book, when do you have time to live? There needs to be a balance especially when it is not just you. If you have family you need to make time for them and you need to make time to write, and to eat and to sleep. Balance goes beyond simply being passionate about writing. The most important part: do not forget to have a bit of writing fun.

There, three points to discuss and ponder about writing. Passionate writing is something that we all need. Often, we do need to go beyond simple looking at writing as something that has its own built in challenges and keep moving forward.  Being passionate about something is only the beginning.  After a while it takes more dedication to become more passionate about the work you do.