Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Keep Your Passion For Writing Alive


A friend had the poster above on her facebook page yesterday. Definitely advice that is short and sweet but oh so good. I'd like to have it blown up to poster size and tack it to the wall above my computer. Maybe I should get two and put one on the fridge as a reminder to get myself to the office to write. Or how about another in the laundry room? 

It's far too easy to allow life to get in the way of our writing. We have the best of intentions to spend X amount of time writing each day, but our world sometimes has other plans. Children need us, husbands require help in finding something. (What is it about men who have lived in the same place for years and years but still can't find numerous items?) The phone rings, or the doorbell. We're needed at a meeting or must run to the store to pick up milk and bread. The list could go on and on. 

We have responsibilities that must be met, and that's just fine. As long as we keep writing a primary task, we'll be alright. Just don't let it slip farther and farther down the to-do list. Once it hits near the bottom of the list, your writing world is going to become dimmer and dimmer. You run the risk of stopping altogether. I've seen people in my critique group quit. They say things like "I'm just not writing anymore." or "Right now, other things in my life are of more importance." Probably true but it makes me sad.

Most writers pursue their craft because they're passionate about writing. Make no mistake, it takes some doing to keep that passion lit. Like anything else, we sometimes have to truly work at it. We need some encouragement as well. And maybe we need some occasional success to keep the spark alive. 

For now, I'm going to let the poster of those four hunks keep me going. How about you? What will you do to keep your passion for writing alive?

3 comments:

  1. I think blogging is a good way to maintain a practice of writing. And I agree. Writers write. Daily. You don't have write stellar material every day, but the daily practice is important to hone skills and find your voice.

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  2. Thanks for the great reminder in a pretty package. ;-) I made a list of blogs that inspired me this week, and this was one. Thanks.

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  3. Thanks, Nancy! So true ~ even things that we are passionate about still need work and loving care. I'm posting that pic on my FB page and above my computer too!

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