May 30, 2013

Become More Productive As A Freelance Writer: Excel With Passion

What does passion got to do with writing?

Everything. Without passion, you can NOT write.

I know that’s a bold statement but can you write if you don’t have that special FIRE inside you? Can you pour out words to paper without genuine motivation? I doubt.

There’s got to be reason to write. You write because you need to communicate. You compose essays because you have something to say. You jot down thoughts because you’re compelled to vent your feelings. You express yourself through written words because you’re itching to tell the world about your bright ideas.

Yep, there are numerous reasons why a writer writes. Many have opinions to share. A sizable number of wordsmiths desire to persuade people to move in a different direction–to change status quo.

Others aim to change conditions. Some people, considered game-changers write to usher in a new way of viewing things; or a fresh approach to the standards the world has grown to love and embrace.

A few, well, very few indeed, are fighting to challenge current world views. 

How about you–why do you write?

Writers unleashed quiet revolutions.

Books were written to convince people; it’s time to change our views regarding gay marriages. Revolutions were successful after a series of manifestos and books were published; either legally or not.

In the 70′s, books were written to persuade the populace that drugs have benefits other than the usual ‘high’ people get from them. Scribes have always been thought of as leaders, shakers, boat rockers.

“Indeed, writers had led many quiet revolutions.

Many times, the recipients of their work were awed by the fire that is ignited by their words.

It’s imperative to note that passion fueled these writers to launch those revolutions.

Passion has always been behind these metamorphoses.

Passion has always been the catalyst of change.

 

The pen is mightier than the sword

Writer, it’s true, the pen is mightier than the sword. That is if you have passion to express the thoughts that can lead to change.

If you plan to write, first of all, you have to be sure you have something to share.

Something of value.

Do you have ideas to contribute to the world? Of course all of us possess something the world wants. If you are reading this, I know you are interested to write or else you should have stopped reading by now. Moreover, you have strong opinions you are itching to throw at the world.

Not only that, you honestly believe the world is dying to know what you have to say.

If you’re still reading this, without a doubt, you love writing.

Writing is one of the most direct way of expressing messages. Yes, movies are more compelling, but most of the time, it takes more than one person to create ‘em. And films take months to produce. Sometimes years.

Theater’s the same, you need actors, props men, technical staff and your director. You need to practice and coordinate with the whole team for months before you can communicate what you want to convey.

On the other hand, if you write, just get a cup of java, sit down in a cozy corner, encode your thoughts on your laptop, post it on your blog, and presto! You’re communicating with your readers.

That’s the beauty of it.

It’s direct.

Immediate.

So fellow writer… never underestimate… PASSION.

I can’t brush this away— without passion, you can’t create value for your audience.

Writing requires IT.

With that said, allow me to share principles I have learned as a wordsmith.

What I’ll share you are NOT the practical things I have learned. The Tips you can apply to improve your writing. They abound on other sites. What I’m compelled to share are the deep principles about writing.

I have been writing, on and off, for the past 17 years and I believe me, it’s the best journey I ever had.

It’s not easy and it’s not always financially rewarding but I write because I love this craft.

It’s more of a compulsion than anything else.

I write because I need to.

I write because I won’t be complete without it.

The responsibility to earn a living is a secondary matter. I can earn a living by other means but earning by doing something that you love is a privilege. So it’s actually a double treat. I love what I’m doing and while at it, I earn too.

What a blessing.

Passion is the Lifeblood of your craft

You might as well stop writing if you don’t possess passion for the craft. Let me tell you about my neighbor. He lives next door so I have the advantage of observing him closely. He inspires me, this guy; he got the girl he loves ‘cuz he’s passionate about her. This passion drove him to do what he has never done before. He delved into activities he has no interest in, just so he can catch his lady love’s eye.

The girl of his fancy loves one thing. Dancing.

So what did our hero do? He voluntarily dived into the learning process to learn dancing. All because his lady dreams of becoming a professional dancer someday. That’s the only motivation he has to study dance.

Despite that, he put on his dancing shoes and enrolled in dancing lessons. No questions formed in his mind. No doubts bothered him about it. He just went ahead and practiced dancing.

Passion for the girl of his dreams drove him to do that.

If you have that kind of passion in writing, you have what it takes to make it big!

When things seem bleak, passion will see you through.

It’s a given.

It’s the gas for your career.

When you decide to write for a living, you will experience blocks. Those are the times when you can’t write a single paragraph without feeling the urge to stop and do something else. You don’t have the desire to continue writing and you can’t, ‘cuz it has become routine and just part of the day. That day, you got it. Most creatives call it ‘The Block’.

You’ll have those, and passion is the only one that can save you from such condition. Writer’s block is real and I experience it, every now and then.

Passion is your gas when you seem to be tired from clicking on your keyboard and no words come out worth to be read. Nothing is coming out to be able to inspire, able to prod, able to inform, able to persuade, able to move.

Nada.

Passion will keep you going. It will save your day. It will save your career.

Invisible giver of a never-ending nudge

You know the time when you would rather watch TV or go to the mall. Days when creativity has gone hiding and no matter what you do to ignite the spark, nothing happens?

Your mystical pen seems to have lost it’s magic and no words flow out.

That’s when passion will find its way to the rescue. It will prod you to just continue. Yep, you need to take a break or maybe rest but when your batteries are recharged, passion will carry you on its back until you reach your destination.

Passion will give you unending nudge to sustain you when times get rough.

It’s the shot in the arm that will help you to go on when everything looks uncertain.

Yes, writing demands passion. without it you will not survive.

How has passion helped you get through a dark valley in your life as a freelance writer? Tell us about it in the comments area.

 

Photo Credit: Стена | ВКонтакте

Anthony Dejolde

info@anthonydejoldewriter.com

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adejolde@yahoo.com

 

 

By Anthony Dejolde Blogging, Freelancing, Writing 2 Comments Tags: lifeblood, passion, passion and writing, passionate with writing, writing, writing requirement, writing tips