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Saturday, February 3, 2007

Passion

The writer's path is not an easy one. The challenges are great, the rewards are more intrinsic than financial (don't start with Harry Potter - JK does not count), and the heartbreak almost a certainty. What keeps us all going? How do we fuel our writer selves? I always believed that having a community of other writers was the key. Other writers can provide the checks and balances we need to stay on track with our writing goals. But there is more. In order to live the life of a writer you need passion. Passion for the process - for dreaming up ideas, writing, rewriting, dealing with rejection, and rejoicing in acceptance. It doesn't mean we love every minute task, it means we feel an emotional connection with everything we do as writers.

Last night I went to a teen musical that my daughter and niece performed in. I watched this group of 25 kids put on a show that was just delightful. They were full of spirit and song and pure joy. Some of these kids hope to have careers in the performing arts, others were involved simply for the love of participating. At the end of the show, I was overcome by a familiar sense of wonder - the same feeling I experience when I have had a successful school visit or a meaningful critique session. It's all about the passion. Whether writing, performing, playing a musical instrument - passion is the lifeblood that supports the pursuit. Passion is the reason we do what we do.

8 Comments:

Blogger Vivian Mahoney said...

Very nicely said. Welcome to the blogosphere.

February 5, 2007 at 9:20 AM  
Blogger Barbara Bietz said...

Vivian,

Thanks so much for stopping by and for the warm welcome!

Barbara

February 5, 2007 at 9:42 AM  
Blogger Robin L said...

Hey Barbara,
GREAT blog! You'd never know it was your first!

And I love the post about Passion. So true.

February 5, 2007 at 1:03 PM  
Blogger Barbara Bietz said...

Thanks, Robin!

I really appeciate your kind words!


Barbara

February 9, 2007 at 3:16 PM  
Blogger Erin said...

I loved this post. Thanks for writing it. :)

February 20, 2007 at 5:59 PM  
Blogger Barbara Bietz said...

Erin,

Thanks so much for your kind words and for stopping by!

Barbara

February 21, 2007 at 8:17 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Words to live by. I think it's true for everything we do. I certainly couldn't review books without passion.

February 25, 2007 at 2:10 PM  
Blogger Barbara Bietz said...

Sonja,

I'm so happy to hear from you! I agree with you - writing reviews requires great passion for books!

Barbara

February 25, 2007 at 5:15 PM  

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