Have you ever gotten an idea for a book, essay, article, or blog post, and simply sat down and began writing? When the so-called “light bulb” turned on, and the flow of passion began cursing through your writer’s veins, you knew you simply had to write about whatever subject was on your mind. That’s an amazing feeling.
Sometimes, however, we have an idea for a book, essay, article, or blog post that we know will help us in some way. This piece of writing might help us get where we are going, build our platform, fit into the niche we are creating for ourselves, get us noticed, build readership, etc. So, we get excited, and we pursue the project, because it feels right and we know it fits into the “big picture.” That’s a pretty good feeling, too.
For the last eight or nine years, I’ve spent a lot of my time doing the latter–writing with a purpose in mind. During that time, a lot of projects I started and pursued briefly have been left by the wayside while I created a platform, found a niche, built a readership, and so on. This past week, however, I began thinking about the difference between these two types of writing–writing with a purpose vs. writing with a passion–and where they fall into a writer’s career.
I did this as I listened to the guest speaker, Gerard Jones, at the California Writer’s Club South Bay January meeting. Jones is the author of books Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth of the Comic Book (2004), which won the Eisner Award; Killing Monsters: Why Children Need Fantasy,Superheroes and Make-Believe Violence (2002); andHoney, I’m Home! Sitcoms: Selling the American Dream (1993). Jones has written for Marvel Comics and DC Comics, as well as for Wonder Man, The Shadow,Pokémon, and Batman.With Will Jacobs, he co-authored The Beaver Papers: The Story of the Lost Season (1983). As he told his story he mentioned that sometimes, as in the case of a few of his more recent works, you just have to write something because you feel strongly about it, not because it fits into your niche or because someone tells you it’s sure seller.
From what he said, his first book, The Beaver Papers, seems to have just fallen together. It was a work of some passion. Later, he worked tended to work on books that had more of a purpose. Now, he has started working on projects that once again his heart and his passions dictate.
I think that this illustrate how many a writer gets started and progresses, especially in the current publishing world. We begin a book, or some writing project, because our heart, soul or passion leads us in that direction. We believe in it and feel we just must get it written and published. Along the way, we learn the publishing ropes, and we start playing the publishing “game,” doing the things we are “supposed to do.” We write with the purpose of become successful writers and authors. Then somewhere along the line, we decide we must once again write because our hearts, souls and passions drive us to do so. Maybe it at that point we become the best writers we can become, because we can put all the knowledge we have gained to use with our passion. Indeed, then passion and purpose come together.
For myself, I see now that the projects I left by the wayside must be picked up once again. My passion for them is beginning to rise again. My soul and my heart are crying out to write from that place once more. I see now, in hindsight, how I can improve these projects. (Time and experience make a writer wiser…) I’m ready to move forward with them one way or another–to try again to find a traditional publisher or simply to self-publish because I know the information deserves to be in the world for people to read. My passion tells me so. Even Jones has turned to some non-traditional forms of publishing, despite his traditional publishing track record. The publishing world has opened up to those with both purpose and passion.
So, I conclude that writing with purpose need not be better or worse than writing with passion. They each have a place and time in a writer’s career. Additionally, they can–and should–be employed together to succeed as a writer today.
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i use a combo of shea butter and aloe vera moisturizer. Works great. I use shea butter on my lips, around my eyes and nose (dry areas), My father swears by vasoline.
p.s. I dropped your name on Gina's post, Barb. ;)
My publishing journey has not yet started I am still in the midst of my first edit. I do, however, understand the differences you talk about as I can ‘free’ write successfully. Now I have come to know the difficulty of acceptance for my writing in the ‘larger’ world. It is a steep learning curve but I am enjoying the challenge.
I can help you publish, if you do not yet have a publisher… yes, it is my business, but it is also my passion. Just take a peek at http://www.parkepress.com
My pleasure is designing books, and helping writers get their stories out. No, I’m not getting rich and don’t expect to, but I am learning some of the pitfalls of self-publishing and believe a really good design can help the writer avoid at least one of those.
Anyway, good luck with your writing. Good for your head and solu!
Mooshcat
I have an agent pursuing publishing of several of my books, including this one: Don’t Write That Book…Yet! 9 Ways to Make Sure Your Nonfiction Book Succeeds (Before You Actually Write It)
However, why don’t you contact my through my company. I might need a designer for some of my other books, which I plan on self-publishing, and I work with lots of writers, some of whom also need a designer.
Thank you so much for this message. I, too, have started all kinds of writring projects because I was convinced that it was a story that had to be told, or an idea whose time had come. Then I came to a fork in the road and it lead me somewhere else. I know I will probably go back and pick up those projects again some time, but right now I am juggling the purpose vs passion idea, kind of treading water until I decide in which direction my heart wants to take me today. I agree that is is much harder these days for writers since things like blogs and self-publishing has taken some of the edge off of “real publishing.” More and more publishers are looking at e-publishing and e-books, and self-pulishing has become less expensive and more professional looking than it did in the past. . I still adhere to the idea that there is nothing that feels quite as good as holding a book in your hand. It’s like touching the author. What is important is that the story is told, the message is passed on, the idea is shared regardless of what form it is in. Quite often, at least for me, what starts out as writing with a purpose in mind ends up becoming a passion for something I didn’t realize I had.
The point is to write and be read. Don’t worry about the form. More people read my blog posts than might ever read a published book. That’s something.