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There's a lot of market-chasing in publishing. Look at the amount of paranormal romance after Twilight and now the outpouring of BDSM erotica in the wake of 50 Shades of Grey. If you love those genres, then fine, but I think it's important to consider what you love to read when you write. Today's guest post is from author Michelle Isenhoff on writing your passion rather than the stuff you think you should be writing about.
First, I want to see kids develop a love for reading.
Second, I hope they learn a little something along the way.
If we all investigated our motives honestly, I bet very few of us would find we write with total purity.
All of us have unique traits that come out on paper. Likewise, we all have some purpose in mind for our work. But that’s okay. Merging our passions and our purposes can be a very empowering concept. It can revolutionize our writing. But before we can make use of them, first we need to take stock of our assets.
Identify your passions
I’m not talking about identifying plain old strengths here. Knowing our strengths and writing to them is beneficial, but going beyond them to what really makes us tick deepens the magic. Often, our strengths and passions intersect, but not always.
With my background in education, I can write out some serious kick-butt lesson plans. I’ve been trained to write them. I’ve practiced writing them. I’ve even taught from them. The problem is I hate writing lesson plans. I’d much rather indulge in the passion that enticed me into the teaching field to begin with: children’s literature.
When I finished college, I was given some really bad advice: hold off on that novel and assemble a portfolio. What followed were some really rotten years. Did I sell some articles? Yes. Did I improve my skills? Yes. Was I using my strengths? Yes. But it was sort of like writing out lesson plans. I wasn’t having any fun. So nine years ago, I scrapped the portfolio and penned my first children’s novel. Wow! Finally, I wanted to write! Lesson learned: Passion fuels our writing.
Identify Your Purpose
Next, figure out why you are writing. What do you hope to accomplish?
What do you want readers to take away with them when they close your back cover?
We’re all different, and there are as many reasons for writing as there are people. Some of us hope to win awards. Others want to influence people’s thinking. Still others hope to teach, to inspire, to motivate, to criticize, to change, to report, to make money, to tell a story. The list could go on forever, and the individual reasons don’t really matter. The important thing is to discover your own reasons, so you can use them.
Identifying the purpose for a piece will give it direction and hold it together. It will make it very easy to pinpoint an audience, and it’s going to determine what you do with your work when it’s done and how you market it. In short: Purpose gives direction to our writing.
Now Put Them Together
As writers, we all engage in many forms of written language. Just this week I’ve written articles, reworked an old skit, reviewed a book, blogged, communicated on social media and, yes, created some lesson plans. They’re necessary and varied and purposeful projects. But when I merge purpose with children’s literature, when I steer that which drives me, that’s when the magic really happens:
1. Writing becomes more enjoyable. It’s always more fun to indulge in what we love.
2. Our product improves. We naturally become more enthusiastic, more genuine, when we’re having fun. Passion is easily apparent in our writing.
3. A better product draws more readers. And repeat readers.
4. Passions make effective brands. People begin to associate us with the things we get excited about. Connection with those of similar interests provides the basis for marketing.
5. All these things combine to equal better sales.
I know we can’t always write what we love, but we should reserve ample time for it. It’s like plugging into a charger or eating fruits and grains; it revitalizes us. And if we can harness those passions and give them a focus and a direction, we have the potential to improve our entire game plan. The end result is better sales. And better sales means that someday maybe I can give up writing lesson plans.
How have your passion and purpose combined in your writing? Please do leave a comment below.
This guest post is a part of a blog tour headquartered on her children’s literature blog. You can also find Michelle at her author website or hanging out on Twitter and Facebook.
Image: Flickr CC / apdk
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1 2 Next »I also think having your own uniqueness plays a role because people all over the world can share similar passions. Putting in what makes you who you are makes you stands out to your readers as while which can equal more sales.
Thanks for the post Michelle and Joanna
Fabulous advice, Shaquanda!
After my daughter died, I took a year's leave (from my elementary school teaching job) and went traveling. I started a blog to connect with friends and to find out how the outer journey paralleled the inner. Writing my blog was wonderfully healing and at times, loads of fun. Now I'm writing about the how to's of house sitting, the way I lived and continue to live on this journey.
Sounds like you're writing about the things closest to your heart, Becky.
couldn't agree more. If you write for the love, you will generally see better results. If you write because you have to, well, things can get a tad tedious
No one likes tedium, do they?
Great post :)
Matthew (Turndog Millionaire)
Tedium=lesson plans :)
Thanks, Matthew.
Thanks Michelle, this is a great piece. While we are all tempted by the formulaic approach to writing and marketing the truth is that if we follow the same route as everyone else then we end in the 90% of literature that never gets read because it is so 'same, same'.
While it is often said that there is no such thing as an original idea the same cannot be said of a human being. No two are alike, everyone is unique. I believe that our challenge as artists is to allow that uniqueness of our own person to shine through our work.
This takes bravery as we have to overcome the societal, family and educational conditioning that seeks to homogenize us all and stops us from speaking with our true voice. Thanks for your article, as a result my intention today is to speak with my true voice, uninhibited, true and constant.
When I wrote 'The Yin Yang Complex' I had to overcome my fears of what others would think or feel about my beliefs. It was scary putting my thoughts out into the world and realizing 'people know what's in my head!'. But was also a very freeing experience and by the time I wrote my second book 'The 5 States of Success' I realized that the same fears no longer existed. The big bonus of all this... both books became bestsellers.
So my advice to all is tell YOUR story in YOUR way for YOUR reasons.
Thanks again for an inspiring post.
Congratulations on your success, Brendan!
There is a measure of vulnerability in anything honestly written. I guess that's why it's also often said that writers need thick skin. :) Glad I could inspire a truthful, uninhibited day.
You're so right - write with passion! Tell it the way you feel it! Don't try to be 'correct' or worry if it PO's someone! Passion brings out your individuality and that's what writing should be about - originality.
I once listened to a keynote speaker at a university commencement deliver the message 'Pursue your passion, not your pension.'
That stuck with me.
‘Pursue your passion, not your pension.’ I like that, lol!
What a great article! I am a poet and have just begun entering contests. I had my poetry book short listed for the Mary Ballard Poetry Chapbook Prize and will find out in a week if I made the second cut. This article, along with that excitement, has prompted me to seek crowdfunding from Indiegogo to apply for grants and fellowships. Writing has got to be the most exciting profession, people just don't know!
That's so exciting! Best of luck to you!
Great post, mind if I put a link to it in my site.
I'd be honored. Joanna? :)
Sure - you're welcome to link back to the post - or use an excerpt with credit back. Thanks!
done :)
http://www.sevenstorieshigh.com/2012/09/10/why-write/
I really appreciate you sharing Michelle and Joanna. Passion and purpose are extremely critical. I understand what you mean about lesson plans ... as a former 4th grade teacher that was not my passion either :-) As a writer it was difficult to identify what it was I was passionate about, because for so long I wrote for hire or wrote what others wanted me to write. But wow, when it finally clicked, it was like a firecracker went off! Again, great post! I will share with other authors I know.
Thanks so much, LaToya!