Comments on: Regain the Passion

By: Kristi Holl

Kristi Holl — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 20:56:56 +0000

Jodi, that is so true about having to guard our writing passion and re-igniting it over and over as life intrudes (and it will!) Inspiring books about writing are what do it for me too!

By: Jodi

Jodi — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 23:47:44 +0000

I loved this part of your post “passion for writing involves enthusiasm, excitement, drive, and a deep love for your work. This passion makes writing a joyous occupation. It makes time fly while “real life” is shoved to the far comers of the mind.” This is exactly how I feel about writing. You could not have written that any better!
I too find life getting in the way and my passion slipping now and again, which is a bummer. I always feel so much more alive again when I can reclaim that passion and reignite the flame! Then I think back and say to myself “why did I let those things get in the way of my writing, and throw me off course.” I mentally have to put the train back on the tracks and refocus, usually with an aspiring book about writing.

By: Kristi Holl

Kristi Holl — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:43:34 +0000

Rebecca, thanks for your comments! And for recommending one of my all-time favorite writing books, BIRD BY BIRD. Loved your enthusiasm for your new project! Like you, I won’t be crawling out onto any roofs, but writing about it sounds great! Enjoyed your website–my grandkids would love your science and nature books!

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:23:29 +0000

Great post, Kristi. For years I had the very problem you describe. I was able to do work-for-hire projects (where a deadline is always strong motivation to finish). But when it came to writing my own stuff, I would—just as you describe—start off strong and soon lose all desire to finish. For years I was stuck.

You mention the importance of finding meaning in your work. How true! It was Anne Lamott, in BIRD BY BIRD, who showed me this. She said that when you start stories and never bother to finish them, it is because there is nothing at the center of these stories, no universal truth that you hold dear.

After I read her words, I thought and thought and thought about what it was I cared about. That was one of the things that helped me regain my passion. The other was finding a great story (I’m a nonfiction writer), the kind of story that begs for me to tell it because it aligns with that universal truth.

Anyway, today I’m happily hard at work on a book project. It is a topic so great, so worth knowing about, that I want to crawl out onto my roof and shout about it! I won’t, though. I’m afraid of heights. I’ll just write about it instead.

By: Kristi Holl

Kristi Holl — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 22:39:54 +0000

Trudy, you’re right about the fatigue. With any chronic type of illness or pain, I think the fatigue factor is HUGE. It has to be taken into account in many ways–but it can be! I’m glad the Challenge is helping you reconnect with your passion for certain subjects. It does so often consist of going back to that child in us that felt the magic!

By: Trudy

Trudy — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 17:28:15 +0000

Vijaya and Kristi, so sorry about your chronic headaches. That must make it awfully difficult to focus sometimes. Bravo for you both for keeping your passion alive! I have a chronic lung disease, and sometimes it can be difficult, especially when fatigue takes over.

Lately I am reigniting my passion through this blog and through the 100-Day Challenge. I was bummed out for a while as I struggled with what my vision for writing really is, but I am learning my passion comes out more in creative nonfiction and in subject areas that were important to me even as a little child.

By: Kristi Holl

Kristi Holl — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 15:37:21 +0000

Sherryl, we’ll talk the rest of the week about some solutions, but your idea is a fun one! If you can go to the setting of your story, it can really help. I set a few of my novels in real places–mostly the mysteries–and going to those parks or towns or wherever really helped me get into the right mood. Enjoy your trip!

By: Sherryl

Sherryl — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 08:01:35 +0000

I hear you! The passion for a project of mine has been slowly squeezed out by deadlines for other books, and all that other work that pays the bills.
I’m taking the plunge this week and going to where part of my story takes place, hoping that being there and sinking into the landscape (not literally!) will re-engage me with the story again.
I’m jumping the gun with a solution here, but it comes from really needing and wanting to fire up my passion for the story again!

By: Kristi Holl

Kristi Holl — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 20:10:08 +0000

Vijaya, those breaks where you take time to focus on improving (whether studying a book on craft and doing all the exercises or taking an online class) are GREAT for re-igniting passion for writing. (I too deal with chronic headaches–for thirty years now–so I know EXACTLY what you’re talking about there!) And yes, sometimes a piece is missing that time away from a project will reveal.

I hope others will chime in with what works for them this week as well.

By: Vijaya

Vijaya — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 19:16:58 +0000

Interesting post, Kristi. There’s the writing that puts food on the table and there’s the writing of my heart, but I’ve yet to take on a project just for the money … so passion is always there.

I would think writing is the one job I’ve had that pays the least considering the amount of time I put into it (there’s the learning curve, etc. to figure into it to be sure but that is also part of the beauty of it — I can learn by doing) so passion is the driving force. It’s having something to say.

Passion hasn’t dissipated yet, even though I suffer chronically from headaches …

You mentioned time healing stories. I think sometimes time brings a different perspective or a missing piece of the puzzle to a manuscript. Sometimes, a story simply isn’t ready until several things gel together, but they don’t all fall into your lap at the same time.

I take periodic breaks from submitting and focus solely on the craft to improve, whether it’s self study or taking a class. That always rejuvenates me. And of course, writing through it all simply makes me feel better.