Passion vs. Distraction
by The Beardly Writer
From the very beginning I’ve felt under-qualified to write this blog. The life of a writer. What do I know about the life of a writer? What do I know about life, really? I’ve done a few things, been to a few places, seen a few things… And that makes me an expert? Someone with authority on the subject who expects others to learn from my wisdom? There’s only one kind of life I know anything about: my own. My life. And the useful things I know about it could fill the space between the liquid and the bottle cap in an unopened bottle of beer. The most useful thing I could tell you is to drink the beer before it gets warm.
So what? I’ve griped and moaned about blogging and writing and life since staking claim to my own tiny corner of the internet last year. What have I learned? Has anybody learned anything? I hate false humility and I’d hate to think I’m guilty of that now. I also hate whiners. I don’t want to fill this post with complaining. And I’d like to think I’m not. What I am, as I’ve mentioned before, is introspective. To a fault. The size of San Andreas. I’ve swallowed whole cities in my effort to self-analyze. And to the relief of all the families lost, I’ve come away with some good data. But that’s often where it ends. Remember in Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, when Alice gets lost in the forest? She sings a song: “I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it.” Ditto.
I want this blog to be useful. I want to write useful things. Because it means I’m learning, too. When I use this space to complain, I’m wasting my time and yours. I wasted this whole last week. I thought about my book a lot, but didn’t add a single word to it. WASTE. One week wasted. There’s only 52 of those in a year, you know. 2014 just began and I start it by wasting 1/52 of it. Gone. If I could offer one piece of advice this week, it’s don’t waste time! You want to be a writer, then write dammit! If you aren’t writing, if you don’t look forward to it, if you habitually find reasons to avoid it or put it off, there might be a problem. You might not be a writer. I’m realizing something about passion. There are many things to be passionate about in this life. Some people are lucky: their passions are directly beneficial. It earns them income, for example. Other passions must be steered toward it. Molded, hammered, bent, twisted, refashioned into something that benefits. Maybe your passion is playing video games and eating Cheetos on the couch. Find a way to make that passion work to your advantage. But maybe, just maybe, that isn’t your passion, but your distraction.
There is a fine line between passion and distraction. Many people spend much more time on their favorite distractions than their passions. Are you trading one for the other? There’s nothing wrong with distraction. In fact it can be a useful tool in the writer’s toolbox. But are you sacrificing your passion in favor of your distraction? Distractions come easy and give immediate gratification. Passion takes hard work and dedication, and may take years, even decades to pay off. But when it does, you’ll wonder why you ever settled for the distraction. Don’t settle. Don’t settle for good when great is still out there. If you continually give into distraction, you might not have found your passion. Or you might be afraid of it. Either way, don’t waste another day. Face it. Deal with it. Own it. Find your passion. And if you’ve already found it, revel in it. Spread it on your face like war paint and don’t back down. Dress yourself up in it and hit the town. Be your passion, not your distraction. Be your passion.
The Beardly Writer 
“We’re all mad here.” ― Cheshire Cat
Writing from the heart … that’s the hardest part. It can be difficult to get to that point of honesty and vulnerability with it where you no longer think in terms of what your audience wants you to write about, and instead just write what comes from your soul to the tips of your fingers without allowing your brain to editorialize.
If you haven’t done it recently… I’d go back here and re-read this:
Thanks Jim! Too often I keep the endgame at the front of my mind instead of just writing to write. Of course I want to one day make some sort of living at this, but writing with an agenda like that makes me come across as a used car salesman. I’m finding my way to writing for the joy of it again, like I used to. Thanks for the encouragement!
“Be your passion, not your distraction.” Love it! Gonna use it.
I appreciated you saying that distraction is not entirely bad. True, we CAN use it in our “toolbox”, perfect reminder. Was absolutely “taken” by the last half of that post! As I read, I wondered if you were going to get to where you wanted to go with that post…and I believe you got there and took the Gold!! Keep. Writing. (You have good stuff to share.)
We. Need. Writers. To. Write. (you know, not everyone WANTS to write.)
Feel free to use it!
Often when I write these posts, I have no idea where I’m going, I just start writing off the top of my head. I love the process of discovering what’s in my heart to say while writing. Creation and Discovery at the same time! The joys of both an artist and a archeologist. Nothing could ever get me to stop writing. I may pause here and there, but I’ll never stop altogether.
🙂 I’m not sure if this link will work…just wanted to show you. Next time I use it I’ll be sure to actually give you the credit for the quote!
http://instagram.com/p/jfe2LRnD3w/
Awesome!
…’As I sank my head into my pillow, I prayed a shallow, unbelieving prayer. “God, if You’ve got an idea, I guess I’ll take it.” ‘…
In Chapter 1 of Darren Wilson’s book, “Finding God In The Bible”.
This chapter made me think of you, and your passion to write. Have you ever read this book or seen his films? This is what I’m reading right now. He’s genuine. Darren Wilson never wanted to be a filmmaker but a writer! Now he’s both. You want to write but write screenplays…. In a way you want to do both. Hmmmmmmmm. Maybe Darren Wilson might be inspiration. Just sayin’
You and Darren Wilson have a freaky amount in common I think. I’m reading his 2nd book right now. Check it out if you choose. Chapter one especially.
Darren and I are friends, actually. I helped film for his first two movies. I’ve read his first book, it was great! The chapter about filming in Chicago for Finger of God, where the gold dust appeared… Yeah, I saw that first-hand. I learned my foundation in screenwriting from Darren.
THAT is SO COOL! Haha.
Well, no wonder I see some similarities, huh?!? Wonders never cease! I own Darren’s films on DVD and constantly send them as gifts! So interested to be reading his book. Be blessed to find your path with clarity…I have a feeling you’re not going to miss it.