Living a Passionate Writing Life

Writing sometimes means saying no to invitations when you'd rather say yes, denying yourself things you enjoy, and fitting time to write into an already-crowded schedule. You may write for little reward, but nothing can make you stop. You are passionate about writing.

Are you also passionate about your writing life?

This is where some of us fall down. We define life as a writer only in terms of work accomplished and don't realize how much more it can contain. Have you asked yourself what the writing life of your dreams looks like? Here are some things it might include:

Writing Retreats
Travel
Conferences
Courses
Contests
Mentoring and Being Mentored
Teaching and Being Taught
Writing in Coffee Shops
Writing Outdoors
Writing with Friends
Hosting a Writers-Only Dinner Party
Journaling
Reading
Attending Book Readings
Joining a Writing Group
Finding a Critique Partner or Group
Partnering with a Bookstore
Befriending a Library
Joining a Mastermind Group
Speaking
Listening to Podcasts
Making Videos
Working with an Agent
Independently Publishing
Learning Photography

One of my missions at Live Write Breathe is to help writers not only write well, but to live a passionate writing life. I wrote the articles in this week's themed email to help you toward that end.

Is Your Writing Life Running You?
They say the definition of insanity is repeating the same action while expecting different results, â€œtheyâ€ being anonymous possibly to avoid the consequences of making such a lucid statement.

Itâ€™s far too easy to accept an easily-consumed life doused with equal parts of wishes, hope, and lethargy. This can apply to every avenue of living, not just the writing life. Sometimes, even, we let writing get in the way of living.

Live Your Writing Dream

Living your writing dream calls for courage, the confidence to believe it can happen for you, and self-discipline. Thatâ€™s a tough call, but writers are an incorrigible bunch.

I once worked on the top floor of a skyscraper, spending my time and energy not on my own writing but on another personâ€™s dream, chained to my desk by â€œgolden handcuffs.â€ If youâ€™re unfamiliar with that expression, it refers to a kind of prison...

Lessons from Envy

Envy. It crops up with appalling ease. A member of your local writing group signs a multi-book contract. Another lands a dream agent. One friend tells you her latest book needs no substantial edits while youâ€™re drowning in them. A friend wins an award you covet.

You swallow the worm of jealousy, brace yourself and offer congratulations. But inside you die a little. When you return to your desk, you find it hard to focus. Or maybe you throw yourself that...