Write What You Love: How Passion Can Shape Your Purpose as a Writer

From Edie: When writers focus on what they love, passion becomes purpose. Discover how your interests and expertise can open new writing opportunities.

Write What You Love: How Passion Can Shape Your Purpose as a Writer

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael

Though I love a good novel, I have no delusions about writing a sci-fi thriller or horror anthology. I’m not enthusiastic about either genre. Instead, my mind meanders into tales of romance, suspense, and faith-based articles that encourage personal growth. The genres I love are also the ones that I enjoy writing. When we write what we love, it increases our inclination to write.

Sharing topics we love makes it easier to engage readers who also share our passion. Writing topics that we are unfamiliar with or that bore us takes more time and effort. I wouldn’t attempt to write a mechanic’s manual. My engineering acumen is sub-par at best. But I can write about plants and gardening for years as my love of plants knows no bounds.

In fact, the things we love, our hobbies, and areas of expertise can offer innovative writing opportunities. There are clubs, journals, and blogs for practically everything. Subjects such as cooking, quilting, photography, and stamp collecting have large audiences always searching for new material to read concerning their hobbies. Editors seek contributors who are not only knowledgeable but who also share an enthusiasm that resonates with readers. 

Consider submitting magazine and blog articles on topics that you know and love. If so inclined, you may even start a publication of your own. There are communities devoted to most hobbies that are always seeking updates, opinions, and reviews of their favorite topics. If you are particularly knowledgeable, you can potentially monetize your expertise and market yourself as a subject matter expert. Let’s say you love forensics. Your proficiency is this subject is valuable to authors of true crime, mysteries, and horror. Other authors may hire you to help develop plausible plots and realistic scene descriptions. 

We serve others when we allow our interests to produce writing opportunities that educate and broaden our audience. Passion often connects us with our purpose. When we educate others about topics we love, this can even evolve into a ministry when we allow our words to connect with people in meaningful ways. 

Writing what we love allows us to enjoy our craft while positively engaging readers with our words. 

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Write What You Love: How Passion Can Shape Your Purpose as a Writer from @Lilka_Raphael on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

A Florida native, Lilka Finley Raphael has been a licensed pharmacist for over thirty years. Her passions for writing, gardening, and photography prompted her to share her experiences and life lessons on her blogs B Is for Blessed and God, autism, & me. You can learn more about her at lilkaraphael.com

Lilka’s greatest achievements are her two adult sons who have flown the nest. Happily married for thirty-two years, she lives east of Atlanta with her husband, Rod. They now share their home with two German Shepherds—Holly and Ivy—and one naughty kitty, Moxie.