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Guest Blog: Passion and the Literary Lovelife

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Passion and the Literary Lovelife

By: Jeremy Wagner

Not long ago, I did a guest blog where I spoke a bit about writing from the heart and being really into the craft of writing. That blog was cutely titled, “The Passion of the Words,” and it was a lot of fun to do. Basically, I was talking about having 100% passion for your writing. I liked the subject and talking about it came from a warm place in my own heart, because, you see, I LOVE writing almost more than anything.

Some people have a passion for quilt-making, or guitars, or luxury cars, or fishing and NASCAR. When it comes to writing—be it non-fiction or fiction or other—some people are extremely passionate about it. I know writers who live to writ. I know others (no names will be mentioned) who love writing more than they love their partners or spouses. These writers have the passion for creating through their written words. Are you like that? You might dig this blog then…

Let me ask you something, do you write with passion AND just as important, do you do it every day? Riddle me this, Batlady, are you one of those who TALK about writing because you think it’s just something cool to say? It’s okay of you do…you just might have more of a passion for talking than you do for writing. *Smile*

I go to a lot of writer’s conferences to promote my book(s), do panels, and to do readings. I love meeting other writers and readers and networking. In my travels, I see many new writers who have a passion for the craft and who work really hard at it…and I also see many newer writers give up on writing right out of the box. Like, they don’t want to even try getting their stuff out there because of rejections and/or they feel they have exhausted their efforts at shopping their written stuff around. The criticism and the rejection is too much for these fragile egos, I’m afraid.

At least some of them tried, “once.” I’ve seen plenty who don’t even make it that far. Again, I find wannabe writers who talk about it and can’t do what it takes to create anything. I think that’s lame.

Does that sound harsh? It’s my opinion and I’m talking about what I encounter at writer’s conferences and in certain social circles. When someone says, to me, “Oh, you’re a writer? Wow. I have this GREAT idea for a book and ‘someday’ I’ll write it.”

I could talk about all the things I’m going to do someday, too…like be the next president. Seriously, for me, writing isn’t hobby or a game—not serious writing anyway. I’m talking about passion here. I’m talking about having a real love and commitment for writing all the time. Passion for creating stories and you’re doing all of it because you love it more than anything. You do it even if the rejections keep coming and even if they’re brutal. The passion you have for your art means you’ll continue on and you’ll move forward because it’s so rewarding to you.

You lovers out there, you writing maniacs, are you getting what I’m cooking here? I’m sure you do.

Recently, a young lady told me she couldn’t handle any rejections for her short story. She said she was going to quit writing. “Fine,” I said. “Maybe you need to do something in a happier and friendlier world—perhaps in the universe of a book-club. I think there’s a joke in there…

If I had a dollar for every newbie writer who told me they wanna jump ship and never write again, I’d be about $22.00 richer. Jokes, aside, when I hear newer writers say they’re giving up writing just as they started, I can’t argue with them or try to encourage them—I mean, sure, I might tell them to grow a thicker skin and get on with it—but in the end, I don’t push or shake my head. I see they don’t have the passion, and with that, I agree they aren’t really into writing as much as they thought.

Would you agree that writing, like any other art, should be done because you love it from your heart and soul? I believe that. You should get a great joy out of it. It’s not a dreaded job, capisce? You do it because the passion moves you to create. This isn’t just my opinion, it’s what I embrace: PASSION to thetenth power! Entering into writing with the some plan to get rich is BS. Writing fiction and making stories is much like a musician recording a demo CD. You finish the final product, you shop it, trying to land a record deal that will lift you and your work to a higher level of visibility. Maybe you’ll make a few bucks…great. If you gain recognition in your field…great! But no matter what happens or not, do it out of the desire you have to make these stories tangible and because you love doing it. Somewhere along the line you will find some level of success and satisfaction if you work hard enough.

Hey, I’ve received countless rejections before being published and then some horrible reviews after being published. Boo-f***ing-hoo! No worries here. I’ve got the thickest skin ever. I’m armor-plated. The “passion” keeps me going without a care to what people think. You see, I write for myself only…and for the passion inside me.

I’m always full of advice, whether you want to take it or not. On this subject, I advise writers to keep on writing newer and newer stuff no matter what…and to write every day if possible. My advice here is to embrace your love of writing and continue to get better at the craft–that’s what writing every day will accomplish. It took years to obtain representation for THE ARAMGEDDON CHORD, and then another year and a half for my agent to find a publisher to buy it. Now TAC is a worldwide bestseller with stellar reviews in Publisher’s Weekly and Rolling Stone. During this time of being rejected from agents and publishers alike, I didn’t cry or throw a tantrum, I kept writing!

I know what it’s like to work toward a goal and to have the hunger and dream of being published…outside of loving the craft, I’d be a hypocrite if I said I had never wanted to be published, because that’s a huge dream. Passion makes it fun and not so much of a struggle. Embrace the passion. Give in to your love of the written word. Make it your sweetheart…you mistress. If you put the effort in, and embrace your passion, the words will take you places you’ve never thought possible. And this I know from experience because my words carry me everywhere and beyond.

About the Author:

*Jeremy Wagner has thousands of worldwide fans who worship his words. Wagner has written lyrics to
more than 70 published songs along with recording six albums, two MTV videos, and touring in 16 countries with his bands, Broken Hope and Lupara.

*Over the last decade, Wagner has focused his artistic passion primarily in writing fiction. Wagner has been published in RIP Magazine, Terrorizer, Metal Hammer, Metal Edge, Microhorror and various works of short fiction published through Perseus Books, St. Martin’s Press, and Ravenous Romance Publishers. Wagner was writing a quarterly column for the music webzine, Chronicles of Chaos. Jeremy’s column, “Jeremy Wagner’s Grotesque Blessings” was a hit with music fans and writers alike. The content of this column will show up in future blogs on his official website: www.jeremy-wagner.com

*Wagner is represented by literary agent, Dawn Dowdle of the Blue Ridge Literary Agency. Dowdle represents Wagner’s novel, The Armageddon Chord, and in December of 2010, the book was picked up by kRP Publishing. This thriller involves a guitarist who finds himself caught between the forces of good and evil. The novel will be released in bookstores on August 22nd, 2011.

*In 2010, Wagner was invited as a guest at HorrorFind 2010 in Gettysburg, PA.  He read an excerpt from a new story of his and opened an impressive reading schedule that included such legendary horror authors as: Joe R. Lansdale, Brian Keene and Jack Ketchum.

*Wagner’s appearance at HorrorFind was a success and he’s fast becoming established as a serious force in the horror/thriller genre. Wagner’s 2010 writer’s schedule has covered such conventions as Necon, Book Expo America, Festival of Fear, HorrorFind, and Bouchercon.

*In the summer of 2010, Wagner became an official, Affiliate member of the Horror Writer’s Association (HWA).
Wagner’s most recent published works include the short-story, Romance Ain’t Dead, which appears as the first story in the zombie-romance anthology, Hungry For Your Love (St. Martin’s Press), and the short-story, The Creatures From Craigslist in the anthology, Fangbangers: An Erotic Anthology of Fangs, Claws, Sex and Love (Ravenous Romance Publishing).


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