What's Your Passion?

Intro: This is an article that I sometimes post to writing newsgroups. Some of the writing may seem less strange if you know that this is sometimes posted to newsgroups.

. . . . What gets your ardor up? What REALLY pulls your trigger? Is it writing? Or something else? Whatever your passion is, I challenge you. If you are not doing it, then you are not living. If you do not follow your passion every moment you are here, then you are merely passively passing time, wasting it in the worst possible way.

. . . . You say you don't know what your passion is? Then . . . a deeper challenge . Find it. Discover your passion. Where do you look? . There is only one place to find your passion, and that is deep within you. It may take some meditatin' and cogitatin'; you know, deep breathing stuff. Try this: Sit in a comfortable position, and take three very slow, deep breaths. Choose a word, any word. My fave word is one -- the word "one." Let the word slip past your lips almost silently. Very slowly and passively repeat this word as you continue to breathe (yes, don't forget to breathe ). Now -- search . . . and discover.

. . . . Look everywhere, your brain, your heart, your toes, Uranus (just pulling your Urleg). Still didn't find Urpassion? Then keep looking, keep repeating your word. You will find your passion somewhere within. It is there; you KNOW that it is. Waste no more precious moments. Search For and Discover your Passion NOW.

. . . . Once you've found your passion, seize it, milk it. Do it. No excuses. No "yes, but" cop-outs. Carpe diem. Just follow your passion wherever it leads.

. . . . Some gentle readers (and Bill Cosby) have asked, "But what if someone's passion is being an asshole?" and i answer, "Some of my best friends are assholes" <grin>

. . . . A friend has contributed some insights that might be helpful to you --

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. . . . "I (see a person's) sacrifice on behalf of (his/her) family ... as an act of the most sublime 'passion.' Why must we ... equate 'passion' with rank self-indulgence? One may be passionate in one's opposition to a social injustice, passionate in defense of the oppressed, passionate in one's personal loyalty to a friend or benefactor, or, perhaps most commendable, passionate in the sacrifices one makes for one's (family).

. . . . "Anyway, if you're married and have a child and are ... utterly committed to their welfare and happiness, even beyond your own needs and desires, then i would argue that you're far more 'passionate' than most."
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. . . . If you can, find others who have the same or similar passion and learn from them! or instruct them. The best and quickest way to learn more about anything is to teach it. There are always people who know more than you, and people who know less. Learn and Instruct. Like Fire and Smoke. Air and Breathing. Lions and Tigers, and Bears! (OH MY!) Learn and Instruct, then learn some more. They are . . . inseparable!

. . . . Is writing your passion? Then -- W R I T E! Good, bad, who cares? Accept yourself, and accept the fact that, until you are tested, until you are proven, until you can make others think, "How effortless she makes it look!" and, "He makes it look so easy!" until then you will probably write about a hundred, or a thousand (or more) yecchhhs! for every line of wonder. Your labors of love, of passion, will one day come through for you, but only if you persist. Only if you practice, and if you pay attention to your readers' feedback. And only if you stubbornly keep going even when it seems hopeless or stupid to go on, only then will you become rich 'n famous! (and remember to remember us li'l folks <grin>.)

Keep writing!

. . . . It's easier than you might think, (and harder sometimes). Your passion will carry you through the worst and the best times of your life.

. . . . . . and NOW . . . Ronnie the kid breaks the rules --

I can do this because of the following three FACTS:

1) Due to the name that I gave this article, and due to the fact that I repost this article twice a month, I'm expecting that the older troopers will pass it by and not read it -- so, since this humble effort will only be read by newcomers, then I'll be able to get away with breaking a few rules <wry grin>,

2) UseNet (NewsGroups) still to this day remains a wondrous, anarchous entity (well, at least MOST people still have this beautiful illusion of UseNet as an anarchy). And I feel that it's important to continue this tradition of lawlessness. Sometimes it feels good -- to be bad -- don't it?

3) And besides, as these are "unmoderated" newsgroups, the worst that can happen is that I will be "flamed" (treated meanly) by someone. I believe that whenever someone flames someone on UseNet, there is good reason for it. Many people use UseNet as an outlet for letting off steam. The relative anonymity helps this along. It's better than, say, taking it out on your special someone, or your kids, right? So when someone here flames me or one of my friends, I try to remember that it's a button-pushing mentality. And I do my best to keep control of my own buttons. Hope you can do the same!

. . . . To be specific, in rec.arts.poems, one is *supposed* to post only poetry, poem critiques, stuff about poetry. You'll agree that, so far, this writing is anything but. I'll make up for this in a moment. Another rule is that, in rec.arts.prose and alt.prose, one is *not supposed* to post poetry. And in misc.writing, you break the rules if you post one of your labors of love. So as you can see, Ronnie the kid is back to rustlin' a few horse and dancin' with Mexicans.

. . . . The following is partly about Cyrano de Bergerac. Look him up if you'd like. He really did live at one time (from about 1620 to 1655), big nose, dueling and all. He was a poet, a dramatist, and a science-fiction writer. He wrote of voyages to the moon and to the sun and was the first person in history to suggest (in 1650) the one method that could carry us into space -- rockets.

He had this thing for a goddess-type named Roxanne. Cyrano did have one rather large problem, though -- his nose -- it was the size of The Horn of Africa --

. . . . . . . . . It's jus' not, right?

. . . . I once rose up Cyrano's Nose
. . . . To see what if anything grows,
. . . . . Hit my head on a pimple,
. . . . . Fell into a dimple,
. . . . Then bungeed from nose to his toes.

. . . . Now, there in misc.writing no prose
. . . . Nor nothing like poetry glows;
. . . . . I tell you, "That's limple!"
. . . . . You say, "Not that simple!
. . . . It goes where you knows that it goes!"

. . . . (rec.arts.poems, rec.arts.prose, & alt prose,
. . . . . dream a poem, type a tale, write a Rose)

also, check out MWVille -- another creative place to be --

and W.C. Green's weekly FAQ and guideline posts in misc.writing --

for more writing links, squick your mouse on --

http://home.att.net/~Ron.Lehl-Bach/PAINE.ELLSWORTH/unlinks.htm

Note: after surfing to the above web page, you can get back to this newsgroup easily using the ALT-TAB keys, or whatever you use to task switch --

CAUTION! -- squicking your mouse on any of the following newsgroup links may whisk you away to another newsgroup, and OUT of the one you are in --

. . . . news:MISC.WRITING --
in this newsgroup you can discuss the art, science, the business, the ins and outs of Writing -- kick your shoes off -- learn and instruct -- or just go 'round the world with lots of other writers --

. . . . news:REC.ARTS.POEMS - news:REC.ARTS.PROSE
. . . . . . . news:ALT.PROSE - news:ALT.SKUNKS
in these newsgroups you can post your labors of love for all to enjoy, and for comments and critique. On-topic discussions are also welcome!

there are other writing newsgroups like --

. . . . news:ALT.WRITING
. . . . news:MISC.WRITING.SCREENPLAYS
. . . . the REC.ARTS.SF hierarchy --
. . . . . http://www.first-mortgage.co.uk/assistant/usenet/rec.arts.sf.html
. . . . news://NEWS.SFF.NET/ (this will open another news host)
. . . . news:ALT.PULP
. . . . news:ALT.ARTS.STORYTELLING

. . . . In a.a.storytelling, you can learn about and discuss the ancient art of telling stories, passing tales down by "word of mouth." This one's NOT about writing, it's about warm campfires and such. Yet to understand writing, it may help you to study its living and thriving ancestor.

. . . . A speak about spam: thanks to the effects of spam, most of the storytellers that used to frequent a.a.s have joined a storytelling LISTSERV. Please look for the signup steps in the newsgroup, if you like. AND PLEASE PLEASE learn all you can about SPAM. As with most everything, there are forms of spam that are usually tolerated (like my home page in my sig below), but there are other forms of spam that most of us have learned to hold in disfavor. Please learn all you can about internet spam, and make your own decision. Just go to chapter eight of my webook below and gulp down and digest my spam learning links. mmm! Now there's a tasty journey!

Are storytelling and writing your passions? Then these are the places to BE!

Copyright © 1997,1998 by Paine Ellsworth

NOTE: This article, and the crossposting thereof, are considered by many to be controversial subjects. As for the work, Paine Ellsworth maintains sole responsibility for its content. This is an informal guide for newcomers, to help you get a feel for these fun and exciting writers' and storytellers' groups. Xposting is done merely to conserve band-width. It is hoped that everyone continues to have a positive experience and a good time on the internet.

--
Indelibly yours,
Paine Ellsworth
. . xoxoxox. . . Free Help-Webook for NewComers & OldTimers
. . . . . . . The Internet Story
. . . http://home.att.net/~Ron.Lehl-Bach/PAINE.ELLSWORTH


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