Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Obsess Much?

Passion? Obsession? Is there a difference? Yes, but there's a fine line separating the two.

I'm one of those people who latches onto something and digs deeper, longer, to get to the very root of it. I'm never content with skimming the surface. For example, at the library a few weeks ago, I grabbed a photography book of Audrey Hepburn. The slim picture book gave a brief overview of her life, and I became fascinated. Instead of returning the book and moving on, I checked out more pictures online, ordered several books about her from the library, and toyed with renting a selection of her films.

I do not have time for this level of Audrey studying. Repeat: Do Not Have Time.

Yet, I'm squeezing in chapters of "What Would Audrey Do?" by Pamela Keogh. Just pored over an incredible photography book which chronicled her life on the set of Sabrina. And yes, I'm sure I'll be renting several of her films in the near future.

I'm like that with any interesting topic. And I'm especially like that with my own books.

My office door is like the rabbit hole Alice falls into. I open it and lose track of time. If I didn't have my watch, my children would never get picked up from school. If I didn't pick them up from school, we would not eat dinner because I would still be in the office! All I have to do is turn on my laptop and the hours disappear.

Passion. Obsession? Call it what you will, it's a part of the writer's life.

Join me on Friday to set one goal!

25 comments:

  1. You sound like you have the perfect mind to be a historical writer, Jill! It's all those rabbit trails that help us find plot ideas!

    I'm passionate about writing, and I'm driven. Put those two together and that borders on obession! Fortunately, I write at the kitchen table and so, life happening around me keeps me grounded! :-)

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  2. You sound like you love life and even the smallest of things you appreciate. I'm sure God enjoys seeing your passion. :O)

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  3. I've fallen down that hole more times than I'd like to admit.

    Swept up. Sounds romantic, doesn't it? ;)
    ~ Wendy

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  4. Good Morning!

    Jody, I will write a historical at some point. As long as I don't get so wrapped up in research I never get to writing!

    Diane: I do love life. There are many small things I don't appreciate--like cat barf (thank you, Cookie), Junebugs, and running out of chocolate. But thank you for the compliment!

    Wendy: It does sound romantic! And we can't help but get lost in Wonderland!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  5. I'd call your Audrey obsession "research." Maybe one day some of her wonderful traits will show up in one of your novel's characters?

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  6. Patrice KavanaughJuly 7, 2010 at 9:42 AM

    Nice post, Jill. It sounds to me like your "obsessive/passionate" personality is a great gift to you as a writer. I say, hang on to it, use it, revel in it. I think I often let all my real-world, to-dos drown my passion. So, while I get a lot done every day (good for those counting on me staying so productive), I think it comes at a price to my creativity. Your post is a reminder that letting an obsession run wild is a good counter to chug-chugging through life. There will always be more to-dos, right? Patrice

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  7. Yes, I believe you are a historical writer at heart. :) Actually, I am like you. I find something that interests me and tackle it full force, to the exclusion of EVERYTHING! Sigh...my poor family. :)

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  8. Joanne: "Research" Ha! Love it! Thanks for re-terming it!

    Patrice: That's true. It's so much fun to get excited about a subject and to lose myself in it.

    Sherrinda: Oh, definitely! Poor families, indeed!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  9. I enjoy getting all the goods on authors. I don't do that too much for actresses or actors. If I did, Audrey would be a great choice. I did see her life as portrayed by Jennifer Love Hewitt. Great story.

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  10. I would never do Audrey Hepburn because she makes me feel fat. LOL!

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  11. So how would you describe the difference between a passion and an obsession? Sounds like you are passionate about the things you do. Hmmm - just looked up the definition of these two words and don't see your behavior as a 'compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea or unwanted feeling or emotion, often accompanied by symptoms of anxiety.' I think you just love what you do! It's apparent in your writing! Keep it up! God bless!

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  12. Passion is a good thing. Only our best work can come from throwing ourselves entirely into it.

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  13. I do the same thing when I start researching historical stuff for my novel. My problem is I get side-tracked by other resources and then get totally off track.

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  14. I think it's great that you do that! I have my moments where I get going on something on the Internet and then I have to pull myself back in.

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  15. Yes, I think it is natrual for writers to become obsessed like that. lol... My latest passion, I mean obsession, has been learning everything about homeschooling. It's not just that I "need" to know, it's that with everything I read, I want to know more and more.

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  16. Me too!!!!

    I can't tell you how many hours have evaporated in the name of research.

    I love to discover, to learn, to know.

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  17. I do the same thing, Jill! One link leads to another and I'm deep in with little hope of swimming out of the mire of research.

    And Audrey is one of my heros. Truly, the woman had some stories to tell! :o)

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  18. P.S. You have an award on my blog. :o)

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  19. Yes, the line is fine. I often cross it :)

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  20. OK! Here's where being my age makes sense. After all the years of worrying about shoulda, coulda, woulda,I've learned to just enjoy where I am and what I'm working on now. You never know where this passion will lead. Go with it. Maybe there's something in your future you can't see, and these blissful hours spent researching will make sense then. So enjoy life now. And know that not every day has to feel like a grind to be productive.

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  21. Nancy: I never saw the biopic of Audrey--another thing to add to my list! :)

    Jen: Surprisingly enough, she had her heavy moments also, mainly during times of depression. Who can't relate to that?

    Maria: You're wonderful. See? Now I don't have to feel guilty!

    Susan: Too true. Good point.

    Melissa: I do that too! Uggh. It's like finish one thing first!

    Terri: Oh yeah. The Internet is an enabler to my need for information!

    Ralene: Although I don't homeschool, I have friends who do, and I get mesmerized by it too! There are so many interesting ways to approach it.

    Erica: You and I in a museum would be a lovely thing. They'd probably shut it down around us!

    Jackee: Yep! That sums it up exactly! And thanks, I'll stop by your blog later!

    Tabitha: Ha! I TOO often cross it!

    Em: Thanks for helping me keep it in perspective. Life is too short not to enjoy the moment.

    Thank you all so much for stopping by!

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  22. I'm the same way as well! Probably why I stay up late at night writing. Even though that might not be a good idea, ha.

    Audrey Hepburn is awesome.

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  23. Hi Jill -

    Ah, maybe that's my problem! I'm a research hound. I can spend hours on the Internet looking up related subjects.

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

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  24. I can do that too...delve into an author's life or when I meet new people- I want to know everything about them. I may ask too many questions..ooops...but people and topics interest me...it's one of the reasons I love blogs too. I could get lost in the deep dive to know more :)

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  25. I love research too...The internet really opens up a lot of doors. I found several websites for re-enactment groups for WWII in England, during my hf mg research. I used a listed email address as a contact to ask some questions...And he replied with some helpful information. :)

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