William Wordsworth said "Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart."
As a writer, I take those words seriously. It's what I try to do. Whenever I think about a story, plot it out, begin to type. What do I want it to say? And how does that relate to what I think and feel?
When I read a good book, I know immediately. I know how the characters feel. And quite often, if the viewpoint of the character doesn't match that of the author, they feel strongly in some way about a topic that the author feels strongly about. It's impossible to fake. Passion is passion, and too many books fall flat without it. It's a missing feeling, and nothing else can make up for it.
As I travel the road towards publishing, consider my options, look for possible agents and publishers, it's something I remind myself of. I could have the best agent, the most dedicated publisher. I could have the most comprehensive ad campaign imaginable. But if I don't love my writing, if there's no passion running through it and around it, it won't work. There's no substitute.
For me, it takes the pressure off. I need to work my best at my job, creating stories that I think will entertain, and hopefully force one to think. The rest will come, but not without an excellent product. And that can only come from the breathings of my heart.
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