When a Passion Becomes a Job
Recently I’ve actually started to do some paid freelance writing in the areas of social media, web-site development and marketing. These are areas that I am quite active in with my full-time volunteer role in Youth With A Mission. They are things that I am passionate about because I can see how they can be used to communicate what God is doing in and through the mission, and how people can get involved.
Writing about it though is hard…
Most times when I sit down to write it feels like I have permanent writers block. Articulating things in written form has never been something I’m strong at (just ask any of my high-school English teachers). I remember when I went to do a communication school in YWAM in 1999 one of my students laughed at the thought of me doing “communication” ministry.
Writing for this blog is relatively easy compared to the freelance writing that I do (even though I am approaching the 2-hour mark for this article). A lot of what I write about is similar, but getting the motivation for the freelance writing is much more difficult than for my own sites. I can still get it done, but it certainly takes a lot more effort do it…
Why is it harder?
When I write for this site I try to write from the heart, usually about something that I’ve been thinking about or mulling over for a while. Often it’s something I’m passionate about, like my using what you know in missions series and personal finance in missions, or topics that have come up in my YWAM work, like how to connect with potential missionaries. Sometimes, like this article, it has to do with experiences that are going on in my personal life.
Of course, my struggle to do paid writing could also be a sign of my own lack of maturity! Nah, that can’t be it…
How about you?
Are you motivated by passion or by external rewards?
How do you respond to external motivation?