Know Your Passion, Know Your Art

A warm welcome to my Guest Blogger, Author Alex Laybourne, who shares with us the underlying passions which have driven him towards his success as a writer

We all have something that we do every day, something that we turn to when stressed, or upset, when celebrating or when in need of a distraction. We all have a passion. I don’t mean passion in the sense of showing your love for another, but rather a hobby. For some it is exercise, for others, it is cooking or collecting a particular item. Whatever it is, a passion is simply something unique to us that we know will always be there for us to turn to when we need it.

Obviously, my main passion in life is writing. Yet, that is merely the surface of it all, for what drives us to write, what underlying themes and items are present in every piece we create? There are our true passions, the things that always creep in somehow.

When looking at it from this context, I have three things that I am passionate about, exercise, I love working out, lifting weights, the aches and pains the next morning, I love it all, and more often than not one of my central characters shares this same interest. While I do not currently have the time to actively pursue it, the passion remains, as does the knowledge that I will do it again, one day

As a parent, it goes without saying that I am passionate about my children. As a family we are always doing something, from crafts to the playground, baking to shopping, we do it all together, and I would have it no other way. Once again, when it comes to my writing, the main character(s) are always devoted to their children. Some are divorced and therefore on bad terms with their ex-wife, but the devotion to their kids remains strong.

It is unavoidable that parts of ourselves get reflect in our characters, or in the overall tone of our writing, after all the characters are us.

Aside from particular hobbies, one other thing that I am passionate about is hard work. I grew up surrounded by a society that almost encouraged unemployment. When broken down, I couldn’t really blame them, because they were being given just fifty Pounds a month less than me and had to do nothing in order to get it. However, I was instilled with a work ethic and could not imagine not working for my money. Do I like the work I do, am I passionate about it? In short, no, not in the least, but I work because it is the right thing to do.

There is a difference between this passion and being a workaholic. I give my 8 hours a day (8.5 if I work through lunch) but that is it. Then work is done and I go home. I give 100% everyday, but time is time.

As we age, our passions will invariably change. It is part of life. I loved computer games when I was younger, and while I still enjoy them today, it is more to relax and or reward myself for a job well done. However, whatever our passion, however new it is, there is a confidence that can be drawn from knowing that it will always be there to catch us.

Author Bio 

Born and raised in the coastal English town Lowestoft, it should come as no surprise (to those that have the misfortune of knowing this place) that I became a horror writer.

From an early age I was sent to schools at least a 30 minute bus ride away and so spent the most of my free time alone, as the friends I did have lived too far away for me to be able to hang out with them in the weekends or holidays. To this very day I find it all too easy to just drift away into my own mind, where the conditions always seem to be just perfect for the cultivation of ideas, plots, scenes, characters and lines of dialogue etc.

I am married and have three children (and a fourth on the way)and my biggest dream for them is that they grown up and spend their lives doing what makes them happy, whatever that is.

Alex is always interested in making new friends both readers and writers alike. You can find him at most hours of the waking day on Twitter under the name @vanplank on Facebook or on his blog www.alexlaybourne.com

Alex’s debut novel Highway to Hell and its sequel Trials and Tribulations, have been sign to May December Publications ( http://www.maydecemberpublications.com ) and are scheduled for release at the end of 2012 and start of 2013 respectively.