As a creative person and one who’s plagued by existential questions, I get trapped into that circle of thinking if what I’m doing matters. Will anyone read my writing? Will anyone care? Will I ever be able to make a living from it? Am I just wasting my time and energy torturing nice people with my substandard prose?
I work with writers and for writers (and this applies to all creative people), and I think we all have that dream of becoming famous (even if you say you don’t, you wouldn’t mind it, would you?). We all have that hope of changing the world with our work. We want to be praised and validated. We want to communicate on a deeper level. We want to be admired, at least just a little bit, and be able to say I told you so to all the haters. Most of all, we want to leave a legacy after our death.
But our dreams deflate each time we see the sheer numbers of other people who have the same exact dream as we do and are pursuing it more efficiently and more fervently. They write better, market better, sell better. We see other artists kicking ass out there, and we wonder how in the world they do it. Maybe we don’t have the resources, the time, or the energy. Maybe we don’t have the savvy or the persistence. Maybe we’re suffering from do-I-suck-a-phobia.
It’s easy to get caught up in the race to the bestsellers list, but let me wrap my arm around your shoulders and guide you into my existential realm here. Although contemplating our place in the ginormous, black Universe can make us feel insignificant and pointless at times, in the same way it frees us from our anguish. Look at it this way…
- You only have one life (as far as we know). If there is anything noble about it, it’s living in the pursuit of creating and appreciating beauty in all its forms. It’s one of the only redeeming qualities of our species.
- Your one life is very short. You could spend it watching TV. You could become a typical consumer, chasing promotion after promotion so you can raise your standard of living. Or you could live a life of passion and do whatever makes your soul sing.
- You have to be yourself. If there’s one thing I learned about being happy in this life, it’s being true to who you are. If you only behave and do what you think you’re supposed to do instead of what you really want to do, you will be a miserable person. Guaranteed.
- Your audience doesn’t matter all that much. Human beings are a very small, messy, and crude part of the universe. Having their mass approval is not necessarily anything special. There is much of existence beyond our little blue sphere that might marvel at your work if they ever got to experience it.
Creativity is a gift. In making something out of nothing, we can be the gods of our own little universes.
I hope you all found this comforting.
Happy Friday and Happy Creating!
Do you ever wonder if what you’re creating matters?
How do you think your work fits into the Universe?
What are you working on right now?
What are you writing for?
**You have to be yourself**
YES…I have found this to be absolutely true. Otherwise it’s all bull-sh*t!!
Amen, sister!
Love this! It definitely made me feel better. I lose sight of my dreams a lot and it’s nice to know I’m not the only one who struggles with these questions.
Reblogged this on B. Shaun Smith.
The last story I wrote was different or maybe defined kinky or weird. The majority are perplexed, I think I wrote it for the obscure band of odd balls that can relish in my creation. Or maybe to lore the normal’s out from under their rock.
The fact of the matter is, no matter how much we enjoy writing, we all would like to make money and succeed to a higher level. It is a snow balls chance in hell, it is worth a shot. If it does not happen at least we tried and accomplished some thing in our own world.
Amen!
Here, here! Great post and thanks for sharing. Happy Friday! 🙂
I had an epiphany many years ago. That as a writer I would never be rich or famous or even make a living as a writer. I was crushed. I remember weeping. I kept writing. My short stories finally were published after years and years of rejection notices. I made a little money. I won a fellowship and got my MFA and now I publish a blog that makes me around $30.00 every month and that averages 180 visitors and 500 page views every day. I am so glad I did not give up my dream of being a writer.
I know I feel better. Thanks.
I’m so happy to hear that, Ross. Of course, you’re an excellent writer so you don’t have to worry so much 😉
I don’t think there’s a writer or creative person who doesn’t. It’s all relative.