My Mission In Life
Being
a writer – or, to be a bit more precise, the way I became a writer –
has really affected how I view the writing life ... well, actually any
kind of creative life. Part of it, of course, is that it took me a long
time to actually become a professional -- but more than that I think
it's the transformation I went through during that far too lengthy
process.
Like a lot of people, when I first began to
write with an eye to actually getting published, it was a very painful
process: the words just didn't come, I was always second-guessing my
stories, felt like my characters were dead-on-arrival, and doubt was
around much more than confidence or even hope.
But, as
we read in our last installment, I kept with it and was able, finally,
to step into the word of professionalism. But an odd thing happened
during those years: I actually began to like to write.
Shocking,
I know (and, yes, that was sarcasm), as that is what writers are
supposed feel, but when I wrote like I should have said loved: sure, the
words were still clumsy, the plots a struggle, the characters stiff and
uncooperative, and I thought more about being out-of-print than ever
getting into-print, but somewhere during those years something just
clicked and I began to look forward to losing myself in my own tales,
having fun with language, playing with characters ... I began to see the
joy in actually telling stories.
But, more than that,
I began to see the magic – which gets me, in a rather convoluted way,
to the title of this little piece. Working on my stories, before and
after being a professional, I developed a real appreciation for what it
means to be a creator. Distilling it down a bit, I began to see writing –
or painting, music, etc – as very special: what a creative person does
is truly unique, incredibly difficult, and immeasurably brave.
Think
about it for a second: how many people out there, milling about in
their lives, have ever even considered doing what a creative person
does. Sure, they may think about it, dream about it, but very few
actually take even the simplest of shots at it: a creative person is a
rare and special treasure. Now consider this: not only are creative
people one percent (or less) of the people walking this world but they
are willing to actually get off their day-dreaming clouds and do the
work – often against overwhelming odds. We hear of the successes, of
course: the award-winners, the 'names,' the celebrities – but we don’t
hear about millions of others who tried their very best but because of
this-or-that they just weren't in the right place at the right time with
the right creation. Lastly, even the idea of stepping into a creative
life – especially a professional one – is awe-inspiringly courageous:
not only do we do the work, struggle with every element, fail and try
and learn and fail and try and learn but, despite it all, we keep going.
I call this installment "My Mission In Life" because
I've been there, I know the pain of rejection, the struggles of trying
to create something from nothing and so when I work with, talk with, or
teach – though my classes – anyone doing anything creative I always
remind them of their rarity, their dedication, their courage.
I
once wrote a little piece that kind of got me into trouble – especially
with other writers. In it I laid it on the line: you will never be
famous, rich, or have one of your books made into a movie, no one will
ask for your autograph ... but, if you remember that what you are doing
is rare, special, and brave then some of that might actually happen. The
trick is to remember the magic, to forever hold onto the pure enjoyment
that comes from creating something that no one has ever seen before.
I
don't use the word magic lightly: when it happens just right, when we
put it all together, what creative people do is transport people into
another world, show them things that they may never have ever
considered, and – if we are very lucky – change their lives. If that is
not magic then I don't know what is.
So, "My Mission
In Life" is (1) remember my own lessons and not lose sight of the joy in
creation, the specialness of what I am trying to do, and the courage I
have in sending my work out into the too-often cold and uncaring world;
and (2) to tell as many creative people the same exact thing.
Sure,
some of us might be 'known' a bit more than others, sell more books,
make more money and all the rest of that crap – but I sincerely believe
that anyone who has dedicated themselves to creation, of any kind,
deserves support and respect. No one who creates is better than any
other person who creates: we all face the same difficulties, the same
ego-shattering failures, the same Sisyphian tasks of trying to get out
work out there and noticed.
What writers do is magic
-- pure and simple: we are magicians using only our minds, imaginations,
and lots of hard to work to use only words to transform, enlighten,
transport, amuse and maybe even enlighten.
As a
writer, an editor, a friend, and now as a publisher, it is my heartfelt
"Mission" to remind anyone who creates that they are truly special:
published or not, 'successful' or not, rich or not, famous or not, we
are all magicians – and that we are all in this together and that there
is absolutely no reason to make an already tough life tougher through
needless competition, arrogance, conceit, or just simple rudeness.
We magicians should stick together – and never forget why we are all here: to experience the joy in telling stories.
