The Difference Between Gifted Writers and Scripted Replicas is Literary Artwork:
One Writer’s Infinite Journey
There are lots of good writers in the world, many who are capable of great things. There are also plenty of struggling up and comers who dream of making a living off their work. The dawn of the information age has opened the door to a whole new breed of writers who no longer need the approval of a publisher to earn money doing what they love. The business is easier than ever to break into, making it possible to earn a substantial salary without ever publishing a single book. Most present-day writing careers start with a dream and an online inquiry.
A simple google search will yield thousands of results on the subject. There is plenty of advice on how to get started, defining your niche, building an audience and even how to overcome writer’s block. The possibilities are quite literally endless. Those without direction are left swimming in a sea of uncertainty, usually staring at a blank page. Only the ones with the heart of a lion or a raw passion for the written word press onward into a trial by fire.
The flames of inalienable truth and constructive criticism devour the work of the novice hopeful, demanding quality above all else. Contrary to popular belief, stringing words together on paper does not a writer make. Nor does the presence of effort command payment in exchange for work, not in any field and certainly not in writing. Perseverance and practice, however, do pay off in the end. A quick study who can manage to prioritize improvement while creating a genuine connection with the reader will eventually succeed.
Whether you’re writing fiction, fashion or something else, connection is key. Writing is an art form. Its about guiding the reader on an emotional journey that’s so intense they feel compelled to see it through to the end, even if they disagree with your point of view. When you can get into the reader’s head you know you’ve created a masterpiece. Some of you understand what I mean. Even if the reader tries to put the work down, they walk away thinking about it and it eats at them until they come back and finish reading.
A gifted writer knows when they’ve created a work of art. It all just clicks together, as if directed and approved by the universe. Humble as they may be, the writer can’t help but smile when reading it over. They experience a near orgasmic, almost fortuitous feeling wondering about the type of reactions their work may illicit. A flutter of giddy anticipation swells to a climax at the precise moment they press the button that makes their work public, prepared to accept the consequences without regret. That button is the point of no return.
By the time this happens, the writer has read over their work multiple times adding and deleting phrases and sentences like scenes in a landscape. That’s the beautiful thing about writing. Its malleable. You can walk away and come back to read it later, with a fresh set of eyes and a new interpretation. Think to yourself — is this the picture I intended to paint? Are all the important details present and accounted for? Would I spend my hard-earned money to hang this artwork on my wall? If the answer is yes, then you know you’ve got a winner.
If instead you feel that something is missing, write it in. If ambiguity dominates any part of the scene, then take the time to clarify. Editors will often tell you to cut, cut and then cut again. Understandably, its good advice but only to a point. I’ve often felt those instructions were more for the convenience of the editors themselves than anything else. Of course, aimless rambling is frowned upon in this business but too many cuts can turn a masterpiece into a finger painting.
In the end, you’ve got to go with your gut. That little something deep down inside will eat away at your innards until you get it right. The more you try to ignore this still small voice, the louder it gets. It bellows over the chaos of daily life, drowning out the sound of anything vying for your attention. Its more than an inquisitive pleasantry, it’s a solemn obsession that monopolizes your every thought until you have a finished piece — a true work of art if you will.
Successful writers follow this instinct. Gifted writers combine it with raw emotion. They’ve got the guts to say what other people only dare to think to themselves. The thing is they don’t just say it — they put it on paper and stand behind it. If we’re lucky, they publish it for the whole world to read. If the universe is in sync, we get to be one of the select few to experience the spoils of their masterpiece. One of the greatest things about creating literary artwork, besides the creation process itself, is getting to see how it affects the people who experience it — and it is meant to be experienced.
