Conclusion
- Page ID
- 283152
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Conclusion
Just like a conclusion of a story, I’ll keep this brief.
Like any artform, there are two things that emerge when you create something: the product and your experience when making the product. In our world, we’re often so focused on creating something for the result of the product. When we create this product—say a book or a play—we may believe we will be rewarded with millions of dollars, movie rights, interviews, and fame beyond our imagination. For some, the works that authors produce will do just that. However, and I hate to be realistic, the work that you produce is unlikely to be the next great novel. You may complete your piece only to have a few people read it. It may only sell a few dozen copies. This can be demoralizing, but if you are only creating art to be famous, then you are missing the point of art in general.
Art and writing changes us as people. When you write, you are taking the essence of your soul—composed of memories, feelings, and thoughts—and putting them onto paper. Your writing is you in words. It is a chance to let you be you in a creative form. For me, writing has always been a safe place to process my emotions. It has been a refuge to explore my mind and try to understand this crazy and complex world we live in. When my mother died unexpectedly, writing helped me overcome my grief. Let your writing represent you and less on a product for people to consume. While easier said than done, be less interested in book sales and prouder of the fact that you can put meaningful art out to the world for people to experience.
When you write only for the dream of fame, you forget the other thoughts that you have dreamt. There are many important stories that are left to be told, and you have the chance to make them happen. The legendary author Kurt Vonnegut once wrote: "Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia." If you can write a story that can move the soul of one person, even if that is yourself, then that is a success—regardless of sales.
So go out and write.