Writers don’t write because they want to, they do it because they HAVE to a d GET to! It’s a gift and a craft. A creator, artist, writer, actor, musician etc. has a biological imperative to create. Another great piece. Thank you for using your gift.
“Over the past twenty years—basically since the digitization of writing, moving from a physical art to a digital one—we have somehow arrived at this point where we feel that “everyone is a writer.’”
I say this all the time. People will hear that I’ve written a memoir (WHICH WAS A PAINSTAKING WORK OF LITERARY CRAFTSMANSHIP THAT COULD ONLY RESULT FROM A LITERAL LIFETIME OF PRACTICING THIS ART FORM), and they will invariably respond,
“Oh! I should do that too sometime!”
Madame do you say that to a violin player after a night at the symphony? “Oh, I should do that too sometime?”
See - the thing here is - one does really need to differentiate between fiction versus non-fiction writing.
I hold myself out not only as a writer - but also a ghostwriter. So - I deem myself good enough to even put others' thoughts into words.
But no way in hell would I attempt to write fiction - as myself or for anyone else. Writing 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 fiction is as you say such an utterly complex & nuanced thing. The fantastic author & e-mentor Kristin McTiernan said that to even be asked to ghostwrite a fiction book is a red flag & demonstrates a complete failure to understand what a fiction work is.
Whilst 'anyone' can be an artist or have an artist in them - heck - throw a pair of wet jeans on a pedestal at the Tate & call it a day - being 𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘵 at a given craft, no, not everyone is, & not all crafts are viable for all people to excel at.
Thanks for the comment. One thing I LOVE about the Substack model is that it seems to really support and incentivize kind, thoughtful discussion versus rabid rage such as on Twitter and Facebook, etc. Yes, I hear you. I think our views might not necessarily be as different as you think. Or rather: We’re coming at the same idea but from different perspectives, maybe. I would never discourage anyone from pursuing what they love to do. I see where your uncle was coming from, but I agree it would have been better, just simply out of love and kindness, to support you, if for no other reason than…love and kindness. (And also it legitimately might have been the fuse that lit your ambition to do photography professionally, etc.)
That said: I don’t believe that people “become artists.” You either are one or you’re not. You brought up the school thing. Personally I don’t think formal education has ANYTHING to do with serious art. If anything I think school is mostly a sham driven by universities trying to make money. (The MFA program for sure.) I identify as an artist because it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, and it’s always been the way I know how to best express myself. I’ve always wanted to be deeply understood (impossible, I now know) and writing has always been the vehicle for that expression. Think it was Louis CK or one of those comedians who said, “If people putting you down is going to stop you from being a comedian…you were never a comedian to begin with.” I agree. Being an artist isn’t about college or even knowledge. It’s a deep, unshakable drive from within which cannot be ruined or ignored. I know you tried writing, music, etc. No question (in my mind) you have strong talent in both, especially music. (Although I still think you should write a book some day.) But in the end I think those were sidebars which led you ultimately to spiritual healing work, which you now do. I think this is your true passion.
I like the democratization of everything nowadays in many respects. But on the flip side I worry that it goes too far. The problem isn’t people like you who have genuine talent and want to write or do music or paint etc…it’s the mass of people who write a terribly-written “book” and throw it on Amazon without editing and tell everyone they’re an author. Unfortunately this is very, very common. You’ll see hundreds of books online riddled with spelling errors, unedited, etc. The idea that “everyone is a writer” reminds me of Facebook (everyone has a view that “deserves” or “should” be expressed) and Covid. The Covid thing is different and yet I feel it’s similar in many ways. Due to the internet and political polarization and the fragmentation of media; since 2020 suddenly everyone has become “an expert.” You talk to ten different people about Covid and you’ll get ten different responses. Many will claim to know more than the doctors. Some will buy into conspiracy theories. Some will just blatantly think along party lines. But either way they all seem to think they know what’s best.
It’s similar, I think, with writing, and art now in general. (Though obviously not important in the literal way that Covid is, thank God.) Since the tools and platforms are out there for any Tom, Dick and Harry to use, everyone is suddenly a “writer.” For me it’s a respect thing. You wouldn’t ask a plumber to explain a heart problem. You wouldn’t ask a heart surgeon to fix a pipe issue. So why do people think that just because they can scribble some words down on a page and “publish” it they are “writers.” I get how this sounds judgmental and patronizing and pretentious: I guess it is! But it’s just my perspective. In high school I played drums in a few bands but I would never identify as a serious musician. You are a spiritual healer. I’m certain there must be tens of thousands of people out there who watch a few YouTube videos, create a basic Word Press website, and call themselves the same. Does that make them a spiritual healer? I’d say no; it makes them silly.
So, again: I agree 100% with you: Everyone who wants to write or paint or play music or do whatever should absolutely DO IT. But, I would just encourage people to respect those of us who have not only talent but that deep inner drive, and that calling which has always been with us. (Not to mention those of us who have put in literally decades of effort against all odds.) By the way: I feel very much an “outsider” myself in the writing industry/literary world. I find THEM often very pretentious and exclusive and cliquey. So I get your POV. My 18-year-old niece is a big reader and she likes to write. I keep half-joking that she’ll be a novelist. But in all seriousness if she really seems inspired I will definitely support her. I’ll support her either way. But where she takes it will be entirely up to her and who she is inside.
Writers don’t write because they want to, they do it because they HAVE to a d GET to! It’s a gift and a craft. A creator, artist, writer, actor, musician etc. has a biological imperative to create. Another great piece. Thank you for using your gift.
“Over the past twenty years—basically since the digitization of writing, moving from a physical art to a digital one—we have somehow arrived at this point where we feel that “everyone is a writer.’”
I say this all the time. People will hear that I’ve written a memoir (WHICH WAS A PAINSTAKING WORK OF LITERARY CRAFTSMANSHIP THAT COULD ONLY RESULT FROM A LITERAL LIFETIME OF PRACTICING THIS ART FORM), and they will invariably respond,
“Oh! I should do that too sometime!”
Madame do you say that to a violin player after a night at the symphony? “Oh, I should do that too sometime?”
See - the thing here is - one does really need to differentiate between fiction versus non-fiction writing.
I hold myself out not only as a writer - but also a ghostwriter. So - I deem myself good enough to even put others' thoughts into words.
But no way in hell would I attempt to write fiction - as myself or for anyone else. Writing 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 fiction is as you say such an utterly complex & nuanced thing. The fantastic author & e-mentor Kristin McTiernan said that to even be asked to ghostwrite a fiction book is a red flag & demonstrates a complete failure to understand what a fiction work is.
Whilst 'anyone' can be an artist or have an artist in them - heck - throw a pair of wet jeans on a pedestal at the Tate & call it a day - being 𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘵 at a given craft, no, not everyone is, & not all crafts are viable for all people to excel at.
Oh I really feel so much of this in so many ways.
Thanks for the comment. One thing I LOVE about the Substack model is that it seems to really support and incentivize kind, thoughtful discussion versus rabid rage such as on Twitter and Facebook, etc. Yes, I hear you. I think our views might not necessarily be as different as you think. Or rather: We’re coming at the same idea but from different perspectives, maybe. I would never discourage anyone from pursuing what they love to do. I see where your uncle was coming from, but I agree it would have been better, just simply out of love and kindness, to support you, if for no other reason than…love and kindness. (And also it legitimately might have been the fuse that lit your ambition to do photography professionally, etc.)
That said: I don’t believe that people “become artists.” You either are one or you’re not. You brought up the school thing. Personally I don’t think formal education has ANYTHING to do with serious art. If anything I think school is mostly a sham driven by universities trying to make money. (The MFA program for sure.) I identify as an artist because it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, and it’s always been the way I know how to best express myself. I’ve always wanted to be deeply understood (impossible, I now know) and writing has always been the vehicle for that expression. Think it was Louis CK or one of those comedians who said, “If people putting you down is going to stop you from being a comedian…you were never a comedian to begin with.” I agree. Being an artist isn’t about college or even knowledge. It’s a deep, unshakable drive from within which cannot be ruined or ignored. I know you tried writing, music, etc. No question (in my mind) you have strong talent in both, especially music. (Although I still think you should write a book some day.) But in the end I think those were sidebars which led you ultimately to spiritual healing work, which you now do. I think this is your true passion.
I like the democratization of everything nowadays in many respects. But on the flip side I worry that it goes too far. The problem isn’t people like you who have genuine talent and want to write or do music or paint etc…it’s the mass of people who write a terribly-written “book” and throw it on Amazon without editing and tell everyone they’re an author. Unfortunately this is very, very common. You’ll see hundreds of books online riddled with spelling errors, unedited, etc. The idea that “everyone is a writer” reminds me of Facebook (everyone has a view that “deserves” or “should” be expressed) and Covid. The Covid thing is different and yet I feel it’s similar in many ways. Due to the internet and political polarization and the fragmentation of media; since 2020 suddenly everyone has become “an expert.” You talk to ten different people about Covid and you’ll get ten different responses. Many will claim to know more than the doctors. Some will buy into conspiracy theories. Some will just blatantly think along party lines. But either way they all seem to think they know what’s best.
It’s similar, I think, with writing, and art now in general. (Though obviously not important in the literal way that Covid is, thank God.) Since the tools and platforms are out there for any Tom, Dick and Harry to use, everyone is suddenly a “writer.” For me it’s a respect thing. You wouldn’t ask a plumber to explain a heart problem. You wouldn’t ask a heart surgeon to fix a pipe issue. So why do people think that just because they can scribble some words down on a page and “publish” it they are “writers.” I get how this sounds judgmental and patronizing and pretentious: I guess it is! But it’s just my perspective. In high school I played drums in a few bands but I would never identify as a serious musician. You are a spiritual healer. I’m certain there must be tens of thousands of people out there who watch a few YouTube videos, create a basic Word Press website, and call themselves the same. Does that make them a spiritual healer? I’d say no; it makes them silly.
So, again: I agree 100% with you: Everyone who wants to write or paint or play music or do whatever should absolutely DO IT. But, I would just encourage people to respect those of us who have not only talent but that deep inner drive, and that calling which has always been with us. (Not to mention those of us who have put in literally decades of effort against all odds.) By the way: I feel very much an “outsider” myself in the writing industry/literary world. I find THEM often very pretentious and exclusive and cliquey. So I get your POV. My 18-year-old niece is a big reader and she likes to write. I keep half-joking that she’ll be a novelist. But in all seriousness if she really seems inspired I will definitely support her. I’ll support her either way. But where she takes it will be entirely up to her and who she is inside.
Michael