On reading and writing (but not arithmetic)
I think I may have finally stumbled upon an original fiction story I can actually write. That means I may finally make good on my promises to post some. It also means my fanfic readers may be waiting for a while.
On a side note, I've been reading too much Dumas. But he's so good! If you haven't read anything of his, I recommend steering clear of The Count of Monte Cristo (drags on) and jumping into something about the Musketeers. Good stuff. I'm aaaalmost done The Man in the Iron Mask, which really isn't a book but rather a part of a book, and a fair sized novel.
It's amazing how much reading refreshes me for writing. I can't aspire to Dumas, but I can at least aspire to top myself. Which brings me to my thoughts...
I'd like to pose a hypothetical. In fact, I'm not even going to wait for permission, I'll pose it. Now, consider, as all three of my friends are authors, a choice. On one hand, you can write what you already write best. It will be of good quality, enough to impress the laymen, and earn you a decent living in the writing field. People will know your name. The stuff you write won't be art, but it will be intellectual entertainment. You'll have a wide readership. People will enjoy it. You'll write, perhaps, a few dozen novels in your lifetime, and a plethora of short stories. Perhaps you'll be remembered beyond your own time.
On the other hand, the second choice is rather different. It will be difficult. You will be forced to write what you find most difficult, to the point where weeks of writing when you aren't blocked may yield little more than a few pages. Most people won't get it. You will not be lauded for what you write. At least, not in your time. You'll need something else to earn your living, since you won't produce more than a few books in your entire lifetime. They may not even be published. But, within all those difficulties, is the posiblity of writing something not good, but great. Only by chosing that option will you ever create something that can truly be considered art.
I'm not saying I'm facing such a choice, but I'm interested in who will honestly choose which. I still have to consider it for a while before I'll know my answer.
On a side note, I've been reading too much Dumas. But he's so good! If you haven't read anything of his, I recommend steering clear of The Count of Monte Cristo (drags on) and jumping into something about the Musketeers. Good stuff. I'm aaaalmost done The Man in the Iron Mask, which really isn't a book but rather a part of a book, and a fair sized novel.
It's amazing how much reading refreshes me for writing. I can't aspire to Dumas, but I can at least aspire to top myself. Which brings me to my thoughts...
I'd like to pose a hypothetical. In fact, I'm not even going to wait for permission, I'll pose it. Now, consider, as all three of my friends are authors, a choice. On one hand, you can write what you already write best. It will be of good quality, enough to impress the laymen, and earn you a decent living in the writing field. People will know your name. The stuff you write won't be art, but it will be intellectual entertainment. You'll have a wide readership. People will enjoy it. You'll write, perhaps, a few dozen novels in your lifetime, and a plethora of short stories. Perhaps you'll be remembered beyond your own time.
On the other hand, the second choice is rather different. It will be difficult. You will be forced to write what you find most difficult, to the point where weeks of writing when you aren't blocked may yield little more than a few pages. Most people won't get it. You will not be lauded for what you write. At least, not in your time. You'll need something else to earn your living, since you won't produce more than a few books in your entire lifetime. They may not even be published. But, within all those difficulties, is the posiblity of writing something not good, but great. Only by chosing that option will you ever create something that can truly be considered art.
I'm not saying I'm facing such a choice, but I'm interested in who will honestly choose which. I still have to consider it for a while before I'll know my answer.