Recently, a close writing friend told me he would forgive a writer for a messy plot if there was underlying passion and depth.
I agreed.
When you pick up your typical mass market paperback, you’re presented with a perfectly formulated product. It was written to appeal to a wide audience, easily digestible and mildly entertaining. These books often repeat themselves in endless series to keep readers buying indefinitely.
These kinds of books might help pass a few hours on the train, but will they change your life?
Probably not.
Why?
Often, it’s because the writer prioritized formula over feeling. They followed the market instead of sharing their soul. They didn’t bleed for it. And you can tell. You can feel that the heart of the writer is missing.
So how can you make your writing speak to readers on a deeper level? How can you make your stories the ones readers treasure and recommend to everyone they know?
Write for yourself, not to pander to every buyer out there. Think about the writers who changed your life. Imagine if they tried to fit themselves in an easily marketable box.
If you want to make your book unforgettable, write about the things that most deeply stir you, and you will stir them.
Welcome to Cosmic Ink, a blog series with bits of fuel for a stellar creative life.
There are times when life goes according to plan, and everything I have scheduled falls into place. But, in recent years, this is steadily becoming a rare event.
I keep waiting for the space-time continuum to open up for me, a future when I can dedicate a solid scheduled block of time to work on the projects in my head, but conditions are not improving. And instead of getting little done, I’m getting absolutely nothing done.
Having a clear vision of what we want to create, why we want to create it, and a plan to accomplish this is the most fundamental part of making the untold stories in our heads a reality in the physical world. However, we must not toss the whole dream aside whenever things get hectic.
Creating is our life blood. It’s what keeps our fires alive. It gives our lives meaning.
It’s not always something that can be slotted in like a dental appointment, and it should not be treated as such. It is far more important than that.
So during those days when you feel you “don’t have the time” or have the perfect conditions, remind yourself that you don’t have time not to.
You can find twenty minutes, I assure you.
Do it. It’s not just for your benefit, but for everyone’s.
(I am writing this pep talk for myself as well as you guys)
I recently read a book called F*ck Like a Goddess by Alexandra Roxo. Contrary to the title, the book is not really about sex, but about approaching life with the force of creation, to learn how to interact with your experience as a conscious, spiritual being as if it were your lover.
While it’s not my favorite book on self-actualization, I appreciated the premise.
Writing is an act of love, of observing and appreciating things others don’t notice in the world.
We artists immerse ourselves in the moment with all five senses. We savor everything there is to feel—blissful or painful. We do this willingly, with passion and adoration.
“If a writer falls in love with you, you can never die,” is a quote attributed to Mik Everett.
This is an extraordinary power.
Who or what will you use your artistic gift to immortalize today?
Let me know by replying. May the muse be with you!
