A candid, appreciated set of meditations. Particularly because I've personally been curious about the value of creating art - especially if its not experienced by the world. I read this and remember that creating art has its own fundamental value, and how reaching for success - can sometimes make the very endeavor lose much of its meaning.
But then, I wonder, how can we satisfy that itching, essential need for the feeling of growth? I'm not positive just creating more work would feel gratifying. And if it's not more readers, more eyeballs, more money, then I think we'd hunger for another metric. In literature, would it be more complicated, nuanced stories? Or maybe experimenting with more and more genres?
Honestly, I don't know what it is, but I feel we may want something else to strive for, if it's not mainstream success.
This is such a thoughtful comment. I love it very much.
I think our desire for growth can be satisfied through avenues other than mainstream success. One might say argue mainstream success doesn't even satisfy the desire for growth (craft-wise at least), rather the desire for attention or fame or status.
As for growth in craft, consistency in your practice might give you that. Feedback from an intimate writing group could help you measure it; they would be a consistent audience. Experimenting with form and content might fulfill a desire for (if not growth, then) freshness, a relief of a writer's boredom with their own work. Seems like something that comes down to getting to the root of what it is one *really* desires; then can one figure out what would fulfill it. Thanks so much for your comment!
Thank you for this earnest, sobering post. I
And thank you so much for reading and appreciating it. 💜
A candid, appreciated set of meditations. Particularly because I've personally been curious about the value of creating art - especially if its not experienced by the world. I read this and remember that creating art has its own fundamental value, and how reaching for success - can sometimes make the very endeavor lose much of its meaning.
But then, I wonder, how can we satisfy that itching, essential need for the feeling of growth? I'm not positive just creating more work would feel gratifying. And if it's not more readers, more eyeballs, more money, then I think we'd hunger for another metric. In literature, would it be more complicated, nuanced stories? Or maybe experimenting with more and more genres?
Honestly, I don't know what it is, but I feel we may want something else to strive for, if it's not mainstream success.
This is such a thoughtful comment. I love it very much.
I think our desire for growth can be satisfied through avenues other than mainstream success. One might say argue mainstream success doesn't even satisfy the desire for growth (craft-wise at least), rather the desire for attention or fame or status.
As for growth in craft, consistency in your practice might give you that. Feedback from an intimate writing group could help you measure it; they would be a consistent audience. Experimenting with form and content might fulfill a desire for (if not growth, then) freshness, a relief of a writer's boredom with their own work. Seems like something that comes down to getting to the root of what it is one *really* desires; then can one figure out what would fulfill it. Thanks so much for your comment!