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And I'm sick and tired of you pretending it isn't.
We live in an age where teachers claim to encourage "the arts". We live in an age where we're told more and more to re-discover the child within and indulge our creativity. We live in an age where people can make a living out of vlogging, playing games online and shooting amazing pictures - something that wouldn't have been possible 100 years ago.
And then, how is it that in this age of marvels, artists are still getting the sticky end of the lollipop?
Throughout history, actors and playwrights and painters were often seen as losers and degenerates. And we like to look back and marvel at that, but if we were to be completely honest with ourselves, not that much has changed.
I hate the term "wannabe artist" or "aspiring writer". Because in my book, if you write, if you dare to actually bare your heart on the page and who knows, maybe even in front of other people, that makes you an artist. It's simple.
This goes for the other arts, of course.
You do it and you do it as well as you can and that's enough. That makes you an artist. An artist taking their first steps down this road, but an artist nonetheless.
And it breaks my heart to see so many people downplay their artistic achievements and their struggles because they know society will scoff at them.
You're a writer - what do you know about hard work? You just sit in front of your computer and scribble stories all day. Like a two-year-old.
Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash
And you're right. What do I know about hard work? About spending hours reaching into your soul and trying to make sense of all the darkest, most twisted human emotions? What do I know about work when each night, I go to sleep completely drained? What do I know about work when I can't sleep because I feel utterly, utterly worthless and scared that I'll amount to nothing, in the end?
Come to think of it, what do you know of all that?
You've got it easy. You've got a regular job. Sure, it doesn't satisfy your soul, but it's a steady job, it brings in the green and you've got a boss who tells you what to do next, how to do it and where to go next.
I don't. I've got to figure all that out on my own.
Not nice when someone comes down on you like that, is it? Belittling. Embarrassing. Sad.
No, this is not a contest and I don't mean to make it sound like one. Thing is, you do. By treating artists like they don't matter. By asking 'what did you do today?' and then saying 'that's cute'.
It's not cute. It's hard. We work at it every day. And maybe sometimes, it would be easier if you could appreciate that. It won't affect me that much. It's not like I'll quit writing just because you don't understand the way I feel and how much work it is and how much it means to me.
But some kid out there might. Because all his life, he's been told that writing isn't a real job. Neither is painting. Neither is acting. Neither is playing guitar.
Much better to just be a doctor or a lawyer - something your parents can brag to the neighbors about, right?
I've got nothing against doctors. Or lawyers. I know they work hard. I know their job is exhausting and often thankless. But so is mine. And maybe just for once, you could treat it as such.
Thank you for reading,
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Been a writer is one of the most difficult role for me
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I hear ya:)
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We're all artistes in our own right.
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Well said <3
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Your timing with this post is sooo exactly what I needed today! I've paid my dues as a writer, but not at getting published. Now self-publishing is accessible to anyone with a pc and I have no excuses, and someone today told me to get off the pot if I'm not going to p^ss into it and nobody encouraged him (i.e., so I should quit looking for mentors, editors, and tech-help, and fly solo?). You've published an anthology of your freewrites - you are a REAL writer and I'm the wannabe, by this guy's logic. And I should put myself out there. Get those novels pared down and polished. Get them self-published. Don't look at sales, don't count up the reviews, don't read the one-star slams. Just do it.
So many days, I'd rather just collect a paycheck and not look back. But you remind me today: It's not like I'll quit writing just because you don't understand the way I feel and how much work it is and how much it means to me.
But some kid out there might. Because all his life, he's been told that writing isn't a real job. Neither is painting. Neither is acting. Neither is playing guitar.
Much better to just be a doctor or a lawyer - something your parents can brag to the neighbors about, right?
Thank you for this @honeydue!
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Ha I'm so glad my words could help you a little :) I agree with this friend of yours - if you wait for someone to push you, you'll wait your whole life. I know it's hard and how much more convenient it would be if there was some third party to make you do it and give you drive and courage and all, but the truth is, that comes all from within.
You should publish those novels, why not? As you said on another post of mine, take advantage of all this technological progress. I think self-publishing is great for so many reasons and it's a truly empowering experience, so really, go out there and do it. Nothing's stopping you :) And I'm here if you have any questions or if there's anything I can help you with, Carol <3
Thank you!
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So I posted a link on facebook to something I wrote here. One of my friends commented "you should be a writer!" Ummm...did you just read something I wrote? Lol.
Nobody takes writing seriously unless you have a book published. The rest is play in the eyes of regular people. Writers know though - the words have to be put together; a story begs to be told whether chapter by chapter or in 800 words. The world might not, but the words know their master.
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Yes yes yes, very well said! That's one of the things I enjoy most about this platform - in so far, it's been my only contact with other writers out there, with people who understand how hard it is and folk you can talk to about things your friends and family might overlook and not even understand/find important :)
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you couldn't have said it any better! completely agree with everything you just said! society always has a bad way of judging people who don't conform to the status quo even though its apparent that the world is not what it used to be anymore. lots of new opportunities to make money abound, and yet they still stick to the old ways of doing things like its the only way. thank you so much for this wonderful post, i love it!
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Ow I'm so glad this helped and that you liked it :) Yes, as a society, we're so stuck in the past, but I do believe that will change, albeit slowly.
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I've been an artist and a writer for most of my life, in one capacity or another, and this is absolutely true.
I even went through this again just a couple of weeks ago, when my neighbor's grandson asked me why I didn't work, and I told him I do, I just work from home.
His next words, at eight years old? "But why don't you get a real job?"
Sheesh. It never ends.
Even when I had a bricks and mortar art and framing studio I still put up with this shit.
All. The. Time.
But I write because I have to write. I've been taking a break in posting recently, mostly because I've been feeling like crap, but I'm still writing.
And, regardless of naysayers, I always will.
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I hear ya :( It doesn't matter if they're close friends or barely even acquaintances, it seems to just fly right by most people that artists have a hard job and put in a lot of effort, experience loads of frustration etc.
And it sucks, 'cause even though you know it doesn't really matter what these people think, it still gets to you. But hey, if you're lucky, it also means you never have to get a "real" job and get to do what you like, so overall a pretty good business ;)
Urgh keep on writing <3 I know how hard it can be sometimes, particularly if you're feeling down because of other things, as well, but in the end, not writing will only make you feel worse, so...
<3
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Great!
Very inspiring and encourage me
Reading your post make me want to keep my spirit to write and post. May be some day will be a book
Warm regard from Indonesia
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Awesome! Go for it :) Glad I could help.
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I agree with you. Writing and creating are full time job. We need to develop mindset, talents and special technics to make it true. Without us, humanity would have no memory, no beautify or feeling to contemplate.
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Amen! I feel such a kinship with anyone trying to make a living at a creative profession. Quite a few in my inner circle are creatives because we understand one another and the struggles. It's really f*cking hard work. Not merely the act of writing but then having to sell it. It will wear you down if you let it but it also has the potential to polish you like a diamond. You have to be relentless and look at life as a constant learning process.
I think in this next decade or so creatives will have another (maybe one final?) golden age. AI programs can write non-fiction pretty convincingly now but they have a ways to go before than can master really good fiction. AI will master it eventually but so far the attempts have been pretty lackluster.
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God, that's a frightening concept. Seems to me art is one of the main things that makes us human, you know? The ability to write a poem or a story, to paint a picture, to create something that wasn't there before...once that goes also, what will humans do?
Same here, it's one of the things I like about this platform - it helps one connect to other creatives who understand the "struggle". As you say, it can be extremely rewarding as well...
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