Why I Can Never Be A Successful Writer
And why I am finally OK with it, sorta.
Disclaimer:-
- To all the peeps mentioned here, I have nothing against you. And nothing for you as well. I just needed a vent-out and a few examples to make my point. Or in this case, what’s left of it.
- To the publication that accepts this piece and publishes it, you’re a real sweetheart to do so. I know this must’ve been super hard for you. A thousand pardons from my side.
I usually don’t look back on what I’ve done so far. It has never been beneficial for my health (I refer to the extended WHO definition). Flip side, it’s a great way to pick up regrets you’ve already dropped on your way, because God forbid if you *gasp* actually move on.
However, I feel that this particular article is about to be written in an almost expository manner, in the sense that I will be looking back on my life (only the part of it where my blogs are involved) so much, you’d be thinking I was some sort of tour guide.
But then, aren’t we all tour guides, in one way or another?
I’m about to get a hundred followers on Medium, so I thought I would start writing this now as a way to mark my momentous decision of not giving up on this blog after totally abandoning it two times before. (Third time’s the charm!)
And in case you’re wondering, why don’t you wait until you get a hundred to post this? Relax, I’ve got it covered.
I’m going to send this to The Mission and The Startup for submissions. So I’ll get a gap of four days before I will inevitably publish it on another publication, by which time I would get 2 extra followers, and I’ll be good to go.
Anyways, I’ve digressed long enough, so let’s get back on track, shall we?
Being a successful writer boils down to some simple truths
1. I Have Words, But I Lack Creativity
I started writing because of my good friend from college, and after reading a few of articles I thought that this could be a good past-time, if not anything else. Truth be told, I wasn’t very serious about it, and it was more of a random decision than a ruminated conclusion.
Naturally, I had no idea about the actual amount of work that would go into writing a blog post, and I definitely didn’t know that it was a powerful marketing tool as well, so it was equivalent to running into a minefield with a blindfold on your eyes.
Still, I started enjoying it after I started on my fiction phase of writing, and it does feel good writing what you can never speak out loud, but that is where the crux of my problem lies.
Good writing does more than just express ideas, it creates them.
I know that I have very less creativity, and I really haven’t had a lot of original thoughts in my life. Hell, even this blogging idea isn’t original, but no one’s complained yet, so I’m going with it.
So, when your writing can’t create ideas, it acts only as a mirror, a ghost, a fleeting visage. It doesn’t evoke any feelings, doesn’t provoke any thoughts, and it definitely doesn’t revoke any notions previously held.
2. I Wrote For Fame, But Without A Purpose
I am, by my very nature, hypocritical. I have mastered the art of not making it even slightly obvious, but it is still true. And, as do all people who have looked at impressive stats of Medium masters like Tom Kuegler (seriously though, I particularly enjoy his writing, his style is so effortless), Tony Deller, Aytekin Tank, Kris Gage and Jessica Semaan, I was in awe at the crazy stats achieved by their consistent effort, and of course I neglected the effort to think about the stats alone and simply wished to receive those claps.
The other factor was the Noteworthy series by Medium, which I think has had seven distinguished writers so far. I again wanted the fame and recognition, but only after looking through those videos did I realise that they wrote for a purpose, not for sport or fame.
And I don’t have a purpose.
I’m still searching for one, though. And I think that after I find it, I’ll be able to start afresh, and actually make people like what I write.
Yeah, right.
I’d have better luck finding all of my lost schoolbooks at this rate.
Also, nowadays, I seem to be having an actual social life, so I guess the craving need to be recognised is reducing, along with writing for my own greed
3. I Am Just Too Young, Without Enough Experience
I used to think that writing can come from anyone, that timeless, ageless writing can come from anyone regardless of age, or background.
But I think that’s not true. Great art, or in this case writing, comes from a place of pain, of experience. And, although I’ve had pain, I’ve moved over it quickly, and I cannot go back to that creative stage.
Well, you might think, “Well, why don’t you just write technical pieces? Everyone would appreciate that, especially on the right forum.”
True, but I’m still a newbie in many things.
For example, if I write something based on let’s say Outer Space, I’m pretty sure that my writing won’t be as creative or well-researched as Tony Deller, and hence it’s gonna fall flat. Sure, the publication would possibly accept it, but in a competitive platform such as Medium, nobody will take time to read something which isn’t of the highest quality. And that’s how it should be. I understand the need for quality. I can perceive the gap in knowledge. But I can’t fill it alone. And everyone on Medium is, for better or worse and whether they accept it or not, on their own.
Down to my last point here,
4. Medium Has Become A Pocket Universe
I’m sure that’s what Ev Williams wanted to create all those years ago, and I think he’s succeeded. Normally, that is great news. And growing into a self-contained universe in a short span is pretty fricking cool.
Here’s the problem.
A universe has layers. Much like onions. And like Shrek.
There are layers of expertise, hierarchy, seniority, empathy, community (to a limited extent), and above all, identity.
And what happens to a newcomer in these layers?
S/He gets real lost, real fast.
(No points for guessing. Well, actually I’d love to, but where would you redeem them?)
And that’s what I’ve become here. Totally lost.
The irony isn’t lost on me though (Wow, something that isn’t lost! What are the odds?). I joined Medium because I was lost in real life, in the original universe. But now, I’m lost in this pocket universe. It’s almost poetic, in a sense.
Conclusion Of Me Running Around In Circles
You read that right. And if you’re thinking this article is a glorified rant, you’re right again. Where else does a guy go to resolve his cognitive dissonance?
Definitely NOT Internet Explorer, for starters.
And, if you’ve read till the end (you don’t have to say the truth, I’ll find out from the article stats), then kudos to you.
You’ve wasted time in the most harmless way possible (unless you count ‘strain on your mind’, in which case, I’m really sorry).
Now that you’ve seen how terrible cognitive dissonance can be, do what you want to, not what others want you to. You’ve only got one life.
You heard me.
Go forth.
