Into the Cave: 1000 Days of Writing
A comprehensive, book-length collection of articles on the craft and business of writing and pop-culture …
I believe anyone who creates, as opposed to destroys, is a hero.
Thanks to Joseph Campbell for the inspiration behind those words.
Of course, there is a fine line implied in that statement, namely those who create with the intention of tearing down. Those individuals are not to whom I am referring.
Many if not most of us create in caves of our own making. Sometimes what lurks inside is terrifying to behold … though that is where, for an artist, the truth lies.
Sharing the perspectives that ensue, to the benefit of others as well as yourself, is of immense importance.
Considering the collective insecurities, compulsions and habits of those who create art, then, and the fact we buck the odds every time we score a win, it is well-advised for all creatives to share information and support one another.
A few well-meaning comments, from the soapbox.
For those who do not know me, I am a novelist, and a writer-producer for television and film. I have been through the trenches in pursuit of my dream career, and I have attained both big victories and unexpected failures in that quest.
But … you must keep going, regardless, if you have set a goal of creating for a living. Life 101 is a time-usurper; such is the law of being human. If you need to create, you will find the time. If you want to create, your odds of succeeding are lessened but certainly still within reach. We must all go on while managing the children, or ill family members. We must all keep going despite our full-time jobs, or other professional (or personal) obligations.
Persistence does pay off in the long-term. I am living proof. I should have stopped pursuing my career when I lost nearly everything … more than once.
I will share two valuable creeds with you. The first, as said by comedian Steve Martin: “Be so good at something you cannot be ignored.” Though I have earned a full-time writing career based on years of sweat and toil, and have worked within that realm as my own boss for over 15 years, I still work daily to better my craft.
The second creed? Everyone in the world has the same 24 hours in a day as you do. The difference-maker is how you manage that time.
I wrote the following collections — hundreds of articles included therein — in the spirit of helping others. I hope the following collections help pivot your mindset into one of possibility ...
You too can create for a living. How you get there — or if you get there — is up to you.
Thanks, as ever, for the indulgence.
To your success …
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