Know Thyself
Know thyself.
Socrates wasn’t playing around with those two words. That’s some deep stuff right there if you really stop to think about it. In fact, many scholars around the world will happily state that those two words mark the beginning of wisdom. Sound silly or pretentious? Well, maybe it is. However, without self knowledge, without insight into our interest, our likes and dislikes, what we’re good at and what we could use help with, we will stumble about uncertain as to which paths to pursue in life. Self-knowledge isn’t an easy task, and it isn’t supposed to be. It involves a lot of exploring and testing things out. You’ve heard of the “experimental phase” right? We’ve all had them, and some are successful, while others are complete disasters. And all that’s okay. It’s part of the process. The thing is that self-knowledge is extremely important in writing as well. If you don’t know who you are then how can you know what kind of writer you are? And I don’t just mean the kind of writing we would enjoy the most, but what we would actually be the most successful in pursuing.
I think that’s where I’m at right now. I know what I like. I think I know what I’m good at. It’s now figuring how to mesh the two into the kind of writing that will produce the best piece of work that’s the trick. And I don’t mean what’s best to market, but what’s best to read. You see it’s not as easy as “Hey, I love paranormal young adult books so I’ll write those!” Nope. It might sound easy, but given the number of sub-par books I’ve come across lately, it really isn’t. From everything I’ve heard about writing – it takes research, time, effort, blood, sweat, and a lot of tears, in addition to the skills of being able to tell a good story. And I say from what I’ve heard because I’m still on the other side of that whole self knowledge thing right now. I’m still figuring things out. I don’t have anything published. I’m not on any “must-read” list, up and coming list, or any list that I know of. I want to be, and I’m hoping maybe one day I’ll achieve that goal. But I’m not there yet. And yes, it’s torture to still be figuring things out. Patience hasn’t exactly ever been one of my virtures. Still, from my reading experience all signs point to the simple fact that I have to know who I am as a writer before I can be good at it. I can’t just decide I want to write a particular kind of book and boom it’s awesome. It doesn’t work that way. Not only is it not fair to me, but it’s not fair to anyone that might read it. It wouldn’t be the best story I could tell, and I want to be a great story teller.
I say all of this with the utmost respect for those that are out that are published. You’ve taken the leap and put yourself out there and for better or worse you can call yourself published. However, I am finding that there’s a disheartening trend right now to jump on the “what’s hot now” bandwagon and write a book that the writer thinks is more likely to be a hit rather than what they’re necessarily good at, and all that does is give me a book that has potential perhaps but not much else. Just because you’re awesome at historial fiction doesn’t mean you’ll automatically be good at paranormal. Just because you can write a great young adult paranormal doesn’t mean you can just as easily write an adult paranormal. Each genre requires something different, and that’s what makes reading so great: there’s something for everyone. Which means that when I figure out what kind of writer I am then I will be able to tell the best story I can. It might not be “what’s hot now” but at least I’ll know it’s where I belong. I just don’t know where that is yet, and I don’t have to.
Know thyself. I’m trying Socrates. I really am.
Until next time,
~Lisa
I’m right there with you, Lisa. I have seen too many books that seem to have been written because they are in a genre that is popular, regardless of whether they might be the right fit for the writer. It seems like everyone wants to be the next SM, but let’s face it, not everyone is cut out to write YA paranormal romance novels. And, there is nothing wrong with that. There are many genres out there with readers eager for new books to wrap their imagination around. And, if you write what suits you, I think you are more likely to have success than if you write what is popular and just don’t quite hit the mark.
I’m starting my first novel, and I really think I am writing what I am suited to write. It isn’t YA and it isn’t paranormal. It’s adult, dark, and angsty. Will it have an audience? I have no idea. Heck, at this point I don’t know if anyone beyond my small circle of writer friends will read it. But, I’m content knowing that I am writing something that suits my writing style, regardless if it is what’s hot at the moment.
As always, you wrote a wonderful, thought provoking piece. Bravo!