08/31/2024
I made a decision recently that while getting the novel "Upon His Throne, Beneath the City" is, obviously, important, I also need to start making a name for myself writing short stories and getting them published in magazines, journals, etc. And that is kind of a weak spot of mine, writing short, concise stories. I am naturally geared towards expansion and longer form stories, but there is something to be said for writing shorter form tales, so I have challenged myself to write a rough draft of a short story every week, then editing that story the following week and then sending it out to prospective publishers as soon as that week is up. This will also get me in the habit of putting myself out there and not being afraid of the process, not worrying about whether it actually gets published or not, just developing the habit of sending it out.
The funny thing is that I'm not at all afraid of the rejection letters that will inevitably come; I'm way more afraid of acceptance letters and then knowing I will be in the spotlight, even if it isn't the bright lights of novel publishing.
Just get the story written, edited and sent out, and after a couple weeks this will happen literally every single week, and eventually I will gain some traction, make some sort of name for myself, good or bad, and that will open the door just a little wider. This will also look good on my "resume" when I begin shopping my novels. Like anything in life, prospective publishers want to see that A) you are willing to subject yourself to the traditional career paths most writers go through, B) you are willing and able to do the editing, rewriting and hoop-jumping most writers go through and C) you have a body of work built up they can look at and see consistency and originality and quality in your work and therefore make yourself more attractive to the big leagues of novel writing.
I'm not worried about either the quality of my writing or the originality of my ideas. I think those aspects will take care of themselves; what I worry most is being willing to stick my neck out, so to speak, to make myself vulnerable and subject myself to the glare of criticism and (even more so) praise.
This is all part of that thought process I've been discussing on here and on TikTok. Growing up surrounded by narcissists, being thought of as a narcissist yourself becomes your number one fear, even if you are anything but. However, one thing I've learned in therapy and through my own study is that to be successful in this world, a dose of narcissism is not only ok, but it's actually necessary and (shockingly) healthy for humans to utilize.
How far would humanity have gotten without people who believed in themselves enough to pursue their crazy dreams and ideas. A recent video I watched about uber-successful people is that from the outside, they look like they are deranged, they have this belief in themselves and their passions that look like bonafide looney tunes, but without that belief and that pursuit of the goal, they wouldn't have succeeded and the world would have been deprived of virtually every brilliant author, painter, poet, musician, inventor, visionary and saint.
It's all about balance.
I have never thought, nor will I ever believe that I am better than any single human on the planet, no matter who or what they are (on the flip side of that I have always been aware that there isn't a single human on this planet who is better than me - of course, this depends on what your definition of what makes one person better than another.)
I am, however, massively talented when it comes to creative ideas, competence at most any task I set my mind to, I'm a writer on the cusp of potentially major success, I have very powerful gift with words and tapping into the creative unconscious and it has taken me my entire life to be able to say this without guilt or shame or fear, but it is true.
None of that makes me better than anyone else though, and as talented as I am, I also know there are geniuses out there who make my skills look like crayon scribblings on butcher paper. It's all relative.
All I want is to put the skills I do have out there, to be acknowledged for what I am good at and to get paid tens of millions of dollars for those ideas.
To be perfectly honest, my ultimate goal besides making tens of millions (if not hundreds of millions) for my work, is to be considered the greatest writer who ever lived.
I know, I know...
Will I succeed in that goal? Very unlikely. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to try and to hone my skills until they are at their absolute best. I think everyone should think this way. Shoot for the stars, knowing you probably won't get there, but shoot for the stars all the same. Put a flame to that fuse, light the damned candle, take a roll of the dice, step into that ring with the world champ, and see what happens. In all probability it won't go the way you dream, but how will you ever find out if you don't try?
I spent my life hiding from the reckless danger of pursuing my dreams; I was taught I was stupid, worthless, lazy, erratic and ugly. Turns out I was none of those things, they just didn't want to see my exceed their own limited capacities, so I stayed hidden and alone in order to stay safe, but the funny thing is, that isn't safety at all. It's no more safe than pursuing one's dreams.
It's kind of like rock or mountain climbing (excluding Himalayan and extreme climbing); everyone thinks it's so dangerous, and certainly it can be, but those same people who shake their heads at adventurers can be seen blissfully driving their cars (one of the most dangerous things a person can do, statistically) and ingesting fast food and soda (far more likely to kill you than climbing.)
Pursue your dreams. Be vulnerable. Be the "(hu)man in the arena" willing to fail and willing to succeed. This is the one life we got, so why not make it the best version you can?
I leave you here with my favorite quote of all time (and yes, I know I've posted it here on numerous occasions before.)
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat..."
I hope you join me in this journey. Be strong. Have courage. I will gladly cheer you on and celebrate your successes.
Cheers, Taylor Kane 8-31-24
Art Credit: © Gerald Brom
