Artistic Expression

Writing is the ultimate form of expression. You can write about anything. The stifling rules of reality need not apply, for the only limits are those of your imagination.

It is an incredible release. All those pent-up frustrations can be loosed upon the page. You can be yourself for a change, rather than acting the part one is forced to play in real life.

Evil in literature serves a purpose: usually to be overcome. So, the destruction it wreaks in the real world is contained in the fictional one. The wickedness which vexes our daily existence can be dealt with entirely and to satisfaction.

One can write realistically, without poisoning the work with the failings of the real world. We have a sense about how things should be. In fiction, this state can be achieved.

Characters tend to be flawed, just like real people. But in a story, these things are meant to be recognized and struggled against. If they remain, somehow it is to prove a point or they are to prove fatal for the villain.

No art form has more freedom of expression than writing. Dull stories are born of dull minds. And thus, they will attract few readers. But to really live, one need only pour themselves onto the page.

"Real life"

“Real life” is a misnomer, for in the real world human beings cannot truly be themselves. This is a blessing, because it protects us from the wicked. It is a curse, because even the good must live in constant restraint.

For the sake of our society, people speak and act with great care. There are rules that everyone must abide by, further restricting behavior. And this is necessary, but let it never be said that it is true.

There are always the rebels, who will flaunt themselves in the face of authority. The powers that be are content to let them act out, until it becomes bothersome. Then, the crushing force of civilization comes crashing down...

Peer pressure does not end with puberty. It is ever present, though rarely acknowledged. There is an unspoken rule that others must be judged. But the ones pointing the fingers, so rarely see the ones pointing back at them.

And so, the “real world” is a fictional place full of secrets and lies. People tend to be real only when they are alone, with no one around to disapprove. Unlike a story, you can never truly know these characters.

The restrictions of “real life” are necessary. If you give an inch, they will take a mile. Human beings have made a world where they cannot be themselves. It is a sad fact, and one of the few things in life that is real.

Pursuit of the dream

Dreams: everyone has them, but few actually pursue them. A dream is very much a hope, and most do not seriously believe it will become a reality. As for myself, I consider it useless to chase a dream without the actual intention of catching it.

People fervently wish for things, believing the wish itself is magic. But if you wish in one hand and relieve yourself in the other, one will clearly fill up first. A wish has no more substance than a hope. Whereas, dreams are motivational: they push you to action.

It is easy to be full of words; they flow so easily. But it is in deeds that goals are accomplished. Speech merely communicates intention, but actions are concerned with the achieving of results.

It is not enough to want something, no matter how strong the desire. To realize a dream, you must determine what is necessary to achieve it. Set smaller goals for yourself, each designed to get you one step closer to the prize.

Do not become discouraged when the journey takes unexpected twists and turns. If the bridge is out, you find a way around. One must constantly adapt to survive, and it takes even more flexibility to thrive.

I do not follow my dreams… I pursue them. Using all the resources at my disposal, I hunt them down. These fugitive hopes have no place to run and nowhere to hide. I will catch them... it is only a matter of time.

The unknown author

What is fame? And why do so many people crave it? It is not enough for people to know of you, they must hold you in esteem or else it has no meaning. For an author, to be unknown is for your work to be unread.

When I moved out here a few years ago, I didn’t know anyone. And I learned a hard lesson: when people don’t know you, they don’t want to know you. Such is also the case with the work of an unknown author.  The quality of the work is irrelevant if no one reads it.

And that is the great challenge. There are hundreds of books out there. Why would they want to read yours? This is a question every author should ask themselves. And that is why it is important to have a strategy for promoting your work.

Put yourself into the mind of a reader. What would a writer have to do to get your attention? From the cover art, to the presentation, to the quality of the work itself; one must cover all bases in order to be successful. It is important to be honest with yourself: would you buy this?

You don’t have to be something you're not. Readers will see through such pretense. Rather, take your own qualities and learn to market them. You would be surprised at how much attention can be gotten by just being yourself.

Eventually, I made a few friends here… and I cherish them all. Sometimes, it just takes time; but don’t let that be an excuse to rest on your laurels. To be successful, you must be ready for the opportunities when they come. Or else, they might just pass you by.

Mental exercise

Discipline is doing what you are supposed to do, not doing what you are not supposed to do and pushing yourself to make real progress. As writers we must discipline ourselves to write, and write well. It can be difficult to chain yourself to your work, but the rewards are inestimable.

It is hard to create prose: to sit in one place, staring at a screen, struggling to make sense of all the thoughts in your head. Exercise is exhausting, whether physical or mental. Writers must read to keep their perspectives fresh. They need a strong vocabulary to articulate ideas. And they should constantly be struggling for improvement: to make this story even better than the last.

In the gym, one struggles against seemingly insurmountable obstacles… and overcomes them. It can take days to see progress. And it can be so easily undone. So, writing is contending with words and must be approached with the determination that you will succeed.

I will not go as far as to say that lesser forms of entertainment are akin to junk food for the brain. However, to improve in writing, it is best to read. And the best things to read are those that have stood the test of time: the classics.

To be strong, one must follow those who are. There is a reason we still read certain authors’ works sometimes many years after they have died. The language may have changed, but that which compels, that which reaches the human heart remains constant.

Mental muscles, too, can atrophy from disuse. And it is not enough for a writer to be mentally strong.  Nor is cerebral fitness sufficient. Their minds must be in top condition, to write the tales which will be told for ages to come. 

The Monster excerpt

Here is an excerpt from my fantasy novella "The Monster":

A few times, the humans had turned to look in his direction. Had they seen him? Did they know he was there? He had turned around and fled into the darkness.

A few men searched the immediate area and found nothing. He moved farther away from the structure and even the pond, far enough that they would be unlikely to seek him there. The orc grunted. They are not sure of what they saw. If they were, then they would have hunted me down.

He snarled. “I do not like to be hunted.” He smote his chest. “Man would slay me like a beast.” The orc gave a growl. “Let them try.”

The cover for my ebook novella "The Monster." Now available on Amazon and Smashwords.

There is a monster in Eldenborough. And a young girl is endangered… Karg is an orc and he has stumbled into the land of men. A grisly murder sets the humans on his trail. And he, in turn, hunts them. Blood will be spilled, and more lives lost. Dark secrets will be revealed. A young noble is forced to make a difficult choice. And all the while, a warrior fights against overwhelming odds. There is a monster in Eldenborough. Survive if you can…

Cover art by Robert Elrod

http://www.amazon.com/The-Monster-ebook/dp/B00E55ILGG

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/340439