Learned to take risks with words.
I'm an extremely risk-averse person. That's partly why I hate flying--because of that 1 in a gazillion risk that something would go bad. I don't like karaoke, non-veggie sushi, or running across the street before the light changes. I probably won't ever get LASIK (although I'm blind as a bat) because I'm not cool with the risks. I'm shy, too, which really boils down to not liking conversational chances with unfamiliar people. You could say that I've worked very hard in life to insulate myself from risk and uncertainty. (Can we all say: CONTROL. FREAK.)
Except writing is all about risks, right? It's two-fold:
1) Writing itself is risk-taking. You might not finish your project. Whatever you're writing might actually suck. As you write, the choices you make (subject matter, style, tone, voice, characterization) can be risky. They might work, they might not. You might fail, whatever your definition of failing is. Yet you try it anyway and see how it all turns out.
2) Writing for publication is full of even more risks. You might get rejected, from agents to editors. You might get bad reviews. Your books may or may not sell. A writer has control over very few things in the publishing process. If it's a road to publication, then writer isn't in a car but one of those soapbox derby thingies, coasting towards the finish line and hoping that it doesn't run out of steam or end up in a ditch.
I think the risk involved is wonderful and liberating. Risk means uncertainty, but it also means possibility. I'm so happy that I'm up for the gamble, after all.
15 comments:
There's more risk involved with writing and getting published than most people face in five lifetimes...given that, sticking with veggie sushi and waiting for the walk sign seems only sensible.
love it! just six words, but so much thought behind it. I think that's been my favorite thing about this topic, hearing the explanations!
This is great. (I'm saying that a lot today.) I think most of us can apply these to us.
Ooh, excellent one. Reminds me of a Libba Bray quote I love-- something to the effect of "If it doesn't scare you, it's not worth writing."
I'm with you on the Lasik. And you're right. There is so much risk involved with sharing your writing with others.
And that last comment was me. Sigh. I hate Open ID sometimes.
This is awesome. It says so much about you as a writer and as a person as well! Writing is definitely full of risks - and it makes the payoff that much sweeter. <3 you!
I love your explanation. It's true, writing is inherently about taking risks, and as you get further in the writing process, it just gets riskier. However, the rewards become so much greater, too!
BTW, I love your header!
So fantastic! I love the idea that risk can be liberating.
This is FANTASTIC. I might have to write it out and stick it to my laptop screen to remind myself to do this every day when I am writing. I love it.
Oh, so true! And it's amazing how learning to take risks with our writing can lead to taking more non-writing risks, too.
Thanks, everyone! I loved all of yours, too.
really nice!
A great memoir and I love your thoughts about risk. It's definitely a risky thing to put your heart into words and then lay them out there for the world to consider.
Love this post!
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