Returning to the Written Word

This December marks twenty-five years of writing books, and while my intention when I was barely nineteen years of age was to make a career as an author, I had neither the age nor experience to recognize the work that one must put into such an endeavor—to me, writing a book was enough to be noticed. Thankfully, the constant rejection that one faces when trying to break into the world of publication did not sour me from continually writing, and while my books have only been read by a small community, I have never stopped composing my art through independent channels of publishing, continually recognizing the hard work and constant challenges faced when finishing a work of literature.

There is, however, a sense of trepidation and hesitation when bearing your work to the public, as we are inherently protective of our inner voice and thoughts. We often choose to hide our creativity rather than render it visible, afraid of what people may think of that which we hold most dear—unfortunately, I have suffered from this reticence and paralysis for far too long, eager to continually create more but afraid to properly publicize it. I would make excuses based upon what other authors I had met had told me: “You are at the mercy of the publisher;” “Your passion becomes work;” “You don’t have any say in the artwork;” “Your art becomes compromised.” These would become my shield, and I would use these phrases to veil my own skepticism and withhold my work from potential publishers in an effort to spare it from inevitable refusal, when really, I was simply sparing myself from a pre-conceived notion of incompetence and lack of self-worth. It is an exercise of futility and self-mutilation of the artistic self, as one should be proud of the courage it takes to bare their imagination to strangers, rather than to be ashamed of what others may think and to never give their work a chance to be seen by others.

If anything, this initial post of my new website is for me alone, as I wish to be proactive in showing my work to others. It is late, but not too late. Yet, if this personal testimony of a long-overdue awakening helps another to express their guarded art beyond their inner-most circle, all the better. While it is important for the individual to achieve their sense of worth at their own pace, it is equally important to consider the ramifications of coveting your work for no one to see. Not everyone will appreciate your work, but at least it can breathe, and you can rest in the knowledge that you possessed the mettle to bare your soul and be proud of its purity.