Yes… it happens…
Sometimes, as a writer, I get asked to write things for people. You know, websites, magazines, etc. People ask me, “Can you write a piece on…” and then they give me the topic.
At this point, I ask myself, “What can I say about this topic that NO ONE else in the WHOLE WORLD can say?” I think, “What unique perspective do I have on this one thing that NOBODY – NOBODY – NOBODY else has?”
It can be a bit stressful.
Most of the time, I think, “Ah… yes, that’s what I can write. I’ll say this…” and I proceed to write.
But then, every once in a while… I don’t think of that unique perspective. Instead, I think, “I DON’T KNOW! I DON’T KNOW! I DON’T KNOW! AAAAAAGGGGGHHHHH….” and I devolve into a primordial soup of inadequacy and negative self-esteem…
And worse.
I’ll give you an example. I was recently asked if I could write a magazine article on “Animals and Healing.” My response was a thoughtful and mature, “I DON’T KNOW! OH GOB, I DON’T KNOW! I REALLY DON’T KNOW! AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!....”
But then, Vicky said, “Of course, you have a unique perspective. What about Shipoopi? We got him when your Dad died.” And, just like that, BINGO! I had an angle nobody else in the whole world had. It was amazing!... Right?
“No,” I said. “It’s not really good enough.”
No shit. I said this. Not good enough. Apparently, it has to be unique amongst 7 billion or so people… and “good enough.”
Sometimes, being a writer is a pain in the ass.
Published on August 22, 2012 08:54
No comments have been added yet.