Creative Writing: Journey of Hope
Will anyone read my stuff?
I would like to argue that writers are by nature hopeful people. Other wise, why write? Even when a writer’s work is rejected, there’s always the next article, flash fiction story or poem that may be accepted for publication–we hope. Hope certainly kept me going for years.
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One of my younger brothers was a painter in his youth. He had real natural talent. His paintings looked like photographs. He attended The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He was a far better painter than I was a writer.
He eventually gave up painting. He went on to live his life, got married, worked different jobs, got divorced and finally took early retirement at the age of 51 from a job with the City of Pittsburgh that will pay him a nice pension for the rest of his life. And he also gets Social Security Insurance. Financially, he’s set for life. He’s also an alcoholic because he has too much time on his hands.
I think back on his life and mine and and I realize that even though he has no money problems he also has no reason to get up in the morning. Neither of us have children. I always think of what I could do with his income.
But I have a reason for getting up in the morning. I have to struggle with words every day. For me every day is a day of hope.
I definitely believe that when my brother gave up painting–he said it was too difficult to come up with new ideas all the time–he actually gave up hope, without knowing it, on what he so obviously had a great talent for. If he had continued to struggle with his talent, if he had known that talent is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration, he would have had a reason for getting up in the morning for the rest of his life no matter what else happened in his life. Now his talent is gone.
Writing is a sign of infinite hope.
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Tags: articles, creative writing, Flash fiction, hope, ideas, Life, money, people, Pittsburgh, poem, publication, talent, write, Writers, Writing
34 Responses to “Creative Writing: Journey of Hope”
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September 1st, 2009 at 3:09 am
Great read Guy, I liked the last sentence, I like it.
September 1st, 2009 at 3:55 am
A good piece, Guy, and true.
Steve
September 1st, 2009 at 4:27 am
You are ‘write’ (excuse the bad pun!) when you say that writers are packed with hope because nearly everyone of us here on Triond must have had some article that was an absolute ‘good for nothing’ piece but still, we write until we find that one article that just showers us with success. And once we do that, we want to top that. Really good article and as Steve Newman said, really really true!
September 1st, 2009 at 5:09 am
Another great read. Thanks so much for sharing.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:32 am
Hi,
I enjoyed reading your work. Yes, everyone needs a reason to get out of bed; even if it means going to a job you don’t really like. Your style is very friendly and I felt as if we were having a face to face conversation.
Have a good day.
Georgie
September 1st, 2009 at 8:13 am
Beautifully said.
September 1st, 2009 at 10:17 am
Too bad your brother gave up on his talent. That is just so sad, the life he is liveing now. You on the other hand are finding reasons to have hope..to keep on keeping on…to keep writing and writing. Finding the words that people will want to read. Keep on wrting Guy, no matter what. I enjoyed your article and I know that all of us writers have the same kind of hope that you have. Writing is a reason to get up in the morning and begin again. Each new day is a fresh start. Beautifully and wonderfully stated.
September 1st, 2009 at 11:36 am
Buma, over the years writing itself has given me hope: hope for learning to write better, hope for an income and hope for the future.
September 1st, 2009 at 11:42 am
Hello, Steve: I look back on my life and the only constant, since I was a teenager, has been writing. That may say some bad things about me; but I think it also says some good things about me.
September 1st, 2009 at 11:52 am
Hi, Atikin: There are all sorts of writers in the world from all sorts of backgrounds who write about all sorts of things; but as far as I can tell we all go through the same struggle of finding our voices and subject matter and in not losing hope in publication.
September 1st, 2009 at 11:58 am
Good article. Yes, I agree. Writing is about hope and not giving up. persistence is the key to success. There will always be obstacles and struggle and even people that will try to bring you down. The key is to hang in there and believe in yourself.
September 1st, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Hey, Papa: The article was pretty easy to write after I realized it was going to be about not giving up the hope of publication and that I was going to use my younger brother to illustrate the point. For years I’ve thought my brother made a mistake in giving up his dream to paint.
September 1st, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Hi, Georgie: Thank you for stopping by. I actually tried to give up on writing several times; but each time it seemed like I was giving up on myself and that I was not willing to do.
September 1st, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Hi, Marie: I’ve had years to think about this. Over the years I’ve written about the same subject several times; but this article is probably the best one. I guess I’m getting better.
September 1st, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Hi, teddybear55: Yes, my brother now has no interest in anything. He’s depressed. He spends most of his time in bed watching television. The only thing he cares about is his money but his money is doing him no good.
September 1st, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Hi, Marlene: If a writer just keeps writing and keeps studying her craft she has to get better. It would be almost impossible not to get better. At least that’s what happened to me.
September 1st, 2009 at 12:39 pm
When we deny our true calling – we deny ourselves – if we deny oursleves – we sleep through life. I, like you, would rather be awake!
September 1st, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Hi, RoxyGirl, I feel bad for my brother but you can’t live another person’s life for him or her. If I didn’t have writing I would lose my identity.
September 1st, 2009 at 4:50 pm
I agree Guy, … to an extent. I agree that to keep writing most writers hold their goals up to be readily seen and thus work toward them, and that to do so most of the time requires hope, but if you truly do consider talent to be worth 10% inspiration 90% perspiration, then really, hope is not the greater part of the endeavour, it is the lesser. After all, above all else, hope requires courage. Courage is the thing. Since according to your equation perspiration is the greater part of the endeavour, it seems to me that hope is justified only by the struggle toward it, which requires great courage.
Of course, not all writers have hope. If all writers were inspired by hope and had the courage to pursue that hope, then the writing world would most likely be swamped with talent. But I\’m sure you agree with me that is not the case.
For thousands of years the world has been blessed with writers sharing their knowledge, wisdom and entertainment. Yet, did they all share in the hope that their work would be read widely? There are many poets who only wanted to be left to their solitude to meditate, and many more whose work was published posthumously. So, while I agree that most modern writers share the hope of being widely read, there are some who just want to write. It\’s just part of who they are and sometimes they don\’t even share their talent with their families. A shame that, but, that\’s how it is.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Very good points and sadly, so very true.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Nice creation of ideas
September 1st, 2009 at 8:20 pm
I enjoyed Adam Henry Sears\’ insightful response asserting that not all writers have hope. Whether hope is courage or not, I . think anyone who writes something for someone to read is sharing thoughts, good or bad, with the hope that the message will be understood. But, Mr. Sears thoughts do make one think about writing from a deeper perspective. Anyhow, you need to get your brother to paint again so the world doesn\’t miss the opportunity to see his work. I would like to see his work. I hope you succeed.
September 1st, 2009 at 9:38 pm
I agree with you, everyone needs something to work with. I have a family member who is talented with music and gave it up. It’s sad to see someone give up the thing that gives meaning to their life.
September 1st, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Is it the same to genius, 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration?
Great read..Thanks for sharing a food for thought.
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Hello, Adam: Writing does take courage. Writing takes many things. I think we can both agree that for the writer to be a writer the writer must write.
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Hi, Mary: I think any talent should be worked at even if we don’t make our living at it. You can always call it a hobby. People will understand. And the hobby will enrich your life.
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Hi, Rehchal: Thank you. These are just things I’ve thought about for a long time.
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Hello, JJ: You will have to trust me when I say my brother has far more important things to worry about than painting. He is now so self-destructive that we who care about him are worried about his life. His talent left years ago.
September 2nd, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Ruby, it is sad; but we both know that you can’t live other people’s lives for them. Still I am so glad I kept writing, even though I didn’t become rich and famous, that I give thanks every day.
September 2nd, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Hi, giftarist: Genius is the ability to give an infinite amount of attention to detail.
September 4th, 2009 at 1:34 am
This is an amazing yet simple personal story, and I really appreciate your sharing it. Writing can and does give us purpose. Since I’ve started writing again, I have renewed hope and meaning in my life.
September 4th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Hello, WriteEditSeek: Since I was a teenager, writing has given me direction in life; and now that I’ve taken early retirement, writing fills my days and helps to supplement my income.
Everyone should have a passion in life. I’m a serious writer. That’s pretty exciting.
September 5th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Like it. I feel if you recognize your talent then shouldn’t give up. We should do what our hearts tell us to do. But… then… money does matter.
September 5th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Sourav, money always matters; many times your talent may not make you money. You just get a job for money and still keep struggling with your talent.