“I think that I am better than the people that are trying to reform me.” Goethe
Confidence, self-certainty, cockiness. In looking at some of my favorite authors, authors that have changed literature and its genres, I believe in the necessity of possessing a know-it-all attitude. Why? Because honestly, an author should be his own worst critic. If your own work of fiction (or poetry, nonfiction, etc.) passes a thorough and honest self-evaluation, then the opinions of outside critics and reformers will be of little consequence to you. That's not to say that a writer should ignore all external criticisms; however, these external criticisms should be weighed against your own instinct and intuition.
(I'm a huge believer in utilizing intuition while writing. I'm a huge believer in not thinking too much during the first draft. I'm a huge believer that analyzation can cause paralyzation. Thinking too much leaves a writer open to inconsistencies, especially when creating a character.)
James Joyce linked the artist to God, stating: "The artist, like the God of the creation, remains within or behind or beyond or above his handiwork, invisible, refined out of existence, indifferent, paring his fingernails." In other words, the artist is himself beyond the reproach of critics and readers. But only after he has honed his art to a point of self-satisfaction.
Lauren,
ReplyDeleteI think you have a point here. If you become so concerned about what other people think about what you write, you stop writing for whatever personal benefits you get and start writing for other people. The obvious problem with that is that your writing will become less honest, less authentic. Nobody cares to read something that is less than honest. There is no merit in it.