In my mind, the goal of writing is not to author a one-shot knock-out bestseller. Personally, I think that’s like rushing through a meal so you can enjoy the last bite of a dessert that may or may not come. For me, the goal of writing is to immerse myself in appreciation of each narrative step, and to publish when I feel I’ve reached a point of diminishing returns–when additional nitpicking would hold me back from becoming a better writer, in the sense that it could make my life miserable, or indefinitely prevent me from writing the next story I’m called to write (yeah, I know–that’s pretty subjective).
Plenty of great authors have written poorly reviewed stories that fell by the wayside, that people don’t remember unless they try and find them. I think that’s fine–maybe those poorly received stories were crucial stepping stones, vital intermediaries between a writer’s beginning efforts and their better-known works. Much like a combatant doesn’t rely on a single technique to end a fight, or a singer relies on a single note to carry the song, writers shouldn’t rely on a single work to define their potential. Isn’t that the promise behind a blank page? It’s an invitation to let potential flow and peak–hopefully reinvigorate our collective imagination–so more potential can build off that iteration, and once again flow and peak.
Explore the Worlds Behind the Stories
Kent Wayneโs ideas about storytelling, power, and human nature appear throughout his fiction.
If you’re curious how those ideas appear inside the stories, start with the Unbound Realm.
If youโre still exploring, follow the ideas:
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