I am not an artist.

[jeriendhal]

Elizabeth Bear on her craft.

I think this helped me realize something about what I do. I am not an artist, in that I take particular care to hone my skills to produce a specific result. I am most certainly not a Capital A Artist, out to poke at the status quo, challenge assumptions, point out the Emperor's lack of clothes and so forth.

I'm a writer, a storyteller. I write what I write because that's what I feel like writing. I'm not out to discomfort anyone or make them look at the world differently. Occasionally that's happened, but the result was entirely accidental. I'm primarily an entertainer. Mostly I'm out to entertain myself, and if a few others happen to enjoy my stuff, that's just terrific.

I suppose that's one reason I'm not twisting myself into knots to try to get a book commercially published. It'd be nice, but it's hardly necessary for my self-validation.

And that's okay.

Comments

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

I'm on your end of the spectrum, too, Royce. I like to play with characters and ideas and possibilities. I do write because I have to (I'm not a fun person to be around when I don't), but not because I need to Make a Statement.

I've had some unexpressed (at least to her) philosophical differences with Elizabeth Bear ever since I subscribed to her LJ over a year ago. At least I understand why her books don't do much for me.

OTOH, I have been twisting myself into knots trying to get a book commercially published. It's necessary for me to believe that there is room for both kinds of writers in that world. If there isn't, then hang me now [wry g].