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

[aynne-witch.livejournal.com]

Bless Ms. Bear's little cotton socks - this is a wonderful statement on why writers write.

Because we gotta - if we make good at it great, if not we still have to tell the stories or we go mad because the characters in our heads need to be let out for exercise or the pounding on the door becomes unbearable.

[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].

[sadieko.livejournal.com]

I have to admit that I think Bear takes herself a little too seriously in this. You should always write about what has meaning to you, but it doesn't necessarily have to serve a greater social purpose or challenge the status quo. Many young adult, fiction, fantasy, and romance books certainly don't. Many do. And both are okay and serve different purposes.

Another thing about writing is that books written with the purpose of conveying a message aren't always as good books that are about telling a story and letting the reader work out the meaning for themselves.