On Wanting to Create a Masterpiece on the First Try
A lesson on the creative process that I relearn every time I write
Every artist wants everything they create to be a masterpiece, to shock the world with its shining colors. Writers are no exception. Art is a reflection of our selves, and if the work we create isn’t special, then what are we?
There’s a romantic idea that the true beauty of art is in the creation process. I don’t believe that. Sure, I write for myself sometimes, but often, I write for others: that’s why I write on Medium. And when I look deeper, there’s a part of writing that comes from a desire to be loved. I want people to see that I have a unique perspective, that I’m special. Artists often love to ignore such narcissistic remarks but — and maybe I’m cynical — it underlies all art. We tell ourselves that we create for others, to make others feel understood, but the desire for ego satisfaction remains an influence.
In writing, this manifests as the powerful psychological torture we call writer’s block. If our words suck, then no one will love them, and hence, no one will love us, and so we can’t type. We’re afraid that others will read our work and hate it, or worse, ignore it. Then we type, press the backspace button, start again, press the backspace button a few more times, and soon, we’re…
