Cost of perfection

Doing a little research the other day, I learned that a lot of famous writers from the past suffered from depression and many, in fact, wound up committing suicide or destroying their lives via alcohol or drugs. Some of the writers that actually did that were involved in the same genre that I have been with a good majority of my life. It's one thing to look at that, but then again if they hadn't had such inner conflict perhaps they would have never created the masterpieces that they did. I know from my own personal experience, that, even though I would say I'm in no way thankful for it by any means, pain always drove me to excel. And then maybe there is another perspective that maybe there is such a thing as a curse for dark writers. Poe and Lovecraft both died miserable and broke. Plath committed suicide by way of putting her head in an oven. Stoker never lived to see any of his works garner any sort of appreciation at all. It definitely makes you wonder.

Continual search for inspiration

Lately, I have been continuing my everlasting search for inspiration. As a writer, I guess its useful to have the ability to find it just about anywhere. From day to day life experiences, to movies, music, books, and everything in between. I'm going to be starting a new story soon. This one has many connotations to the Louisiana area so, of course, I'm studying up on haunted plantations, psychotic plantation owners, voodoo, etc. As with every story I write, I try to put every ounce of my being in my work. To be inspired on a continual basis, and to inspire others as well is, I feel, one of the more challenging things about being a writer.

Confidence

If you're a writer, I feel the most important thing one can have in regards to their work is confidence in their abilities. You see, we all live in a world where there are far more critics than there are creators. The actions, attitudes, or words of those critics can be damaging to those who do not have a strong sense of worth. I, myself, have been told several things that I felt were less than kind. Of course, several reasons were given to justify those who said those things to me, from 'it's constructive criticism' to 'Yes your work is original and eccentric, but....' Truth is, ridicule is ridicule. If you have the ability to consistently ignore it and not let it change the person you are, that might be a good thing. So, in that regard, confidence is priceless.