
“Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” — Ambrose Redmon
I began writing in my most vulnerable years. I was dumb and arrogant, as most teenagers seem to be, and I did my best to pour greatness into every sentence I wrote.
But I was also lying to myself, writing about what I didn’t know, pretending to know, and I got caught and people could see that I wasn’t willing to let them in — I was building this wall to protect my true self from anyone who would be searching for it behind my words. There was nothing that belonged to me in the stories I wrote.
There’s this poem by a Romanian poet, Mihai Eminescu. It’s called To My Critics, and the last verses go like this:
It is easy to write verses
Out of nothing but the word.
It Began as a Mistake
It happened on a cold, winter night. My mother and I were taking the tram after having visited our grandfather. And it just came to me. Not kidding, it did. An idea for a story.
The first story I remember writing was about the future. It was about androids and traveling among the stars, and there was this incredible base on the moon.
It was supposed to be a long series of novels…
Of course, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, but maybe that’s one of two requirements for doing anything in life: you’re either brave enough to do it or so stupid that you don’t have a clue about what you’re getting yourself into.
So I wrote. And I wrote. And so on.
I thought I was great. I really did. I never even stopped to ask myself what I was supposed to do with all the stuff that I wrote. I just knew that things were going to work out.
I guess that’s how people think when they feel they have a calling, a sort of higher purpose in life.
I never finished writing that story.
The second story I ever wrote was about a guy taking a shower. It was called, “In the shower.” Quite impressive.
I shared this story on an Internet forum, and everyone hated it. I defended my work the best a 14-year-old could do: by telling everyone they were rather stupid for not understanding what my story was all about.
I was told to give up, do something else, or, by those who were a bit more optimistic, to keep writing.
Someone told me I was either a retard or 14 years old. We argued a lot. I told them they didn’t understand literature.
Fun fact of the day: the guy I was arguing with over the web was (and still is) the youngest Romanian writer to ever sign a contract with a publishing house, at 16.
Well…
This made me angry nonetheless.
I wrote with anger. I read with anger, with the desire to show them what I was capable of.
This is an often heartbreaking truth about dreams: no one can see them but us.
If we want to live in a dream world, then we must be prepared to be alone most of the time.
I wrote and I wrote and I wrote. I wrote about unrequited love, monsters, and worlds that could never exist.
I wrote about who I was, who I hoped to be, and who I’d never want to become.
In high school, I was encouraged by my teachers to keep writing. Someone thought I was talented, someone took the time to read my words.
It matters a lot to a kid, for someone to stare them in the eye and tell them, “you’re talented.”
I thought I was dumb, weird, and quite boring as a kid. No one liked me, and I didn’t like them. It hurt to write because I thought no one would ever care about my words.
Then this high school teacher read one of my stories, and she looked me in the eye and said, “You’re talented.”
And I decided to become talented. Just like that.
Some stories I never finished. Others, never even got the chance to be written into existence.
By writing all those stories, by reading all the books I could get my hands on, I learned how to write. That’s all it takes: you read and you write, and if you do it long enough, you’ll become a writer.
I’m a writer because I write, because being a writer is what defines me, defines who I am and who I was, and who I will be.
And trust me, I wrote for all the reasons you can imagine.
I wrote because I had to get those words out of my head, I wrote for fun, I wrote because I wanted to impress people, because I wanted to make them cry or laugh.
I wrote because I wanted to leave something behind, and I wrote because I wanted a really long Wikipedia article about me.
I wrote for fame and glory, I wrote for money. I wrote because I was heartbroken, I wrote because I knew no one was going to write my stories for me. I wrote because I was starving. I wrote because I was alone.
I wrote for the entire world, and I wrote for just one person.
I wrote because I knew my stories would never come true, and I wrote because I hoped they would.
And the odd thing is that all those years I never hesitated, I never doubted the fact that I would, someday, become a writer.
And, yes, I did give up writing. For a few days, for a few weeks, even for a few months. But I never doubted the fact that one day I would become the writer I always wanted to be.
It Was Still a Mistake…
In November 2010 I found out about NaNoWriMo. I had never written in English before, so I thought I should give it a shot. I wrote a really bad novel, but I had a lot of fun.
In January 2011 I self-published that novel.
I, high on passion and enthusiasm, had dropped out of college. I also sold 2 e-books and 2 paperbacks.
Four months after self-publishing my first novel, I took it off Amazon.
One of the hardest lessons life teaches us is that we can give 100%, truly sacrifice for a dream, and we might still fail.
I had failed. And that was the closest I ever got to actually giving up on my dream of becoming a writer. For a few months, I didn’t write anything at all. I just kept thinking about how I had failed, about that two-star review my book had received on Goodreads, about all the mistakes and all the naive writing and the unrealistic characters and situations.
Then one night I had an idea. Much like the way it happened when I wrote my first story… it just came to me. Out of a sudden, I knew how to fix things. And I began re-writing my novel.
I had absolutely no idea what I was going to do with it. I honestly didn’t know if it was worth the trouble of self-publishing again. And going down the traditional route seemed to be out of reach for someone living so far away from all the agents and the publishing houses…
In September 2011 I stumbled upon Wattpad, an online community where a lot of aspiring writers upload their stories. And I tried my luck, wanting to know if someone would like my story. And to my surprise, they did like it. Very, very much.
That’s all I needed. Not a million-dollar advance from a big publisher, not Warner Bros. optioning the movie rights to my book. Just a bunch of teenagers telling me that they really liked my writing.
So I wrote.
And you know what I learned in all my years of writing?
All that matters is that you write. Nothing else. When you do your thing, it doesn’t matter, and it shouldn’t matter, what others are going to think about your story.
When you write, you should stop worrying about whether or not people are going to like your story, whether or not someone’s going to read it, whether or not they’ll care.
You should stop worrying whether or not you have something to say or you just want to say something because you do have something to say. And it’s not about saying something that no one else ever thought of saying, but about saying it in your voice. And that’s something we all have.
Writing is all about finding the courage to write. And courage is all about realizing that some things are more important than fear.
The Only Secret Is Obsession
Sometimes I get so seduced by the personal development community that I kind of forget that all the productivity hacks, the mental tricks, the shortcuts, the steps, all of them don’t work unless you are willing to do the work.
There’s no guide on earth that can help you decide whether a dream or a goal is worth the commitment and sacrifice.
You have to decide for yourself if you’re willing to pay the price.
If the answer is yes, then you’ve got to be obsessed about every second of the journey, about every step you take towards your destination.
If there’s one thing that defines me as a writer, it’s this word: I’m desperate.
You read that right. I’m desperate. I always have the mindset of the hungry wolf climbing towards the top of the hill.
Writing is what I love to do most in the world, and writing is what allows me to make sense of the world around me.
Look, I’m going to be honest with you. Daydreaming is nice. Eventually, as you grow older, it does break your heart.
The past and the future should never become places of residence, because they have the tendency of evicting us when we least expect it. And once you find yourself face down on the cold pavement of reality, you’re going to spend an awful lot of time wishing they’d plant you in the ground already.
A dream, especially the one that’s worth fighting for all your life, doesn’t come true unless it’s do or die.
I had to make a choice: I either became a writer, or I’d starve to death. Or become a con artist or something.
A dream comes true the moment you learn how to control your dark side, and how to use it to fuel you when you want to give up, when you’re tired, when you don’t have any money left, when your heartbroken by so many rejections.
That’s how you make a dream come true. It begins as a mistake, and by the time you realize it’s a mistake, you’ve got no other option but to keep going.
Nice post (again) Cristian. I'm with you on this.. And I think it's why even for rime fiction writers like myself, all the characters are based on people or composites of people I've known at sometime in my life. Liked this a lot, my friend
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you. I've spent more time dissecting myself as a writer than I did writing. Maybe that's why almost all of my stories are about writers. Or artists.
In a way I'm at my best as a writer when I'm writing about writers/writing.
LikeLiked by 5 people
This was a great and refreshing read. Thanks for posting it!
LikeLike
It always amazes me, as recently as the last few days, how much of writing is just sitting and thinking. In order to truly move the reader the words must be visceral, and to do that they have to come from my gut. You nailed it when you said that you need to write about what you know. I have had some discussions in my writer's group about how hard it is for me to write a male protagonist. Perhaps it is because I have a husband, have raised two sons and was a little sister in a fraternity that I must admit how often I am baffled by the workings of the male mind. Many jokes are made about how simple men are to understand, but I have found the opposite to be true. The men in my life have deep feelings but rarely express them, so I have no idea if what they are experiencing is the same as what I feel.
It also helps me in my writing to visualize people that I know when I am writing, even if my character is not exactly like them. If I can see them in my mind's eye, see their facial expressions and in particular their eyes, then it helps me to write a picture the reader can see. Am I successful? I don't know yet. I hope so.
LikeLiked by 5 people
I believe it was hemingway who said in order to write about life, first you must live it. This has come to mean something a bit different with the internet and being able to read stores, but the emotional connection to an "experience" Hemmingway advocates still stays the same. I may have not been to the vietnam war but if I am motivated enough and attached enough emotionally I can make it real and the truth will show in my emotion. Great post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly…I do both! I love painting in peoples brains…but I can't put it down without living the emotion raw and gritty inside as I do it…people wll see their own, but it is a variation of what I really lived. This is a spectacular explaination of how to write well. Bravo!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent post!!! I completely agree…I have often felt like my words are a bit too simple, obvious and perhaps too undisguised to be poetry…but you know the truth is, they are my words, this is how they come to me, and they are by no way perfect but they remain authentic. I have tried to write like some writers I have read or come accross on wordpress…major fail. I enjoyed reading this post!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your quote, "it is easy to write verses out of nothing but the word" rings so true to me. There are times when a well-written story feels hollow. So I work to avoid the hollowness that I see in others. One of my teachers in my writing program once told me that my stories proceed from light to dark, fooling the reader into thinking they're reading a comedy when, in fact, the story is really a tragedy. I think that's how my psyche works. I can't allow myself to start with the tragic; I have to break through the denial and get there gradually. Similar to Freud's talk therapy. Thanks for a thought-provoking post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really nice post and essay. Liked it very much :D
LikeLike
Another inspiring blog. Your authenticity shines through. Thank you for sharing at such a personal level. More please.
LikeLike
I did. I find it fascinating that you and I chose the image of Leo Tolstoy, when writing about why and of what, we write.
LikeLike
Even when you realize you need to write the truth in order to authentic, it's still difficult to do. I'm trying! :)
LikeLike
I appreciate your words of wisdom. They are inspiration to a writer who truly feels afraid to share the truth. Perhaps I can sit down with a pen and let something painful happen. Thank you.
LikeLike
So true and so well said, thank you. I was once told that “we right not what we know, but to find out what we know” to that I can only add that we also writ to find out who we are and what is our place in the world.
LikeLike
I am in my thirties and have only been writing seriously for three years, but I have come to the same conclusion. Be honest. I only wish I had discovered that truth as early as you did.
LikeLike
Your first paragraph as a sort of apt description of me :D
I like your essays. They are true without being pretentious.
Please keep writing :)
LikeLike
And can you be a writer and a storyteller?
Anyone you can think of?
LikeLike
Well, John le Carre is the first that springs to mind, mostly because of the plot heavy genre he's writing in.
LikeLike
Good article.
LikeLike
I loved your essay here. Very well written. And so full of truth. Even in writing fiction there is a need to know all one can know about the their subject and characters to make them convincing to the reader. In writing literary prose, I believe it is most important to have a message that will not be easily forgotten, but resonate in one's heart and mind, long after its read for it to have a powerful impact. I think the old writers like Tolstoy and Hemingway wrote truly from their heart, then created masterfully with words, a message not easily forgotten.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on webreathenow.
LikeLike
You have an impressive blog and, from what I'm seeing, fascinating entries. My congratulations!
LikeLike
Thanks for this Cristian. I had a conversation with a friend only yesterday on finding the authentic self in the writing. This post helps me. islandscribbler
LikeLike
Thanks, Cristian. I like what you said about being true and writing what is real. If you force it, I think people will see through that. Maybe it's why writers get stuck in a story and can't go beyond….because they are not being true to their characters. Just had that thought.
LikeLike
You have such a way with words, I can't truly describe it. I look forward to reading your future essays!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Jade M.Wong and commented:
I usually never reblog a post. This is a first. But this post is filled with so much wisdom, advice, and bare honest truth, that I have to share with everyone that I can. Personally, as a young writer still trying to figure out exactly what it means to be a writer, I found this post speaking to me, and making sense (which is rare). For all you aspiring writers out there, and all you established writers and all you in between! I hope this post helps you understand a little bit more The Portrait of a Writer.
"Because no matter how great of a story we can tell, it won't matter unless we actually tell it."
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true, all of it! It's funny, as a teenager you think you understand so much when you really don't, and all you're doing is throwing words out that aren't fully understood– but the feeling of knowing was so powerful then. I almost miss it.
LikeLike
Wonderful post. Thank you.
LikeLike
Yup… If only we could all know as much as teenagers think they know we would live in a very wise world…heehee.
Loved your post! Sarah from 1pastorswife.worpress.com
LikeLike
Beautiful blog. So much inspiration. That is why it is important for everyone to read.to get in touch with their inner self. Go beyond simple and superficial.
LikeLike
Hi Christian, you expressed your ideas very eloquently. I'm looking forward to read more from you. Keep writing the way you do.
The best thing I like about your blog is that it's full of valuable info and the fact that you so generously share your knowledge. :)
LikeLike
Brilliant! Transcendent, poignant, witty– everything a good essay need-be. Too many artists– of all mediums– are guilty of building walls with their art. And learning to let spectators, critics and admirers in is harder than the creation itself. You caught that perfectly.
LikeLike
So I got sucked into those Versatile Blogger Awards and nominated you on my blog, feel free to check it out or ignore, I just like taking the chance to share blogs I enjoy reading, like yours!
LikeLike
Wow! This is brilliant! Thanks for that!
LikeLike
Cristian: Your recent series of posts on publishing/writing have been superb. I've been taking notes. It's time for me to close out the draft of my first book. I've been delaying the conclusion for months now. Thanks!
LikeLike
Wow! What a powerful post. Just reading this I could feel something – feel my inner writer flinch and relax. My first time to this blog, I wasn't expecting to read something so, well… so well written~
"All we are doing are self-portraits. As simple that. We accumulate knowledge and wisdom and power, and we get our hearts broken, and we write. We write for others to absorb what took us so long to understand."
Yes oh yes oh yes oh yes! We write for others to absorb what took us so long to understand. That, my friend, is quotable.
I love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think we are always creating portraits of the people we know, and self-portraits of ourselves in whatever we write. Sometimes the self-portraits are uncomfortable when we reveal the darker and less pleasant sides of ourselves in our characters too. Yet if we didn't recognise those elements in ourselves, how would we ever be able to understand and empathise with them in the people we write about? It is a fascinating journey and one I relish every day – getting to know me and then daring to place it in someone else Thank you for sharing a part of your self-portrait.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautifully put, Cristian. It is so very true , there is always a little bit of us in whatever we write.
LikeLike
Wow, I've come smack up against that wall myself. And it took me far longer than it took you to realize that I can't hide myself from my writing, that I have to expose myself to readers in order to create something anyone would bother reading. I'm still struggling with that. Good luck with your own struggle.
LikeLike
I just read your post and feel like I am just now discovering where I fit in the realm of writing, one that you seem to live as well…you said it perfectly, "At times I've spent more times dissecting myself as a writer than I did writing…In a way I'm at my best as a writer when I'm writing about writers/writing." I could not agree more. I feel the exact same way. When I write about writing, the words just flow out of me. Yet I am constantly fumbling when I sit and try to write my novel. I'm so glad you visited my blog because it led me to yours, one that I have just fallen in love with. :) Thank you for that…
LikeLike
I like what you are saying. I could keep on reading.
LikeLike
someone once said that to really write from the heart you had to stop being afraid of what your parents would say.
i prefer the henry miller approach, with honesty so (apparently) obvious that you can throw in whatever fictitious element and always keep your readers wondering.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow it's so well-written! And you're so right: when we write, we are unconsciously reflecting ourselves in our writing. I always notices that when I write, even a small paragraph…
LikeLike
I agree completely with you on this. When you talked about the feeling the readers are about to get as well when reading, noticing if it is true or not, I was nodding here all by myself. It could be put into words almost perfectly and still there is something missing from behind it. I can feel it when writing, and I think that is the thing that arises those blockages that hinder me from actually continuing from some point. And who else I could know better than myself. I agree. I do write all about myself, though I do my best to disguise it.
You have some great stuff in here. I will be back. Thank you.
And thanks for visiting my realm of words, as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the insight, Cristian! I think that a little tiny bit of the author always creeps into any writing, no matter what it is :) I agree wholeheartedly with your distinction between writers and storytellers.
LikeLike
That's very, very true (but then, that's the point, isn't it?). Good insight and nicely written.
LikeLike
"We write for others to absorb what took us so long to understand." Love, love, love this! Thank you for sharing. It's why I recently made the jump to share my writing. Looking forward to reading the next in this series.
LikeLike
Great post. You managed to write about a very personal experience and at the same time make it feel very universal.
LikeLike
Thanks Cristian, even those of us who write dodgy vampire fiction (at times) can relate…what you've said transcends genre and gets to the heart, our hearts. Brilliant!
Now if I can just figure out how to get your posts to my inbox rather than my reader ;)
LikeLike
Ah ha! Email updates sorted!! Sometimes I think there is a reason writing is a solitary trade…people would think we were odd when they see how much we talk to ourselves, even when its with our 'inner' voice!
LikeLike
I like your blog! Keep up the writing. :)
LikeLike
Perfect. I read your post and my mind filled simply with "Perfect."
LikeLike
What you said about truth in writing is very true. When I attempt to write fiction, I find too much of myself in the writing. That seems wrong to me, so then I try to weed it out and that is where I fail every single time. There should be a little bit of me in there.
LikeLike
The memories of my teenage self say that you had her at "Hello." I can relate. I am conscious of that wall – or, more appropriately, conscious of keeping that wall down – whenever I write.
LikeLike
Hey Christian have you ever heard of Larry Brown? He has some of the best books I've ever read and I think you would love what he has to say about writing. Let me know if you'd be interested in some rec.'s regarding his work.
LikeLike
Thank you for this post, so beautifully written and wise. It made me think of a quote from Goethe that I have on my website:
'Every author in some way portrays himself in his works, even if it be against his will.
This is as splendid:
'Storytellers weave beautiful, intricate stories. They carefully build settings, masterfully sculpt characters. Their stories make use of the reader’s imagination – they make him dream. And then there’s the other category, the ones who make us feel.'
I am going to share this on FB and Twitter!
LikeLike
Oh my god! You're a god!!! :) I wish I could spit lines just like that. :) Argh! After reading this, I feel and realize just how much of a mediocre (pseudo) (frustrated) writer I am! haha.
LikeLike
Everyone is a Genius
But if you judged every fish by it's ability to climb a tree?
Well, you'd feel stupid too.
This quote is my favourite. It also took me 7 years to finally get what Einstein meant. It's incredible what we don't see in quotes that have changed lives. When we do see it though, everything changes. How we look at ourselves, how we judge others, how we perceive ourselves among so-called perfection.
When we get that moment, that eye opener of "I get this.", changes everything of how we see the world. In that moment, you just understand what you need to do. You see yourself looking at you, like a mirror.
Your writing was absolutely beautiful, you portrayed yourself truly with elegance and wisdom. Thank you.
The Dragon's Scribe.
LikeLike
This really resonates with me – so beautiful! So much of my old writing was a way to cover up my true self as well. I am definitely a writer rather than a story teller, though like everything else, it is not an either/or question :) Keep up your writing, I'd love to read more. Also, thanks for the blog visit!
LikeLike
Great post and beautifully written. I feel like I've been taken on a wonderful journey into the heart of creating where you have to pass the road blocks along the way, but which are inevitably part of the journey. Thank you! :)
LikeLike
"All we are doing are self-portraits." So true! As a writer trying to find the right balance between literary and commercial fiction, I've found this to be the best path. Just be yourself as you write, and the balance will find itself. Even blogging is a good way to find yourself–with an audience! Very nice post–I wish you luck with your work!
LikeLike
This post is a truly transcendent literary experience! Bravo!
LikeLike
Splendid. Makes perfect sense to me….
I jumped, and it made all the difference.
Authenticity at the core….courage…and intention —- those matter.
Thanks for this.
Sam
LikeLike
I absolutely enjoyed this and am so glad you hopped on over to my blog. I might not have ever found this. Very raw, very honest, very real, very insightful. Can't wait to read more! These words challenge me as a writer to dig deeper, to break down my walls and be human with my readers so that my characters can also be human.
LikeLike
Enjoyed reading your post Cristian, struck me right through the jugular some of what you've said. On my way to the other side of the fence… or so I wish! =)
LikeLike
Enjoyed reading…great content
LikeLike
I like this so much better, now that I don't have to struggle with the tiny font! Thank you so much for making the adjustment. Now, I can agree with you based on your content instead of just the spirit of your posts! — YUR
LikeLike
It's the ability of the artist to be able to put it into words or capture the image in a way that can be understood by others that makes it truly art. That's what you have done here. Very inspiring. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
"We write for others to absorb what took us so long to understand."
As an introvert, I find it difficult to finally be able to even ATTEMPT to explain myself about what I do and what moves me.
Finding the right words can mean everything.
I look forward to reading more of your posts in the future.
<3
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmm. . .very nice.
LikeLike
I struggle as a fiction writer, but I seem to be okay at blogging. Apparently. Maybe. Who even knows. My thing is that unless I'm specifically talking about myself, my characters don't feel real to me. Not real enough to warrant my spending time with them to write their stories.
Also–you're fabulous. And deep. I'm like…shallow mcshallowson over here. The deepest thought I've had today was about how sad it is working a 9-5 with all these fluorescent lights. That pale lighting really does make everything depressing.
LikeLike
This makes sense to me, and it makes me feel a little less alone out there in the ether…artists/writers are alike, and a "type" – as special as we think we are.
LikeLike
I like your blog and will come back and read this again…There is more here than I can comprehend with one reading… Thank you!
LikeLike
This is really beautiful insight, and it reminds me of my World Literature class last year. We read the book Sophie's World about philosophy and had many discussions about archetypes in writing and how the human psyche is related to authorship. It's very interesting!
LikeLike
This is a nice post I am happy I found your blog, ….
LikeLike
Great content and very inspiring…
LikeLike
You summed up something that would have take me weeks to put into words …"We write for others to absorb what took us so long to understand."
I love this post,x
LikeLike
Lovely essay Cristian! You know how to dig deep within the soul of an artist and reveal the hidden treasures. And you do so with amazing style and wit. I'll be back to read more of your posts! And thanks for this gem: "We write for others to absorb what took us so long to understand."
LikeLike
True!
LikeLike
Jump Christian jump! Wow! You are a lovely writer! I look forward to reading more of your posts! I love knowing young people with such a beautiful mind! Keep going!
LikeLike
Super Likes for this post …
LikeLike
Oh man! This is such truth!!! So many people I know tell me they are aspiring writers, and give me their work to read, and it all just sounds like they are trying to be great or deep, so it ends up being filled with cliches… I love this post. Write the truth, write yourself. THAT is good writing.
LikeLike
Great post! You nailed it… sometimes we don't write what we feel or what's inside of us. We try to make everything so grand or perfect that it comes out sounding stuffy and fake. I'm looking forward to following your blog for more insight. Thanks for stopping by mine!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on head in the clouds and commented:
Wow, I came across fellow blogger Cristian Mihai today when he visited head in the clouds. What a talent! I love this post… The Portrait of a Writer. It's very well written, and I wanted to share it with my readers.
LikeLike
In the words of the late, great writer, Nora Ephron "Everything is copy'. I write about myself. Nothing can even come close to it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
looking forwards to the rest!
LikeLike
I love this a lot, a good read for any Artist.
LikeLike
Beautiful
LikeLike
Reblogged this on W.T. George and commented:
This is wonderful, it hits the nail right on the head.
LikeLike
This is a great post. I especially agree with the way some things just can't be translated into movies or anything else except what they are, words. Also, I just read your short story "One". It was really good, very emotional.
LikeLike
Right on! Any fiction, no matter how fantastical, has to have the ring of truth to it in order to be good. I look forward to your future essays.
LikeLike
Beautiful! Thank you for posting.
LikeLike
Nice post! I started writing in elementary school and I always wrote about "exotic" places that I had never been. I grew up in the hills of eastern Kentucky and dreamed of seeing the world. I've been a teacher, social worker, editor, freelance writer, and spent years as a stay-at-home mom. I've lived in the city for 40 years and I've seen the world. I published a young adult novel with Knopf in 2010. The setting? Eastern Kentucky — the place, people, and culture I know best. It pays to WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW. Always good advice.
LikeLike
That phrase is in fact one of the many fabulous sentences in this article. I like the idea as well, and through it I can see my motivation as a reader as well. Thanks to all the writers, Cristian Mihai, Fiona, etc for writing and giving the readers the opportunity to understand more easily what took them long time to understand!
LikeLike
"The whole truth, and nothing but the truth."
Boy, that's hard. I've been grappling with this myself lately–I started writing many years ago, and since then I've been through events that have changed me so much I scarcely know myself anymore.
It helps that much of my old audience–my oldest friends and closest family–well, I can't get over the idea that they're unlikely to accept what I've become. I keep trying to write, but I can't get the truth out–can't quite abide the thought of showing it to any of them. If only for fear of hurting adherents of an old religion I've long since left behind.
Any advice for getting over this situation?
LikeLike
Reblogged this on "I am linked therefore I am" and commented:
Inspiring blog about writing!
LikeLike
Great truths here, Cristian. Ernest Hemingway also talks about writing one true thing, followed by another true thing in "Moveable Feast."
Truman Capote felt that it was OK to betray others to tell a story. Peeling back the layers of your own life is one thing, doing the same to others … Well, some truths might better be left unsaid.
LikeLike
On the one hand, I feel like this is quite good advice, but on the other, I feel as if writing helps us figure out truths about ourselves that we would never have otherwise realized, and, oftentimes, we need to lie first to figure out that we are lying. It's paradoxical, almost. Not to say that you shouldn't aim for truth, you should, but that's no guarantee that you're going to get it. Rather, it's a slow build, and, like all writing, not really something you can sit down and automatically do, but something that you have to feel your way through overtime. Regardless, this is a lovely post.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Atoms of My Existence.
LikeLike
Fantastic and capturing view, indeed.
LikeLike
Wow, inspiration and great instuction! Thank you!
LikeLike
…and I cannot spell! Instruction! Yikes!
LikeLike
I absolutely love all these insights!!
LikeLike
Hi Cristian,
I really appreciate you writing this piece because many writers feel the same way. Realization comes for some, for others it takes years and also takes a toll.
Keep writing.
LikeLike
Hi Cristi,
There is no greater anguish than putting up with an untold story inside us.
LikeLike
"There are writers and there are storytellers."
You have hit the nail on the head with that one!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on consciousfoto.
LikeLike
Beautifully written and expressive article. Congratulations!
LikeLike
Interesting. I think that writers can sometimes get hooked up on the adage, write about what you know, thinking they must therefore write about themselves. When we are young, we know little beyond ourselves but as we grow our outlook broadens and we start to observe others, try to empathise. The practice of observing and empathising over time enables the truly good writer to write about others just as, if not even more, effectively, than he/she writes about him/herself. The title of your post recalls, perhaps deliberately, a more famous portrait, The Portrait of a Lady. If Henry James had only written about himself, that book could never have been written.
LikeLike
You are a very good writer, I enjoyed this post. Yes, we writer's must be willing to jump or at least scale the wall.
LikeLike
Wow. Great read. During my school days i used to write stuff myself and give names of imaginary authors and speak them out in declamation contests. They were exactly the stuff you spoke of here – things i did not understand but wrote and felt proud because nobody could understand either.
I felt that stringing together fantastic words I could weave something beautiful. Now that I think of it, it seems gross because i had no idea of what i was writing or thinking.
When i read the translated poems of Rabindranath Tagore's Gitanjali, i can actually experience what you call the blending of words into something tangible yet aloof. I may not understand all of what he is trying to express but i can feel that it is beautiful and it makes me happy. I guess that is the purpose of all art !
LikeLike
Yep. Writing = exposure.
LikeLike
Lovely thoughts on being a writer. I am forwarding your links to my daughters for inspiration as both are aspiring to write in one way or another.
LikeLike
This was great, Cristian, thank you. I absolutely agree, and I think this is definitely true for artists of all stripes, not just writers. You don't have anything compelling to say, to share, in whatever art form, until you're telling the truth. I did a lot of theater in high school, and it always irritated me when people would say, "Oh, I could never be an actor – I'm a terrible liar!" It took me a long time to articulate that what I objected to was the assumption that acting (good acting) had to do with anything but exposing the most truthful parts of your emotional life. Granted, as you said, it's camouflaged in another person's story, but a good actor finds the emotional truth of the fiction and then finds the parallel emotional truth in herself, and then strips all her defenses down so that THAT is what the audience sees. And if you're faking it, they always know, even if they can't say why the performance fell flat.
LikeLike
Appreciate your thoughts on writing. Truth is of the essence.
LikeLike
I enjoyed your post! I think you have to write about what you know in order for your readers to believe your stories. Even science fiction and fantasy have to be grounded in reality and have to evoke some sort of emotion.
LikeLike
That was beautiful, Cristian. And I think you're right. Before one can tell a story, any story, one must find her voice. Trying to tell a story in someone else's voice is always going to seem phoney.
LikeLike
Yes, an actor can speak lines provided him; when a writer does that, he's a reporter, not a writer…
LikeLike
A lovely post, Cristian. Thank you.
LikeLike
So very true. Thank you for this wonderful post- it was a great way to start the morning. I look forward to reading more from you :)
LikeLike
I read what you wrote. I enjoyed it. Your writing style is fresh and quite wonderful. I wish I could write as well as you. I'm looking forward to more of your posts.
LikeLike
As a new writer, I really appreciate this essay. Tell the truth. It's so scary to do and yet it is really all the advice we ever need in life. Your writing gives me courage and inspiration to continue on, even if I might need to fumble around in ideas of myself and the world for a while before getting to the heart of the matter.
LikeLike
I think this is a perfect way to describe the art of writing. I have been stuck because I'm afraid to tell the truth. When I write for my eyes the words spill out and fill up page after page. When I write, knowing that others are going to read and judge me, that wall springs up. This has spelled it out so perfectly for me. When I'm having trouble writing, I'm going to remember your words and let the truth out. Thank you!
LikeLike
I hear the truth in your writing and it certainly speaks to me. I am inspired by your writing, refreshed by your honesty and encouraged by your perspective. You are a very talented writer and I am now a follower of your blog *humble bow*
Be well and keep writing!
LikeLike
Masterful post. I have to say, though, my characters are not based on those I know, or have known in my life, or even any type of experience I have lived through. My characters crawl out of the depths of mind … and I simply observe; dictate what I see, hear and feel. But it is a personal journey for all of us, as no two writers are alike. Wonderful post, my friend.
LikeLike
Real food for thought here – apart from anything else it's set me wondering how do we judge if/when our writing is successful?
LikeLike
This is beautiful and true. Thank you.
LikeLike
Great piece. I, too, have been writing since my youth. Over the years as I have matured I have also evolved as a writer. We must be able to let it all go in our writings, understanding that not everyone will get it. Yet those who do will be forever blessed. Keep pushing forward.
LikeLike
Great piece. I, too, have been writing since my youth. Over the years as I have matured I have also evolved as a writer. We must be able to let it all go in our writings, understanding that not everyone will get it. Yet those who do will be forever blessed. Keep pushing forward.
LikeLike
Very true. All writing is autobiographical to an extent. We write about what we know and when we don't, well, the reader knows.
LikeLike
Great post! I believe that you right in that there is a difference between a writer and an artist. If I can't see what is written (in my mind) then the writer has not evolved to an artist. There are some of the things that I write that do that and others that do not. I guess that is my need to simply write at times. But the ART of writing should never be forgotten in an author's life. I've seen some things written that are pure "trash" to me and others that show the artist in a person. Thank you for pointing out the difference.
LikeLike
I think your "Portrait of a Writer" is brilliantly expressive and true. Thank you for highlighting, and sharing your truth, it's beautiful.
LikeLike
Dude. You make it sound so easy. Nice.
LikeLike
truly inspiring!!!!!!!!!!!
LikeLike
The best writing comes from personal experiences that have been dissected and come to terms with. Even fiction is very difficult to write from you head without some previous experience.
LikeLike
I agree completely. I think the writer's obligation, to him/herself, to readers, and to the world at large, is to tell the truth. It's very possible for a story, a character, or a situation to not be real but still be true. Thanks for reminding us all, I'm definitely keeping this in mind when I set sail toward the sunset on my boat of words.
LikeLike
Thank you for this.
LikeLike
Well said, thank you for posting.
LikeLike
Thanks for the inspiration!
LikeLike
Thank you….. I have had a story rolling around in my head since my life changing event in August of 1977. I spent 3 days lying on the side of ravine, too broken up to move, searching my soul and inner strengths for a solution – wishing, wanting and waiting to be found. Chapter one is now under construction thanks to your inspiration!
LikeLike
Great post. I feel like many of us start writing in those arrogant teenage years. I can definitely relate.
LikeLike
I could not agree with you more on this Cristian. :).
LikeLike
You definitely got to write about this. It will change everything, in a good way, just trying to write about it in a constructive way, or just trying to recall that event. Good luck
LikeLike
Actually, a disagree with you a little about this. In many ways, all writing is an act of lying. That doesn't mean it is not the truth. Many of the greatest lies are truth and many of the greatest truths are lies. I began "writing" as a child, lonely and unable communicate as effectively with others as I could with myself, so I created fantasies. My stories allowed me to go anywhere and be anyone. These were "lies," but the truth of them molded me. The "truths" were were the limits on me and on everyone–we cannot be everything we imagine ourselves to be. Only imagination can break the walls of truth.
LikeLike
So true! Loved it!
LikeLike
Loved this, its the first I have read of your work… Thanks for sharing
LikeLike
Loved this post, I think being honest and sincere in writing is tremendously important but also incredibly difficult, it's something I have been struggling with in my new book but I am trying to research areas I am not familiar with as much as possible to ensure a sense of sincerity throughout the book. I hope to find a style that is consistent in my writing – using my own voice rather than the voice I think other would like to hear. Hopefully I can bear some of the above in mind when I continue to write.
Great job.
http://www.revolutionwriter1.wordpress.com/
LikeLike
All that I can say is: how wonderful!
LikeLike
great post – thank you! yes, I couldn't agree more – honesty, honesty, honesty…
LikeLike
I love the self-portrait concept! Powerful insights. Thanks, Cristian.
LikeLike
I agree with stephglaser! that's what a writer, storyteller should be.
LikeLike
Masterful essay! – many writers claim to write pure fiction, nothing autobiographical. I am a self-portrait writer – my characters (when I write fiction) are different aspects of myself – one of my many personalities. Or snippets of people I have known. I cannot create true fiction.
LikeLike
Excellent writing; I'll now follow your posts.
It's not my subject; I write nonfiction, on economics and politics and anything else that gets my fancy. But I enjoy what you've written. If you're on Facebook, where I do a lot of posting, let me know.
If you enjoy writing about nonfiction, there's a group you might enjoy: The Intelligent Round Table, on FB. Some Mensa members (I'm one), and a lot of people I invited because they seem willing to discuss and debate matters. Only One Rule, no personal attacks on members.
Let me know if you're interested.
Meanwhile, I plan on following your future writings.
Well done.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on strutdogg and commented:
amazing
LikeLike
Wonderful post. We constantly "mine" ourselves for material.
LikeLike
O love seeing what drives other people to write
LikeLike
I love this. It's so honest.
LikeLike
fascinating x beauty is truth truth beauty x
LikeLike
I find that inspiring. Thank you.
LikeLike
I really enjoyed your blog and look forward to more great work and deep insight!
Adam
LikeLike
I've been reading for a long time and now decided to start my hand at writing, not like you, which I believe is a gift. For those not gifted, I write, if only to put down every thing I learned from reading in my own thoughts. My best inspiration is from my garden where I learned an awful lot about how much fun you can have being green.
LikeLike
Wow, this is so artistic! You inspire me to be an honest, dynamic, and all around better writer. I am a young writer, not only in age, but in experience. You really shed some clarity on what writing is about: realizing ideas in other people's minds, not pretending to be another person.
LikeLike
Yes, that's the most important part – the characters have to feel real – be real, living breathing, thinking human beings (or animals, or aliens etc) you have to be able to get inside their head, find out what makes them do what they do, what is their motivation, thier history. It can be very difficult, but also really rewarding when it works well.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Reformed Partisans.
LikeLike
Thanks for using your writing gift to add to the world & allowing us to see things from another's perspective. Keep inspiring us. #ROD
LikeLike
Your entire piece is divine…But that last line about the wall, the artist, and the need to just jump…Well, that nailed it for me. It feels so much "safer" sitting on the sidelines, but safety is the kiss of death to the artist. I can't wait to read more of your writing!
LikeLike
Wow!!! So fantastic. But sometimes I wonder why at a time you want to scribble something down, it just doesn't come. Alas! The magic of writing
LikeLike
Cristian, this is beautiful. And so true!
~ Olivia J Herrell
LikeLike
I really enjoyed your post. I can relate to much of what you have said. Thank you for sharing.
LikeLike
Writing is breathing, take a deep breath.
LikeLike
Very talented and raw truth… thank you for sharing. A. Adams
LikeLike
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and feelings in such a beautiful way!
LikeLike
I like your insight on proceeding from light to dark; breaking through denial to get their gradually.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on an ominous muse.
LikeLike
Actually, I have to correct myself… To some extent the goal of writing is to pretend to be another person. I guess better said you wouldn't want to manipulate the reader.
LikeLike
Really enjoyed your post. Rings all the bells with me too! :)
LikeLike
This is a terrific post! Best of luck with your writing.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Talk over Tea with TheTwistedTeaCup and commented:
Interesting thoughts from a writer's perspective.
LikeLike
Enjoyed it. Thanks. and learned something about myself, too.
LikeLike
It is difficult for us, as individuals, to overcome our own self-aggrandizing view of the importance of ourselves. You have achieved within yourself what most of us will never know we need to achieve.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on theincognitolatina and commented:
This post is rebloged from Cristian Mihai (cristianmihai.net). I think it is wonderfully insightful to all of us that are still trying to get our footing and develop a personal writing style.
LikeLike
I really enoyed this, it really spoke to me because I am just starting out writing. I think that's why I like blogging so much because it is the bare, stripped me! Look forward to reading more! x
LikeLike
Thank you. I needed to hear someone say as writers we tell the truth, the whole truth…I'd been debating a story, some details, and I know in my heart I have to put it all down there.
LikeLike
Writing is hard work. The best writing allows the reader to get a glimpse of the soul of the writer.
LikeLike
Yes! I promise to tell the the the whole truth and nothing but the truth, Amen!
LikeLike
Write what you know… Spot on. Thanks for putting in so clearly and eloquently. I love it. Let's continue to slay those inner dragons.
LikeLike
Whoa! Absolutely loved this post of yours. My first time here, you can be sure, I am going to be reading you more
LikeLike
I love this post.
LikeLike
True that, Cristian. I took a fiction writing workshop at the famous Iowa Writer's Workshop this summer and was just wringing my hands in frustration with "making it up" — fiction?! My truth is stranger than fiction (can I hear an amen?) so I think you're right: camoflage!
LikeLike
Thanks for your post, it encouraged me. I often doubt myself in my writing, but I always tell the truth as I know it. How can it be bad if it comes straight from the heart?
LikeLike
Dear Cristian, I enjoyed looking at your blog and the truths about how a writer feels. There is beauty in the truth and in your soul.
LikeLike
This is absolutely beautiful. Thank you for writing this. I love it.
LikeLike
A true artist of literature
Keep fit live strong..
LikeLike
Excellent post, Cristian. Sorry I'm late to the party :)
LikeLike
Fantastically put. The fear of writing the real truth hobbled me for years! I've only recently started to try to express things without filters. Two things jumped out at me:
1) "All we are doing are self-portraits": so true! Our own views, predispositions, opinions, are all stamped on our every move and creation. We cannot separate ourselves from our work.
2) "By being alone… an artist is capable of understanding the world around him": I think that the solitude is an interesting thing to point out. I'm not sure if I fully understand or agree with this point, though! I'll have to think about it!
LikeLike
This is wonderful. I look forward to the rest of your upcoming series!
LikeLike
Well said.
LikeLike
Brilliant! You inspire us to elevate ourselves through your ability to articulate eloquently what rings true. Your insights are refreshing and stunning! Many thanks.
LikeLike
Great Essay, an honest and insightful piece on the writing process. Spot on observation and great advice.
LikeLike
Your first paragraph really sums up everything that I have learned about writing (so far). I blog about my life, which often includes time spent as a child in the foster care system. In writing about such things, I find it all too easy to leave out all of the parts that make for an honest post. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLike
After completing 'Moving Ahead', a non fiction political book, I intend bringing out the concepts in a fiction book. Got the idea from you that the truth can be written in fiction as well and may be it will convey ideas in a better format , the first person.
LikeLike
Thank you for some great thoughts. I mainly write training manuals for business, but your counsel "that you have to be willing to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth" is just as valid in this kind of writing too. The readers, or trainees, will soon spot a fake or someone who takes shortcuts. Our end products might be quite different, but they are inspired by the same principles.
LikeLike
Oh, so love this Christian! We speak the same language:) Although, I left my writing behind in my childhood and preteen years, and recently at 27 yrs old, I have rediscovered it. Awesome that you knew to keep writing through it all.
LikeLike
Thanks, Cristian! You are on the right track and I love hearing it. I wish I had kept writing when I was younger…but at least I am doing it now! Have to follow your heart and tell the truth. It's what it is all about.
LikeLike
I am too new (probably) to have my comment on such a great thought. But I feel it is indeed a great attempt to let the world know the thoughts behind the writer's words. My teacher used to say : writers are great because they write what we feel. And I guess, the best of a writer comes when he writes what he feels. It can be a great coincidence if it gels with the people's feelings as well. A good writer writes to suggest a direction to its readers, rather than being guided by what already and clearly exists.
LikeLike
This is just the FIRST part of a series? Magnificent writing. Looking forward to reading the rest.
LikeLike
Its an awesome post. So insightful . I too have my own set of hesitations while writing but I enjoy writing! My posts with most simple words do come out the best! Thanks for this post
LikeLike
I love your writing, as well as your insight on writing.
LikeLike
I'm really glad to see that I'm not the only person who sees art in words. Paintings are obviously art but not many people appreciate prose that way. I think I see hints of Dorian Gray in this post. The fact that an artist does best when they put themselves into their work, but (according to Wilde) lead boring lives on the outside because their whole life is art and in their art. Anyway, thank you for these thoughts.
LikeLike
"There are those who are willing to shut out the world and rummage through their minds for memories they wish they had forgotten. The good and the bad, the tragedies, the pain, the bitter melancholy that engulfs all moments of happiness. By being alone, even in the most crowded of places, an artist is capable of understanding the world around him." Beautifully stated, poignant and true!
Your observation that there are storytellers (who develop characters and imagery) and there are writers (who make us feel) was very encouraging and, so, very much appreciated. As a creative writing major in college, I was led to believe that the former was all there was — you either were brilliant at being a storyteller or you were told to stick to writing journals and plastering sticky notes of broken poetry all over your work cubicle for the rest of your days.
What the professors didn't know, or at least did not share, was that the writer's voice inside your head would only grow deeper and louder with the passage of time. It never goes away and, eventually, it can no longer be contained. It has stories that must be told and it does not care how conventional wisdom defines that term. Some of my favorite books have been written in a very unconventional style, brilliant precisely because the voice was original and the emotions powerful and raw.
So, from a writer, thank you for this article. I look forward to reading your work.
LikeLike
Nicely done:
"There’s this wall. And there’s the artist on the other side. He just has to jump."
Itʻs not just the truth wall, either. Itʻs the faith wall and the fantasy wall and the spiritual wall. It all begins with us, and we just become more and more!
LikeLike
There's a simple truth to this that is elegant. Thanks for posting.
LikeLike
Well said.
LikeLike
How you seize me with your words from the first moment…
LikeLike
I feel exactly the same way!
LikeLike
Honesty writ large. : )
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Welcome To Barbara's World of Education.
LikeLike
Absolutely insightful and very very helpful!
LikeLike
Most of my writing is non-fiction and concerns issues with education. That seems to come fairly easy for me because of my background. I seem to be almost timid when starting a work of fiction and I realize the only way to really overcome that fear is to continue the work. I have written many short stories and fictional blogs only to publish none, zero, zilch. Maybe some day I will work up the courage to jump in and subject myself to critiques that come with any work.
LikeLike
Genuinely said, and honest….
LikeLike
One of the best statements on putting oneself into one's art that I've read. Excellent.
LikeLike
What a beautiful, moving piece of writing. You certainly got me thinking. I realise that I will never be a fabulous writer because I shy away from exposing myself too much. My blog, although there are words is all about giving information and sharing images. I have a sneaky feeling that I feel never be successful and well known if I am not prepared to expose myself more. We'll have to see. Thanks for your beautiful writing.
LikeLike
I liked what you had written up there . . .You sound like you know what you are doing. Con grats.
LikeLike
Totally agree. It's the joy of writing, it is the only place where you can be true to your heart, listen what they have to say, and simply be who you really are. Great post.
LikeLike
I love this post. It really captures my feelings as a writer. This line, in particular, spoke to me: "We write for others to absorb what took us so long to understand."
Thank you for your words!
LikeLike
Wonderful posts. I especially appreciate the parts about writing the truth.
LikeLike
That's very true. I love to write and I recently learned we shouldn't just write words that sound good but true, meaningful words that are full of experience and expression. Your post is very inspiring.
LikeLike
"To thine own self be true,
And it will follow as the night the day,
Thou thenst cannot be false to any man".
Great article…I can relate very much.
LikeLike
So true. Thanks
LikeLike
Excellent portrait. I would portrait Dante. I would Portrait Blake. I would read literary biographies. I would never stop journalling. I would dance with photography. Then I'd go back to Blake.
Jacob
MindGigGame.Wordpress.com
LikeLike
Cristian – I love your blog. Keep on writing. It is inspiring to read simple truth!
LikeLike
It takes a lot of passion and courage to write.
LikeLike
stephen king says writing fiction is "finding the truth within the lie."
LikeLike
That guy is indeed the King! I think I read that in his non-fiction work "On Writing."
LikeLike
Writing is expressing the soul, what is hidden there and ready to be set free. The best writing seems to me to be based on life experiences, so the older we get the more stories we have to tell.
LikeLike
As in many posts by writers, I find much to relate to in what you've said.
LikeLike
Love the way you express yourself! You do have the way with the written word
LikeLike
I agree.
LikeLike
Like the idea that you presented without putting it into words…. here's my take on pathos that you and I share…."The best writing is an overflow of the soul captured in print."
LikeLike
Enjoyed your post.
LikeLike
Wise words. It makes me think of Richard Yates, a true writer, heart-breakingly so. I look forward to reading more. Many thanks.
LikeLike
You are such a beautiful writer. I'm swooning!
LikeLike
Good piece you've got here. Enjoyed it. Yea! Go writers.
LikeLike
amen! your insight is razor sharp.
LikeLike
As Leonardo said, "Il pittore pinge se stesso" — "The painter paints himself."
LikeLike
i really like that statement; succinct and truthful
LikeLike
i like this; succinct and true
LikeLike
I identify with the honesty comment…you must be honest, but it's amazing how little our society values honesty. And, as an aspiring writer myself, I found your advice helpful, so thank you.
LikeLike
Thank you for expressing what all writers know in the gut. You know when you are forcing it just to meet a deadline or reach a wordcount. Being a writer is to be unafraid. It's lonely at times but when your characters come to life it's like a grand party at which you are the center. There's really nothing like it.
LikeLike
Nothing but the truth.
LikeLike
I know exactly what you mean. Keep writing :)
LikeLike
I love this: All we are doing are self-portraits.
I've always wanted to write, but felt that I needed time and life experience before I could be someone with something to say that was worth reading.
LikeLike
Christian, it's hard to find a great writer who doesn't talk about truth and honesty. Hemingway wrote, "Good writing is true writing. If a man is making a story up it will be true in proportion to the amount of knowledge of life that he has and how conscientious he is; so that when he makes something up it is as it would truly be." In other words, you are onto something. Never stop!
LikeLike
Cristian, I'm new to replying but not new to writing~~ and I know a great post when I see one. Very good post for all of us to live by and practice. I only wish to get so much feedback as you did on this post. I'd like to point out how, yes indeed, as we evolve so does our writing. What we wrote ten years ago is not as good as what we write today. We writers refuse to live in a box. We are out there getting experiences to broaden our inner selves; therefore broadening our writing.You showed that in your post. Also, if one wants truth, often if not always, one has to go and find it. It's our homework and research. Even if it's as simple as how it feels to ~~walk in the rain or walk bare foot on wet grass. When we are not literally writing~~we are thinking and organizing in our minds. We are awesome and want others to be also~~we direct, give insight, entertain and remind our readers on our truths. Great post~~thanks
LikeLike
I truly enjoyed this piece. I am also in agreement that we paint a picture of ourselves as we travel this writing journey. I am inspired and encouraged to continue writing as well as reading your blog. Nice piece.
LikeLike
Hmnnn…seems to me, writing is a craft, like say, plumbing or surgery. It can be taught and learned and put to many uses requiring varied degrees of skill. Most writers are essentially then, craftsmen, deserving respect for having mastered an ancient and valued craft.
Among writers, a few are or come to be artists, using their craft to convey the human condition in a universal way. Unlike a craft; to fashion art appears to me, to require a specific gift, one not given to all and when given, not given in equal shares to its recipients.
In the end, I suppose that a writer is one who writes, who is somehow driven to write.
Thank you for the essay that led to joining your musing upon the subject…
LikeLike
Yes! Always it is about the raw Truth, and the different ways to express it.
Myself, when I'm writing, I'm never so serious as when I'm joking and all my lies are true.
LikeLike
Very nice Christian, love your style. And I like how you point out that writing is an art, thanks for that!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on karlitoweb and commented:
I wish I could focus long enough to write mre than an wssay. I guess there's a place for essayists in this world. Right? :)
LikeLike
I'd like to feel how he looks
LikeLike
Most excellent.
LikeLike
Essayists write blogs LOL! I'm hoping my blog now will fire me and help my creative juices flow enough to write something more, in quantity and breadth. I saw a little plaque that I liked: 'I would be unstoppable if I could only get started'
LikeLike
Really liked this. Yes, I think I can see things others don't, in my opinions, essays, facts, AND fiction. I just need to believe that I am more than just a writer. Time shall tell. I agree that great storytellers create characters that you can really believe and think are real people.
LikeLike
You write so beautifully. Thank you for sharing.
LikeLike
Perfect! I like your style and the way your mind works! I believe you will go far!
LikeLike
I really enjoyed this and it was right on time. I'm trying to be a writer, when really, I'm an impatient storyteller. Thanks for posting this.
LikeLike
Leonardo Da Vinci said, "If you want to be an artist, you must make your soul like a mirror." It is this thought that I often fall back on, to reflect the world around me, to reflect without obscuring that truth with my own egocentric blemishes. Thank you for your personal statement.
LikeLike
I laugh when someone asks – Is that character based on you? All the characters are based on me. Who else could they be – I'm part of all of them and they are part of me.
LikeLike
I absolutely loved it Cristian! Superbly done! Congrats
LikeLike
Thanks, Cristian. You write so naturally and authentically. A delight to read. You don't have to be young to write at a contrived & superficial level. Fear of being and expressing our true selves is perhaps even more rooted in my babyboomer age group than anywhere else. Starting to write in my 60's and learning to write social-media-appropriate responses, I keep finding myself writing like James Stewart talks in the 40's movies…. performing for some unseen crowd rather than being authentically myself. Your article is very helpful.
LikeLike
Thank you for the amazing post and tips!!!!!
You always have to be true to yourself and to the people around you!
LikeLike
Wonderfully, beautifully put!
LikeLike
beautifully written, and thank you for the reminder!
LikeLike
Today, I am working on a very painful essay, and stumbling upon this post reminded me of the importance of telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Thank you. Your prose is beautiful.
LikeLike
Written from the heart within the heart.
LikeLike
Your post perfectly captures the motivation behind my blog. Sharing the hard truths of my story has been a long time coming and I faced this prospect with trepidation. Once I began to reveal, the trek up the mountain became a slide downward as my waterfall gushed. I discovered laying out the bare facts gives me a satisfied sigh and the warm hope I can inspire others to do the same.
LikeLike
As a writer just starting out, I love your post. I have always wanted to write but thought I want good enough. A neighbor of mine read an article that I wrote and loved it. I now know that writing from my heart is what I am meant to do. I am looking forward to reading more of your work:)
LikeLike
Beautifully presented. I do agree that once we begin to censor our own truths, we become mediocre writers.
LikeLike
Amazing post! Beautiful words, the ones I would've used. True to the heart. It is a gift to be able to express so perfectly and easily what lies within. wishing you all the success in your future works.
LikeLike
I too think when I write about writing or about what writing (and actually about reading,too) means to me, I go to a deep place. Writing is one way to make sense of a hurting world or a hurting self. It gives perspective. It lays the cool hand of healing to a fevered brow. It draws us out of ourselves to the realms of the divine, the high mountains of joy. Once there we use our voices and our words to call forth the other pilgrims, to point to the paths and the pitfalls. Thanks for your post…it touched me.
LikeLike
Thank you. This was just what I needed to hear.
LikeLike
Beautiful description of why we write. Love the line that says, "We write so others can absorb what took us so long to understand." That is my motivation to share my thoughts, dreams, ideas and experiences.
Well done!
KathrynEriksen.wordpress.com
LikeLike
Phew! What a slam dunk ending! You nailed it.
LikeLike
The truth in words is like the unifying of thoughts on technical courage and support of breath in performing an elegant, eloquent and divine classical operatic aria. Your words do sing, Cristian, and make me listen eagerly.
LikeLike
Good post.
LikeLike
Wow-real good. I certainly saw myself in your post. I am going to use your description of the~artist~writer in my blog. Thank you, I enjoy your writing.
LikeLike
That's a really lovely writing.
LikeLike
Nice.
LikeLike
Nice post! People keep asking me if the characters in my books are based on me, or even on them. I reserve the right not to comment on the grounds I may incriminate myself :)
LikeLike
i appreciate your writing on the process of writing. it is what my blog is about. the creative process. i look forward to following you.
LikeLike
Thoughtful and prescient, for a writer like me who is obsessed with lifting the veil from the darker side of my own life I found this to be very honest.
LikeLike
Well said Cristian, as we age, the truth 'ages' or develops within us. As we age the either become attached to 'truths' or we become free to discover truth. :)
LikeLike
I love the way you describe yourself as a writer. Great writing.
LikeLike
What an amazing, revealing, and accurate portrait! I have just become a fan. :)
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Phrontistery and commented:
Inisghtful, real, and definitely worth reading-a reminder for all of us-before you put your pen to paper or fingers to a keyboard.
LikeLike
Very insightful post. Highly recommended!
LikeLike
A few lines, or thousands…It ceases to matter when it can excite every sense and resonate the very core of our human experience. As you so deftly say, we search for this place of no fear. A place, perhaps found with wisdom and experience, where we are no longer afraid of being vulnerable. Simple and core truth, expressed beautifully….sublime! I am a vocalist first and foremost, and from my own experience it can be a single note….without words…that touches this most profound place. Thank you for your wisdom, your truth, your insight and your great gift with language!
LikeLike
You're series is a good idea. I can understand the people, places and things that go together to make up you. Well a hint anyway. BW
LikeLike
i have the same thoughts myself. you put it well.
LikeLike
"All we are doing are self-portraits. As simple that." I totally agree. Everything we write has to come from us or through us, through our "filter" of the world.
LikeLike
Excellent post, indeed. The same is true in most any public forum. In addition to being an author, I have done stand up comedy for decades, and radio, as well. The same truth principle applied, with a little wiggle room.
LikeLike
Great piece! Very much like looking into a mirror!
LikeLike
Kindred spirits.
LikeLike
I agree with Joan, writing is cathartic. We are often hurting and out of the pain, I write. I pray others will find themselves in my wriiting and will be encouraged that their fellow sojourner made it through the hardship and they can too. Ultimately, that healing and life will be theirs.
LikeLike
I concur. In fact, my latest project is very painful to write, but I hope it will be therapeutic for my readers and me.
Stand Up is very much the same way, disguised with punchlines.
LikeLike
What a great piece! Looking forward to reading more of your work!
LikeLike
Thought provoking. Thank you.
LikeLike
Quality post. You certainly have a knack for writing.
LikeLike
Your writing comes from the heart…it's real! (ghosttalkblog.com)
LikeLike
Your writing comes from the heart…very authentic!
LikeLike
Very very nicely written! I feel inspired! Thank you.
LikeLike
A fine and thoughtful post, definitely resonates with me. I'd say you weren't hiding behind a wall with this post, and I look forward to reading the coming essays. d:)
LikeLike
I would not consider myself a writer and I think that the idea of being 'a writer' is very intimidating to lots of people, myself included. I love the way you describe writers as creating self portraits, I have never ever heard it put that way but I love it.
LikeLike
Keep up the beautiful writing. Looking forward for more
LikeLike
Cliche alert! Hemingway said it best: There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at at a typewriter and bleed.
LikeLike
Wow, I can really really relate to that, especially with the book I'm writing now. Thanks!
LikeLike
I can tell by your beautiful writing that you are an "old soul". This post really resonated with me. Thank you for putting yourself out there.
LikeLike
This piece resonated with me ten fold! It definitely is a case of the whole truth and in a world where lies are life, it's no mean feat.
Thank you for posting.
LikeLike
Poignant. I've thought about this a lot lately. Most of what I write is about my own experiences and perception of my self. Unfortunately, the bulk of my truly enlightening experiences are exceptionally disturbing and unfamiliar to most readers, so I rarely write on them. Only in poetry awash with vague references do i dare. It is incredibly frustrating because I would love to write about it, but it is doubtful that many would find it less than repugnant. Finding the proper line to walk is difficult when the greatest material you have to draw from is ultimately jarring to others. .
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love it. I can definitely relate as a commercial-writer-turned-?. It's so important to me to do meaningful work and this is a good reminder why.
LikeLike
I am truly touched by your words. They read as easy as a bird soaring in the skies….
LikeLike
That was an amazing post, so authentic! Thank you for that!
Sincerely,
Sharlee Plett
LikeLike
You write beautifully. :)
LikeLike
When we as writers dare to expose our innermost selves — our hopes, our longings, our fears, our flaws — we express not only our uniqueness, but our shared humanity. Writing like this is not only cathartic for us, but for our readers. Writers, I believe, have an obligation to use their gift (painful as that may be, at times). We have the power to articulate truths many others may experience, but are unable to convey.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Daily Motivation for Self Improvement.
LikeLike
thanks for the great post. Writers are like artists!
LikeLike
You have a lot of insight into the world of writers….especially for one so young
All the best for your great blog, Christian
craig lock
nzwriter.wordpress.com
sawriter.wordpress.com
“As things stand now, I am going to be a writer. I’m not sure that I’m going to be a good one or even a self-supporting one, but until the dark thumb of fate presses me to the dust and says, ‘you are nothing’, I will be a writer.”
(Hunter Thompson June 3, 1959, in a letter to Roger Richards in The Proud Highway)
“Dreams are illustrations from the book your soul is writing about you.”
– Marsha Norman
LikeLike
Well said, and very nice distrinction between story tellers and writers. Although at times they are the same, and fall into one another, there are many times where they could not be more different.
LikeLike
Awesome post Cristian, As a kid I could, and did spend a lot of saturdays with my nose stuck in some childrens book of classic literature. Some people can write a story that you can't leave and just have to read right through. Looking forward to hearing more of what you have to say.
LikeLike
You have a picture of Tolstoy at top which, together with your post, unspooled a whole thread of memory directly related to your line of inquiry/thought.
The most transformative thing I heard in college was an observation a teacher made about Tolstoy. It has stayed with me my entire life (twenty some years have passed) and was probably worth the ridiculous cost of my college education. It was an observation that so struck me and has so spread out and crystalized into my understanding of Art and the world, that, well, I have to bring it up here because I think you will appreciate it.
The thing the teacher said was this: he said people read A.K. or W&P and they argue about which character "is" Tolstoy. Is Levin really Tolstoy? Is Pierre Bezukov? Which character is HIM? Which one is his wife? And so on. And the teacher said:
"They're ALL Tolstoy."
It was like meeting the Buddha.
They're all Tolstoy.
And they ARE all Tolstoy. He is in all of them and I never saw literature or the artist the same way. It was like watching the world of the self disappear for a moment. Beautiful and transformative and I feel lucky to have had that window opened through a discussion of the writer who, more than any writer I've ever read — exposes life so fundamentally and so beautifully. As your caption for him so accurately reads: "writer."
And your lines suggested the same thing (so thank you):
All we are doing are self-portraits. As simple [as] that. We accumulate knowledge and wisdom and power, and we get our hearts broken, and we write. We write for others to absorb what took us so long to understand.
– A.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A very good read… Also some great comments here. Where would we be without writers?
LikeLike
So eloquently stated, Cristian. Really appreciate and look forward to reading more!
LikeLike
This is good stuff. I've always felt that no matter how hard I try, I can never erase myself from the characters in my books. There is always a little part of me in them.
LikeLike
A very insightful piece. I've never considered myself a writer, however I love to write. I find your passion about writing just wonderful.
LikeLike
I love reading your posts, not just the message but the language you use to express it. I strive to get the words right, but right now I guess I'm just focused on getting the feelings right.
Here is a post you might like: http://sheslosingit.net/2012/08/22/dear-former-me…
Lisa
LikeLike
Good writing. I started to write recently because nobody wanted to listen to what I wanted to say. I guess it was inevitable that that would happen. I hope to learn from you more.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Sabethville and commented:
I liked it so much,I reblogged it.Thank you.
LikeLike
Greetings,
Thank you for this post. I was brought to it after seeing it posted on Sabethville.
This is a lovely post, communicating well the point that it is meaning that writers give to others, and not words. Words are merely the means of conveyance through which meaning arrives to its destination.
All good wishes,
robert
LikeLike
Love the "jumping the wall" metaphor. This is something that continues to challenge me creating visual art. Guess I'm afraid of not being able to jump back, if I don't like what is on the other side.
LikeLike
Here's to jumping over the wall!
LikeLike
brilliant write up! I wish I could write so well like you and attract readers like bees to honey ——-as they all have to your article :)
LikeLike
"It took me six, seven years to figure out that you have to be willing to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." I like this statement. Indeed I have found this true in my own 'vulnerable years' (beginning writing fiction around 13 years old). As I progress in years, I have found it more and more difficult to write stories. However, by focusing on just one aspect of living, i.e.looking at the spiritual realm, I have found my own 'niche', just as you have found yours in writing about writers and writing. Be encouraged!
LikeLike
After reading ,the Portrait of a Writer,I have become a serious follower of your writing.I am waiting patiently for part 11.Thank you .
LikeLike
Best wishes on your blog writing and other forms of writing. Self expression is the greatest form of liberty.
LikeLike
Fascinating and very helpful to me. I love the bit about camouflaging myself ~ guilty I'm afraid so now I will be me! Looking forward to your future posts.
LikeLike
I can't figure out if there's a like button on this website, but you've earned a "f*ck yeah winning."
LikeLike
To jump? There's a pond on the other side of that wall, It's filled with so many alligators, snakes, croc's and sharks I'm afraid they're going to swallow me whole–or worse yet–bite off my hands. Typing with my nose would take too much time. :-)
Your writing is so eloquent. It's like listening to Beethoven well-played.
LikeLike
My goodness. Thats a plenthos of likes ! =)great writing .
LikeLike
Very thought provoking post.
Doesn't it feel good, cathartic even, to start to open up through words? As writers we start to live through the words we write…
Thank you for sharing.
LikeLike
Wow! This is more insightful than I have ever been. I had not thought about why my characters seem to be the warrior who is left alone with his loss or the intellectual who seems to be separate from the world about him. Now I am beginning to understand, they are all pieces of me. not their experiences per say but their feelings and their reactions are.
Thank you this is an excellent post!
LikeLike
The Portrait of a Writer is also the first part of Portrait of a Writer as a Young Man by James Joyce. I look forward to more writing essays.
LikeLike
The best part about the write up is the idea that an artist is capable of thinking amidst of every situation. Truly well said……. An atrists world is different from others,which a layman fails to understand. But only an artist portrays the best possible picture about life and its small chapters……..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this.
LikeLike
The visual of jumping the wall is so realistic! Everything worth something in this world, is a leap of faith. If you never put yourself out there-your horizons never expand.
LikeLike
This is perhaps the most insightful article I've read about writing in a long time. For the longest time, like you, I was a dumb, arrogant teenager who thought my work was the best darn thing. I thought I'd land a publishing deal the moment I finished a story.
Then I became self-aware. What you say about writing being a self-portrait is truer than I'd like to admit, even now. I should definitely keep that in mind.
LikeLike
Thanks, I enjoyed reading this. For some reason Kafka came to mind while reading the first paragraph, and then a provocative question frequently brought up in 'deep' discussions lately (sparked by your mentioning of an artist being alone in a crowd, observing and understanding his surroundings): "Wouldn't you rather feel creative and occasionally in the gutter (or should I say questioning the status quo?) than 'emotionally stable' yet uninspired?"
The answer is not black and white, of course.
Just thought I'd share these thoughts.
All the best.
LikeLike
There is the wall and to assist with the artist's jump is trust in the words that ask for the leap of faith. Save the quibbling and arguments for the editing process.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very beautifully written post this is.. Will be looking out for more. :)
LikeLike
An incredibly beautiful essay. It made me question myself as a writer, as an artist,as a stringer of words and a creator of scenes.do I wanna be the storyteller,the artist or both?…"We write so that others may absorb what took us so long to learn". Truer words have never been spoken.
LikeLike
Well said. I don't believe as writers we can ever create a character that doesn't in some part hold a piece of our truth or experience in life. Looking forward to reading more of your essays in the future.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This post resonates with me in unbelievable ways as I struggle in my fiction to share my reality and shield myself at the same time…You paint a pathway to dissect and objectivize that struggle in order to find points of connection between the two. Moreover, I realize that the struggle is not mine alone. Thank you for inviting me here. And like Jennifer Wagner, I have fallen in love…
LikeLike
You mean I talk to myself?! I thought I was talking to my computer. Another mystery explained! But yes, I have even been recomened to a mental health professional because of someone who saw me pacing on my balcony while using a voice recognition program. They though I had lost my mind because they did not see the computer I was telling the story to.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Inspirational stuff, thank you!
LikeLike
It’s a very good post. Not that it gives new insights, but it tells us a lot of things that should have been obvious but never were. Sometimes truth is like that, eh? Read Eminescu’s pem after reading your post.
\”Ever read a paragraph of wonderful prose? Just words that seem to melt together to form a hint of perfection? ”
Not that I have read all the books in the world, but Wodehouse has time and again made me feel this way. You must read ‘The Heart of a Goof’ if you haven’t already. Tried doing something similar in a blog post I wrote today.
LikeLike
Thsi is a very fine piece of work and yes, Cristian, I did enjoy reading it as much as you enjoyed writing it. Thank you for sharing it.
LikeLike
Outstanding work! Thank you for sharing, and I look forward to following your journey!
LikeLike
What a gift to have found you! You are absolutely right. I can't wait to read more of your work.
thank you.
LikeLike
Nice post Cristian…very well said.
LikeLike
Very nice post, true to itself as if flowing from the very heart…
LikeLike
It took me ages to realise this with my illustration (always been a slow learner). I am glad I have just read that. You have assured me. Now I can feel pleased with myself. Thanks. It's always nice to feel pleased with one's self. I enjoy your posts enormously.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on grownupmonkey and commented:
Loved this post. Thought I'd share!
LikeLike
You have an amazing insight and grasp of words. Wonderful. It will be a pleasure to see what else you have to offer.
LikeLike
When others see truth in your mirror and feel along with you, you've become a writer. If they become angry because they don't like what they see, you've become a good writer. If you capture their spirit, you've become a great writer.
LikeLike
Love it! Absolutely beautiful words, Cristian. Yeah, they melted in my mind like sweet chocolate coating my tongue.Rich, mellow and delicious. Definitely want some more, please!
LikeLike
Your writing is the kind of expression that I can read while I'm living in the midst of a chaotic world and it relaxes me allowing me to focus on what's really important to me—the love of the art of writing! Thank you. What a pleasure!
LikeLike
I'm really surprised to find you started writing in your teens. My teens were pretty shallow and I wasn't very creative at all. Before my teens, I was artistic as in drawing and occasionally painting. I only felt the urge to write in my 40s or so…
Carol.
LikeLike
Agreed
! Are you also a writer?
LikeLike
I really like this quote too!!! :) So true!!
LikeLike
'There are those who are willing to shut out the world and rummage through their minds for memories they wish they had forgotten.' That sentence should be written out on post-it notes and stuck on each aspiring writer's bedroom walls – I have just done it myself. You are right, Cristian, you are absolutely right: the truth, and nothing but the truth, is the most powerful tool we writers have. Incidentally, I published a similar article on my own site yesterday, entitled 'A Young Writer's Mind', which explores similar themes to 'The Portrait of a Writer'. Here's the link: http://benstupples.com/2012/11/17/a-young-writers…. If you had any thoughts on it, I would love to know them.
LikeLike
it was a long path to write a message, how many here!
anyway… really brilliant! bye!
LikeLike
Why did it took me this late to read this beautiful piece? Your lines resonate so much to me, so strong and meaningful. At times, writers are misunderstood. The delicate and unique compositions of us is also mostly understood by us, writers, I guess.
LikeLike
I am not an artist but do stand in awe of those who are! I love especially the classic works and being able to visit Art Galleries is a true love.
LikeLike
WOW. I wasn’t expecting that. Thank-you for bringing me here. I will definitely be back.
LikeLike
the best part of your writing is the complete honesty with which you write. now i am going to more cautious while using the words: ‘writer’ and ‘storyteller’ :D
LikeLike
Insightful and real, loved it.
LikeLike
I already trust you and I am willing to give you an extra key to my house. ur a very honest man and a great writer
LikeLike
“Storytellers weave beautiful, intricate stories. They carefully build settings, masterfully sculpt characters. Their stories make use of the reader’s imagination – they make him dream. And then there’s the other category, the ones who make us feel.” You made my heart skip a beat. Thank you.
LikeLike
As I read the lines in your post here, I feel like am melting. Man, it’s full of passion. Wonder, how did you do that? Any inspiration?
LikeLike
This was wonderful. It reminded me of my mother’s words: “write what you know”. She told me this when I was five, when I was twelve, when I was seventeen, when I was twenty three. Now I am (a lot older) and she’s gone, but her words reach (nag on me) me often (she is my conscience) and I know in my heart when I am writing with authenticity and when I am not. And you can tell when you are reading someone’s heart or just words. There is such a difference. Thank you! I am enjoying your blog site.
LikeLike
my eyes are glued to the screen, excited for every words unfolding… :)
LikeLike
This was actually the most thought-provoking thing that I have read this week. Thanks :)
LikeLike
Totally amazed by your writings, Cristian! This is exactly the things I need at this time in my life. I used to make paintings that didn’t belong to me, now I’m trying to be true to myself. I recognize this so much it almost moved me to tears.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t view fiction writing as self-portraits unless the author deliberately weaved that element into his or her work. Poetry is the closest that I think might be influenced by what was observed or experienced in the world surrounding the writer. I love your line “We write for others to absorb what took us so long to understand.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved your post. Sometime I am a writer and other times a story teller, but always write about my experiences, my story. Thanks for such thought provoking wisdom.
LikeLiked by 1 person
An intricate and detailed insight into the mind of a writer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would say “Is so easy writing poems / When nothing you have to say” for me looks closer to poet idea. Just a personal opinion.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love your writing, and this entry. Truth in writing and in living…
LikeLiked by 2 people
I don’t know why I haven’t come across this post until now. Beautifully written, Christian. Everything that we write or create resonates because they are the products of ourselves.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Your self-inspection takes my mind back to my own past way of life – of how naive I was and yet how I pretended my works were plump with meaning and deserving of more eyes.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Very well said,Christian. Much of what you say resonates strongly with my perceptions, what I feel about writing. I look forward to exploring your blog and becoming further acquainted with your work.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Your writing is powerful, compelling and skillful.
LikeLiked by 2 people
As some other comments already stated, your article holds some powerful truth. As a writer myself, I can only agree.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you so much, Phil! I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment on my post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love your post guy, thanks for the read.
LikeLiked by 3 people
This was a delightful read. Writing really is an act of vulnerability and honesty is what makes good writing.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Reblogged this on Realizing Life Goals.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Loved this post Cristian!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Love hearing your story! I’m new here and it’s so refreshing to read such realness! Thanks for this.
💜✨
LikeLiked by 2 people
Fantastic post. I would be very curious to read your “In The Shower” story.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I don’t think I even have it anymore. Also, it’s written in Romanian.
But I can pretty much write it again, like right now. Some guy is taking a shower. And the thinks about the fact that he has everything, but he’s not happy. The end.
That’s pretty much what I wrote. One terrible cliche after another for a cliche premise and a cliche ending in a cliche setting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice. Not exactly the most action packed story of all time, but at least you were clear on the setting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No doubt about it. The guy was taking a shower. He was thinking about his life. Depressing stuff.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This was beautifully written and it really inspired me to continue to write. Bless your heart! Thank you so much 🤍
LikeLiked by 2 people
Cristian, your post is quite inspiring. It is just the words I need to hear in my life in this very moment. Thanks for speaking your truth and for your transparency.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Never give up! Never backed down. I love this!
LikeLiked by 1 person