I had an idea today.
My first thought about it was, "Hmm, that would be a really interesting idea to pursue. Could lead to some cool stuff."
My next thought was, "But on the other hand, maybe that's just crazy talk. Would the stuff be cool? Or just wacky headscratcher stuff?"
Then came, "It is pretty risky. But if I did it right, it could be VERY cool."
Then, "But am I up to doing it that well? And furthermore, no matter how interesting the result, it would certainly have a very limited audience appeal. Even written perfectly, it's WAY too nolandesque (nolandish?) to be commercially successful."
Then, "Should I let the potential for commercial success (or, in this case, the almost certain LACK of potential for commercial success) prevent me from trying what could be a very interesting experiment? Is return on investment the be-all, end-all metric for how and what I write?"
Then, "Maybe I should tell a friend this idea. They can let me know if it's a spark of genius I should follow up on, or a dopey fever dream I should allow to pass by."
Then, "Will you let others dictate the path your art takes? Have you really lost that much confidence in your ability to gauge what is and is not valuable writing?"
So, what to do? Follow up on this idea, knowing that the only recompense for doing so would be the satisfaction of an artistic itch scratched? Or let it go, embracing the cold-eyed rationality which calculates that it was sure to be a losing waste of time anyway?
||| Comments are welcome |||
Help keep the words flowing.
My first thought about it was, "Hmm, that would be a really interesting idea to pursue. Could lead to some cool stuff."
My next thought was, "But on the other hand, maybe that's just crazy talk. Would the stuff be cool? Or just wacky headscratcher stuff?"
Then came, "It is pretty risky. But if I did it right, it could be VERY cool."
Then, "But am I up to doing it that well? And furthermore, no matter how interesting the result, it would certainly have a very limited audience appeal. Even written perfectly, it's WAY too nolandesque (nolandish?) to be commercially successful."
Then, "Should I let the potential for commercial success (or, in this case, the almost certain LACK of potential for commercial success) prevent me from trying what could be a very interesting experiment? Is return on investment the be-all, end-all metric for how and what I write?"
Then, "Maybe I should tell a friend this idea. They can let me know if it's a spark of genius I should follow up on, or a dopey fever dream I should allow to pass by."
Then, "Will you let others dictate the path your art takes? Have you really lost that much confidence in your ability to gauge what is and is not valuable writing?"
So, what to do? Follow up on this idea, knowing that the only recompense for doing so would be the satisfaction of an artistic itch scratched? Or let it go, embracing the cold-eyed rationality which calculates that it was sure to be a losing waste of time anyway?
||| Comments are welcome |||
Help keep the words flowing.
"...esque" for sure!
ReplyDelete"...risky. But if I did it right..."
In truth, the above fragment might be the only justification required. It speaks to you stretching yourself, regardless of the result or resulting outcome.
But that's my perspective having just completed my Goldberg Variations. Took me long enough. Doubted the validity of the effort many more times than once. The hope was that, once finished thirty-two pieces, there might be a wholeness to the result that is more than the sum of the parts. Was I good enough to achieve that?
I don't know. Time, perhaps some readers of the whole work (however many there be) may tell.
So, my thought would be go for it if it's something you deem likely very cool. But it's not mine to dictate your path or the path of your art.
Don't overthink it. Don't be Hamlet-esque and end up with a room full of dead... er, ideas! Just jump in and DO IT. What have you got to lose? :D
ReplyDeleteIf it wasn't a risk, would that make it worth doing?
ReplyDeleteI say go for it, but ultimately it is your decision to make.