Words for Writers: Write or Die

I've been working on some back story for a current project, and started running out of steam. To relax my mind, and gather some thoughts, I thought I would write a post.


This topic has been a prevalent one in the past week.


If there's something that you love, that you dream of spending the rest of your life doing, you can find an untold number of reasons why not to accomplish that dream. Very often there doesn't seem to be as many reason why you should pursue the gold at the end of the rainbow. I mean, it's your dream, and dreams don't come true.


Do they?


My dream is to be a published fantasy writer. I would love to introduce readers to worlds unexplored, and tell them stories of great battles, invincible warriors, and valiant kings. There's plenty of reason not to pursue that dream. The publishing industry is in a state of shift. Without that the business is a competitive one, agents and editors publish what they believe will sell, and there's one fad after another that rakes in the dollar bills. There's many pressures.


Of course, no matter what I pursue there's going to be pressure. If I'm going to pursue something I may as well pursue what I love. I don't want to spend the rest of my life slaving away at something I hate.


Over the weekend I was reading an interview of Brandon Sanderson's from a convention a few years back. These words had a big impact on me. He said:


"I imagine this phantom cubicle chasing me. And if catches me, I'll have to be an insurance actuary or something. That really scares me — I don't want to do that. I've wanted to be a writer since I picked up my first fantasy novel. Ever since then I said, this is what I need to do. I am terrible and I'm going to be terrible at anything else, and if I don't make it at this I'm going to be a bum on the side of the road. And then I dedicated everything I had to doing that."


There's not a whole lot that I love. I can't imagine spending the rest of my life doing anything other than writing. If I did I would be miserable.


Before I sat down to write this afternoon I received a phone call from a good friend. I answered and he asked if I was about to write. I told him I was, and jokingly he said, "Write or die." I laughed but I knew those words were filled with truth. 


Write or die.


To put icing on the cake, I visited a blog I enjoy, and J.M. Tohline wrote on the topic that's been in my mind since Saturday.


It doesn't matter what you love. Pursue that and take death as the only other option. It'd be a sad life wasting away at something, showing up for no other reason than a paycheck. All the while you wonder if you could have reached for the stars, and have snatched a few from the sky.


For me my only options are: Write or Die.


What are your's?


*If you get the opportunity click on J.M.'s name. The link will take you to his blog. Read it. You'll be inspired, and far less of your time will be taken.