The Influence of One Writer: Reflections on Creativity
Written on
Chapter 1: The Unseen Inspiration
Recently, my wife posed an intriguing question: why do I continue to write when my articles rarely attract readers? "You don’t even seem bothered by your low stats anymore. Why not take a break?"
It was late, and I had enjoyed a drink or two.
"It's because of HIM," I exclaimed, perhaps too loudly (and thus the need for this preceding line).
"Ah! HIM!" she replied, slightly confused yet aware of my frequent rants about this person. She also wondered why I hadn’t unfollowed him, blocked him, or even reported him if he made me feel like a doormat.
"YES! HIM!" I reiterated, still a bit too loud, but thankfully our neighbors were away skiing, which usually evokes jealousy in me. However, this year’s lack of snow offered a twist of schadenfreude instead.
This will surely teach them a lesson about climate change.
And maybe it will lessen the number of photos they’ll share during their "winter gathering." Last year, the slideshow went on for two hours, with barely half a drink to enjoy.
I often ponder if HE ever visits the mountains. He has never mentioned it, but his writings are merely a glimpse into his life. I suspect he goes there for hikes or perhaps trail running.
Once, he wrote about running, and I took inspiration from his article, which resulted in a boost for me. It made me chuckle, but then I felt a twinge of sadness as it was only my second boost ever, while I heard he received fifty.
As a child, I was a chronic daydreamer. This detail might seem irrelevant to the current discussion, but he used that phrase in one of his articles, and I found it captivating. I often wish my writing could have that same allure. Would I attract more readers and boosts if I did? I even added a comma after “kid” because Grammarly suggested it.
Should I disregard Grammarly’s advice and trust my own voice? Is that what I’ve been missing?
Like him, I long for more daydreaming moments. Last year, I attempted meditation, but it felt too tedious. I was caught in a cycle of dopamine deprivation, and my wife cautioned me that this couldn’t continue indefinitely. Daydreaming eludes me, as I find myself mesmerized by Twitter and Facebook, where I engage in Wordle with my boomer friends.
In contrast to him, I link nearly every other word in hopes that people will click them, even though I know the chances are slim. But who knows? He seems indifferent to CTAs (calls to action) and doesn’t even promote his book. It’s as if he’s above self-promotion, yet I suspect he fears rejection.
Honestly, who would want to buy his glitch in the Kindle matrix?
Not me.
His article is a quick five-minute read, and I’m only halfway through. He cheated by inserting a book review in the middle, adding a couple of hundred words without much effort since he merely borrowed another author’s idea.
Is that too ironic?
"Honey! HONEY!" My wife jolted me from my reverie.
"What?"
"You’ve been sitting here for an hour, lost in thought. I took a bath, and you didn’t even budge. What’s going on?"
"I was contemplating HIM. That’s why I keep writing. His stories provoke thought."