Take a guess at one philosopher who often made remarks about the pursuit of greatness. Nietzsche, who else?
Nietzsche penned some of philosophy’s vaguest books. Inspired by Kant’s writing, his early work was as elusive and obscure as any during the age of enlightenment. It was during the conceptualization of his posthumous effort, Will to Power, that he sought to break free of the criticism levied on these earlier writings.
Since then, Will to Power has become one of the most sought after entries in his catalog. There are many books published at present that are labeled more as “self-help,” than philosophy, which is sad. There was an abundance of moving, inspiring writing in the forms of pamphlets and others during the world wars and shortly after. Indeed, the demise of philosophy by the postmodern era was blamed on the eventual deaths of the last remaining think-tanks of their kind, including Nietzsche.
Let it be said. To my knowledge, Nietzsche was an admirer of poet, Arthur Rimbaud, and not the other way around. Rimbaud’s call to action hinged on a slogan consistent with Nietzsche’s. Only till you writhe in the muck of civilization, will you understand what it takes to reach the top. Why do I bother writing about this one line? It’s because writers, like all artists, must suffer for their art. Every writer strains to refine their manuscripts until these pass the eye test. In addition, plot elements that need a close inspection must be evaluated for opportunities at growth. Once a manuscript is polished to the brink of perfection and the story is juicy, it has a better chance of pleasing discerning fans. This climbing of the Tower of Babel is metaphorical. We wade through “Engrish” to create English. We examine our plots for holes and make characters more three-dimensional and compelling. We write scenes with a sharp attention to detail. We spend day and night tossing and turning in our sleep, thinking about each manuscript, wondering when our characters will face major conflicts and how they will respond. We daydream settings we see in person or describe out of thin air. We transcribe the stuff of dreams and nightmares. We are interpreters of things unseen or unheard.
All this becomes fun and rewarding when we succeed at publishing our books down the road. Is the painful period attributed to the evolution of one’s craft truly worth it? Yes and no. Yes, if you love writing enough. You can’t say you truly love writing if you write shit and can’t tell the difference. There must be an awareness created by the influence of good books, which ensures that a writer will develop this sense of quality assurance. The answer would be no if the easy way out appeals to you more than the arduous task of improving in all facets. Channel your inner Nietzsche. Demand growth at the expense of time and practice. Realize your potential. Master the evolutionary climb up the well of despair and darkness. Become great.
Because the goal is to ultimately create something like that—great. A half-hearted attempt is best forgotten. Meanwhile, the challenge of creating something potent and inspiring is the only worthwhile endeavor to speak of. Per Nietzsche, the contentment with mediocrity has always been mankind’s greatest enemy. Sure, we would love to leave behind the jobs we hate at the behest of ending up great at something else because the only sure way to trounce capitalism is to succeed at something you enjoy. Does this unholy endeavor guarantee us a living, however? Does writing still hold promise to hordes of aspiring hopefuls? Maybe and maybe not. All I know is…that a half-assed effort is time wasted.
Which is why I recommend all writers read Will to Power. If doubts assail you on your way, know that imposter syndrome can affect even established names in the genre. When it’s back to the grind, enjoy the process of becoming more than you ever thought you would become. It’s the same principle behind a college education, which similarly costs time and effort. We all start somewhere. When you get the hang of editing your own work that it becomes second nature, and you don’t even make revisions with a fine-toothed comb anymore, it is a liberating feeling to discover you can write well. Most writers quit after a decade spent trying to perfect one novel alone. Let this be a warning. If you have one manuscript and only one, your chances of getting an agent or publishing it grow significantly smaller. Whether you have an altogether fresh story concept or plan to reinvent the wheel, make plans to brainstorm and do word listing, then do your research to ground concepts in realism and substance. Don’t be lazy. Add relevant social commentary to your creative writing. Fiction with a pulse on social issues is a potential home run because it draws crowds of people seeking to weigh in.
You don’t need to follow Rimbaud’s example and explore depravity and degeneration to realize your innermost self. Like the Hindus say, we are divination in disguise. Let not Buddha’s very convoluted sayings prevent you from appreciating the wisdom inherent. I’d have to say the same about Nietzsche’s body of work, where canonical literature seeks to impart its message by means of elaborating and exemplifying his “supreme ideal.”
It reminds me of artists and musicians who feel so much pressure trying to follow their classic albums, they resort to unhealthy means at tapping into inspiration. Using personal experience can be cathartic for any artist, but the excitement behind every project must hinge on just how much we enjoy the practice. If we use available tools at our disposal to gather ideas, we can better enjoy the creative process and ensure the greatest potential for success.
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