Essay: How to become a writer? The Artist Paradox.

   Many young upcoming writers, come to me with this question; some even come to visit me. They are to be recognized by their pale complexion, an exhuberant hairstyle, and a - somewhat weak - disgruntled facial expression; as if something were bothering them.
And most of the times, there is: they are unsatified by their environment, their fathers do not 'understand' them, their mothers do not 'feel' them, and all other siblings are extremely mediocre.
What do they want? Something 'higher'...

   So far, so good; this is not the worst thing to strive for, and any dis-satisfying experience may lead to possible improvement; but there is a wurm in this apple.
What - most of - these characters certainly do not want, is go to school, go work in an office, nor learn a trade. This is all so 2011, almost anybody tried that; so why should they have a go, at that?
What they want is to Create, Shape, make things of Beauty, or Wisdom; in short: Being an Artist.

  As we probe any deeper, we find a very persistant misconception.
Most of them think, that an Artist can do his Work - and even live - outside any society, and all of it's ties, thus being able to happily create Works of Art.
Most of them even think - by placing themselves outside of this society - that they have already reached that place; problem solved: I am an Artist from now on...

   This is a very regretful abberation.
Apart from the fact, that any Artist needs customers, - what else, would he live from? - where would any Artist find his Divine Inspiration?
Can any Artist create anything from void? I think not.
I think, any Artist needs experience; and not only with his chosen trade, but also in Life.
This might well be the First Amendment for any Artist: get a Life.

   The Paradox of any Artist is this: in order to become an Artist, one has to lead a Normal Life. Any Artist starts out, being a normal and usefull citizen; they go to School, go to Work; some even start and raise a family.
What they do, is gather life's experience; they fill their cup with impressions, and live a moderate life. All very boring - maybe - and very mediocre, so far.

   With some of them, something happens, at a given point in time; in the spur of the moment, they grab a pen, a chisel, a brush of paint, you name it.
If they turn out to be any good at it, good things will happen by itself; if not, no harm done: they already have a Life. The only way, to become an Artist, is by becoming a 'normal person' first.
One first has to find his Inner Self, to be able to express that; you first have to put something in, in order to get anything out.

   A true Artist tries very hard, not to be an Artist; let alone posing as an Artist, it is a hard working job. Most Artists are very mediocre personalities; the Artist Paradox.

   Writing? A very dangerous trick. Do not try this, at home.