I’m reading Michael Chabon’s Manhood for Amateurs, which, of course, I’m loving. I’ll have more to say about it when I finish, but I wanted to share this, because it’s stuck with me since I read it in the first few pages of the book. It’s from the essay, “The Losers Club”:
Every work of art is one half of a secret handshake, a challenge that seeks the password, a heliograph flashed from a tower window, an act of hopeless optimism in the service of bottomless longing.
An act of hopeless optimism in the service of bottomless longing. I love that. When I decided to write a novel, that’s what it was. I knew the odds were against me getting published from the start. I’ve written a quirky literary novel about love and family and mental illness. There are no vampires, no zombies, no secret incriminating documents, no only a few steamy sex scenes. I wrote it anyway. And now I’m revising it, anyway. My act of hopeless optimism.
And here’s what I think. The world needs more of this particular brand of crazy. The naysayers will always be here, telling us to be careful, to stop, to consider all the valid reasons not to leap. The cynics are everywhere, and they’re noisy. My favorite professor once said to me after one of my stories was rejected, “Fuck the naysayers, j. Don’t let them turn you around.” It was good advice. I have it posted on the bulletin board above my desk.
I guess what I’m trying to say is this: I’d rather be engaged in an act of hopeless optimism than standing on the sidelines, telling people braver than I am to be careful, to stop, to consider. I’d rather leap and fall, believing my net will appear.
Your net will appear!
Awesome perspective — I can’t imagine there are too many naysayers when it comes to you and your writing. But, you’re right… much better to leap.
You need at least half a dozen hands, because I know there are many of us lining up to hold your hand as you leap. And as you told me, that means you’re holding mine right back. You have no idea how much comfort that gives me. “Hopeless optimism in the service of bottomless longing” really jumped out at me, too. Although, I think that when it comes to my writing, it’s as much ignorance as optimism ~ since I have no clue what I “should” be doing, I just keep plunging ahead. And secret handshakes sound cool & fun! *hugs*
The alternative to a net, there to catch falling you, is to grow wings, or just open them and soar. Bravery is becoming too rare.
Excellent outlook. Your novel sounds like something I would love. I abhor vampires & zombies.
Becky, it’s a tough industry. There are a lot of really good writers who remain unpublished, and published writers who can’t find homes for their next books. Naysayers abound. But not just in writing. Naysayers in life, too. I’m sort of done with all of them, I think.
Dani, Hold on to your ignorance then! I think it’s much more fun (and your chances of success are just as good, maybe better, because you’re unafraid) that way. You make me proud every day!
Wordsedge, That is beautiful. Thank you for saying it.
aw, I hope you have the chance to read it! *scratches “add a zombie or vampire” from revision notes. ;-)
{crying} I can’t tell you how much it means to me to have YOU say that you’re proud of me! thank you so much, J, for your support, friendship, and sparkly awesome inspiration! *hugs*
You had me at the title.
I won’t call myself an avid reader because I haven’t read Michael Chabon! Travesty I know. But because of you Judy I will.
And I’d be first in line to buy your novel because your fearless with hopeless optimism.
I can’t think of a better combination.
Mairi
That’s a great quote, and the last line stood out for me too.
Love your perspective, leaping is the best we can do and even if the net doesn’t appear, we’ll just have to stand up and walk forward until taking the next leap is in order.
Karen, Wish I could take credit for that, but my Man MC did all the heavy lifting.
Mairi, Working on the fearless part every day, but I have tons of hopeless optimism. ;-)
Estrella, Exactly. But you know, I think, there is always a net, in the form of people we love, works in progress, our imagination that is able to create again. Still, net or not, falling hurts, so you’re right. That’s when you have to get back up and leap again. A lesson I keep learning over and over.
I wish I had met you years ago, before my optimism was crushed, not necessarily by a person, but by life itself. It is harder now to take a leap at my age. There is less time to recover. But, you do inspire me to try… Thank you!
Yay! What a great post and a great place to be. I love the phrase too. I should print out that excerpt and keep it with me. Thank you for inspiring (or conspiring to inspire as Mary said on Twitter). p.s., I will so buy and read your novel sounds great!
Thanks J!
Admittedly, I am a fan of vampires, zombies, secret incriminating documents, and steamy sex scenes, but I’d read any novel you wrote, with or without those things!
Your optimism is not hopeless, it is limitless and infectious.
JUMP!!!!!!
Mary, That really touched me. I wish we’d met earlier too! Here’s what I keep telling myself on the “less time to recover” thing which comes up for me too. I’d rather have lived a life of leaps (even stumbles) than a life of fear. For what it’s worth, daring is not my natural state. The past year has taught me a lot, but the best lesson has been that I’d rather be bruised out in the thick of it than safe on the sidelines.
Caroline, I have like six buyers for my book now. Woo-hoo! (I’m pretty sure I can get Chad to buy a copy too. So seven!) ;-)
Toni, I want to try a zombie story someday. I am fond of those lumbering bad guys. (And, vampires named Spike, of course.) When I do, I will let you know. And thank you. Big smile!
Laura, As you have been doing since the day we met about 100 years ago. Thank you, Inspirational Girl.
A lot of people hold themselves back, myself included, because we think our creations have to have some kind of mass appeal.
That’s the lizard-brain talking.
Mass appeal is actually the last thing you want. Mass appeal worked really well in the 20th century to make a few artists rich and help a few others make a living. But creativity’s history, and future, is all about being the bold individual (or part of a bold collective.)
If you make something that even five people you know will deem amazing, there are actually 50,000 people (or more) out there you don’t know who will think it’s amazing.
And now, our newfangled twitters and internets and geegaws make it easier than ever to reach them.
So, for sure consider your audience. And be open to feedback because that’s the only way to get better. But with that in mind, just be yourself.
Make that 8 buyers. That’s the kind of book I’d like to read. Actually, it’s a little like the book I just finished writing, sans the sex. I can’t wait to read it and if you ever need a beta, I’m here for you.
I love hopeless optimism; I’m afflicted with it myself. In this rejection-orientated journey of publication we seek, it’s nice to hear some good attitude upon occassion — all the time.
Love the professor quote. We should all be so lucky to have a professor of such wisdom.
Hey Judy, I would buy it too.
In retrospect, I have taken plenty of leaps. Although they have not have appeared to be successful by some measures, they have provided a wealth of experience. I will take that any day.
Mark, Well said. I definitely need to check out your blog. Thank you for checking out mine.
Tricia, Be careful. I may take you up on that, you know how I love you, baby.
Mary, Yay, what are we up to here… at least ten copies. I can’t remember what book I was reading. A year ago I went through quite a few personal development and writing books. (Cheaper than counseling.) Anyway, one of them had this woman who had started three different businesses, hiked some mountains, lived abroad, tracked UFOs for the air force, ghost hunted in an English castle, bought and sold a couple of houses; the list went on and on.
I read about her and was amazed. And I realized there were two ways to read it. In one version, she failed at three businesses. In another she was bravely leaping all over the place. The world will always be full of people who see us as failures for trying. Good then that we have each other.
I was serious, J. Anytime. I would be honored.
Let’s email. If you send me a note to zebrasoundsj@gmail.com, I’ll have your email address. :-)
Since you are in the process of revising your work let’s just change the word “hopeless” above to “hopeful” and call it a day!
Oh, I should have said call it a day right after you revise your story into a quirky literary novel about love and family and mental illness set in a family of Vampires! (hey, nothing wrong with selling a few hundred thousand books and giving the original version out to friends at Christmas time!!ha!!). — You know, come to think of it, I heard Anne Rice’s book was called “Interview with the Jones Family of Pittsburgh” before her revision!
You know how I feel about a person charting their own path. I always see that journey to be the most interesting and fulfilling!
by the by…. did you change your “ilovechabon” passwords like I mentioned in my response on Monday?? What do you mean, “not yet”, sheeesh!
Beautiful post, Judy. You are always an inspiration, and really, I can’t imagine that anything could diminish your optimism.
Judy…remain optomistic. To me, your novel has all the ingredients to attract the masses. I will buy many copies and hand them out to all of my family members. Can’t wait!!
Bobby, “Interview with the Jones Family of Pittsburgh” made me laugh. And I totally missed your comment Monday! I’m sorry. The Chabon stuff was priceless! I was out for the count the last two days with either food poisoning or an allergic reaction. All better now, but I seemed to have missed some very important things, like MC wittiness! Mea culpa, my friend!
Linda, thank you. As are you. Maybe this post was, in part, a response to the semi-naysayers you spoke of in your post.
Joanne, You rock! I’ll try even harder with my revisions now since I want your family and friends to like me.
did you already count me on your reader/buyer/buying a copy for everyone i know list? :-)
i love this post and all the wonderful comments – many of which made me laugh, thank you! (especially as someone who has been known to enjoy zombies, vampires -especially spike- and even slayers.
your quote & post reminds me of a chinese proverb on my wall that i read daily “those who say it cannot be done, should not interrupt the person doing it.”
or as i like to tell my critics, “it doesn’t take any talent or risk to be a critic of someone else…”
keep leaping, we’re here with the net, but just until you learn to fly. hugs! :-D
Being hopelessly optimistic is infectious. Pass it on.
jb, No, I wasn’t, but you must put me up in the 20-something realm. ;-) I’ve never heard that Chinese proverb. It’s perfect. *hugs back*
Raj, That made me smile. I will try. You too.
Remember, you don’t need a net ~ because you will fly
I’d hate to be a pessimist ~ after all, where is the joy in being right.
You are such an inspiration to so many of us that it won’t be a net YOU need but a good pair of binoculars that WE shall need as we watch you soar [with or without your cape]
And I hope you at least come to the Edinburgh book festival to promote your book ~ I’ll be there in the front row (if it is a usual Scottish summer, I’ll be the soaked one)
This Chabon guy writes beautiful words. I wonder, why haven’t you mentioned him before? ;)
These last few years, in the midst of my own personal hell, I, too, have come to the same conclusion: “I’d rather be engaged in an act of hopeless optimism than standing on the sidelines, telling people braver than I am to be careful, to stop, to consider” (beautiful j-words, btw).
In the midst of that chaos, I took a huge leap of faith that did not pay off in the traditional, tangible, ways. Most people would consider it a failure, a mistake. Looking back (and looking forward), I have no regrets. I am grateful for the experience and I am a better person as a result. That is what matters.
You have to be in it to win it. I am learning to choose to be in the game, rather than sit on the sidelines dreaming about how fun it would be to play.
Thank you for this. Beautiful, inspiring words with perfect timing (as usual).
ps. You had me at “I’ve written a quirky literary novel about love and family and mental illness”. Count me in!
Here’s a favorite – - –
There is no use trying,” said Alice. “One can’t believe impossible things.” “I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” — Lewis Carroll
Simon, Where’s the joy in a pessimist’s being right? I love that. Thank you, Simon! Someday, book signing or no, I’m coming to Scotland. We have places to walk. ;-)
Hippiechick, Laughed aloud at your opening sentence! In the end, it is our “failures” that teach us, but somehow knowing that never makes the risk of failing any less scary. (And, for the record, I think it might be those non-traditional, intangible ways that are sometimes the best payoffs of all.)
bnthotfl, Absolutely love that quote and it was perfect to wake up to this morning! Thank you!
In the Right to Write, Julia Cameron says something like what being a writer didn’t exist because everyone wrote? What if it were that natural? that common? Of course, she says it better.
Have you considered going to a writing conference to pitch your novel? It’s a tough market, but it sounds “sellable”. The Surrey International Writers’ Conference is fantastic and you are guaranteed at least one pitch session with an agent. It’s in a suburb of Vancouver. http://www.siwc.ca/ Lots of people travel to go to it.
Ironicmom, I have heard of that conference (and others like it). I’m not sure they work as well for literary novels, or shy writers, but when the time comes that I have a finished product to sell, maybe I’ll feel less shy!
Wow.. see even if we all just bought a copy and told our friends about us… my friends usually take me up on my book reccomendations that’s alot of book.
I must repeat it…because it is how I have walked through my life…
Fuck the naysayers !!
Your energy your smile… your compassion, your friendship soars high… and we fly higher from knowing you. That cape is always on and you are amazing .
Can’t wait to read it… and we’ll all meet up in Scotland for a walk and a wee drink as we discuss the wonders of words.
June, Where have you been all my life? Thank you. You are an absolute inspiration (and delight). Scotland it is, then! Yay!
Just posted a blog based on your post here-
http://marktrueblood.posterous.com/create-what-thou-wilt
Thanks for the inspiration!