why writers write
Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 7:58 pm
I thought I would respond to something Paul said earlier in this section, about why it was important for him not to get off the track of "truth" as difficult as it might get while investigating Townsend Browns life and work. There has been so much disinformation, so many flights of fancy. In a world that automatically assumes that anything written about the man will have "The Philadelphia Experiment" branded all over it.
But instead of following that twisting path of half truths and sometimes pure fabrications, Paul is revealing something far more exciting and and yes, I believe, TRUE.
And then I asked myself why would someone devote all this time and energy to this project?
Yes, I am sure that there will be financial rewards and even fame at the end of the trail for Paul. But I don't REALLY believe that is his main reason in approaching this subject. This is a great country and anyone with any sort of enthusiasm for doing it can at least make a good living and some, who seem to be luckier or perhaps more in line with the flow, can go beyond all expectations.
So if you can make money doing anything.......... Why beat yourself up mentally going in this direction? I ran across a guote from a famous writer and I think that it might start to answer that question.
And with this post here I ask others to step in too and add your answers to "Why do writers really write?"
E.L. Doctorow (writer of "Ragtime" (great!) and "Book of Daniel") answered that question this way:
"I've never had a rational or thoughful answer to that question. Basically, you want to make something that STANDS. Its really very selfish. You want to make something thats good and true and something that didn't exist before. You hope it will last. Thats all, thats all but its EVERYTHING. its a monumentally arrogant wish, and desire, but its also very simple. Just out of your own inadequate mind, to make something that stands and holds and becomes something that someone else will use to walk us up another bit further toward whatever it is that our destiny might be. Enlightenment, one hopes. Salvation. Redemption, All those things."
Paul, my suggestiong . When you find yourself with the blankets pulled over your head and the thoughts hitting you "WHY,WHY, WHY am I doing this? Thats maybe the answer.
And I think that maybe thats the answer from Townsend Brown too. I never met the man but I'll bet thats the answer.
Vegas in November for all the bright reef fish out there! Madison
But instead of following that twisting path of half truths and sometimes pure fabrications, Paul is revealing something far more exciting and and yes, I believe, TRUE.
And then I asked myself why would someone devote all this time and energy to this project?
Yes, I am sure that there will be financial rewards and even fame at the end of the trail for Paul. But I don't REALLY believe that is his main reason in approaching this subject. This is a great country and anyone with any sort of enthusiasm for doing it can at least make a good living and some, who seem to be luckier or perhaps more in line with the flow, can go beyond all expectations.
So if you can make money doing anything.......... Why beat yourself up mentally going in this direction? I ran across a guote from a famous writer and I think that it might start to answer that question.
And with this post here I ask others to step in too and add your answers to "Why do writers really write?"
E.L. Doctorow (writer of "Ragtime" (great!) and "Book of Daniel") answered that question this way:
"I've never had a rational or thoughful answer to that question. Basically, you want to make something that STANDS. Its really very selfish. You want to make something thats good and true and something that didn't exist before. You hope it will last. Thats all, thats all but its EVERYTHING. its a monumentally arrogant wish, and desire, but its also very simple. Just out of your own inadequate mind, to make something that stands and holds and becomes something that someone else will use to walk us up another bit further toward whatever it is that our destiny might be. Enlightenment, one hopes. Salvation. Redemption, All those things."
Paul, my suggestiong . When you find yourself with the blankets pulled over your head and the thoughts hitting you "WHY,WHY, WHY am I doing this? Thats maybe the answer.
And I think that maybe thats the answer from Townsend Brown too. I never met the man but I'll bet thats the answer.
Vegas in November for all the bright reef fish out there! Madison