In the previous Warrior of Light Online I commented on reading, pens and words. Below are some final remarks on the topic.
First of all, let me repeat what I said before: everybody has a good story to tell, and it is part of the human condition to share a little of our experience with others. You might ask me: and what about the publishers? How do they publish these experiences?
The truth is that nowadays there are many platforms for this (such as the Internet or the local newspaper, for example) and there will always be someone interested in what you write. So, even if that someone did not exist, write for the pleasure of writing.
As the pen traces out words on the paper, your anguish disappears and your happiness remains. For this to happen, it is necessary to have the courage to look deep inside yourself, disclose this to the outside world, and be even more courageous to know that one day whatever you write could (and should) be read by somebody.
And what if it’s something very intimate?
Don’t worry. Thousands of years ago, Solomon wrote the following words: “Whatever has been is that which will be; And whatsoever has been done is that which will be done; And there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).
In other words: if thousands of years ago there was nothing new, just imagine now! Our feelings of happiness and anguish are still the same, and we should not hide them. And even though there is nothing new under the sun, there still remains the need to translate all this for ourselves and for our generation.
Jorge Luis Borges once said that there are only four stories to be told:
A] a love story involving two people
B] a love story involving three people
C] the struggle for power
D] a journey.
Even so, throughout the centuries men and women have continued to retell these stories, and it’s time you did the same. Through the art of writing you will come into contact with your unknown universe and eventually you will feel like a far more capable human being than you thought you were.
The same word can be read in different ways. For instance, write down the word “love” a thousand times and each time the sentiment will be different.
Since letters, words and sentences are traced out on paper, there is no reason to feel tense. The hand that writes eventually comes to rest, and the heart of the person who dared to share his or her feelings smiles.
If you pass by a writer who has just finished a text, you will feel that he has an empty expression on his face and that he seems distracted.
But he – only he – knows that he has risked a lot, managed to develop his instinct, maintained his elegance and concentration during the whole process, and can now afford to feel the presence of the universe and see that his action was just and deserved. His closest friends know that his thought has changed dimensions. Now it is in touch with the entire universe: he goes on working, learning all the positive things that his text has yielded, correcting any mistakes and acknowledging its qualities.
Writing is an act of courage. But it’s worth taking the risk.
Us and the critics
Read biographies: nobody escapes unhurt, no matter what their activity may be. From James Joyce, who was considered a pervert by the respectable “The Times”, to Orson Welles, the genius of the cinema, whom Umberto Eco classified as a mediocre person.
Read on. Because writers write, readers read, and critics criticize. Inverting that order would at the very least be unadvisable. However, practically every day I receive some e-mail from people who feel personally attacked when they see something negative about me in the press.
Although grateful for the solidarity, I explain that all this is part of the game. I have been criticized ever since I wrote “The Alchemist” (“The Diary of a Magus” passed relatively unnoticed by the press, except for reports that spoke about the author but hardly ever referred to the contents of the book).
I have seen many writers enjoying tremendous public success but when they receive the inevitable stoning from the critics, they tend to follow one of two directions. The first is not managing to publish any more books: this was the case of “Perfume” by Patrick Sussekind. At the time, his editor (who is also mine in Germany) published two full pages in the local newspapers, one with the criticism loathing the book, the other with the book-agents saying how they loved it. “Perfume” became one of the biggest bookstore successes of all time. Then Sussekind published a collection of short stories, two books he had written before his big success, and then left the scene.
In the second case, writers become intimidated and try to please the critics at their next launching. Susanna Tamaro enjoyed tremendous public applause (and an avalanche of attacks from the critics) for “Follow your heart”. Her next book, “Anima Mundi” was anxiously awaited by her admirers, then she changed the simple, marvelous poetry of the original title for something so complex that she lost her faithful readership and ended up not pleasing the critics either.
Another example is Jostein Gaarder. “Sophie’s World)” enjoyed fantastic success because he was able to handle the history of philosophy in a direct, agreeable manner. But neither the critics nor the philosophers liked the book. Gaarder began to use complicated language and ended up abandoned by his readers – and still detested by the critics.
It would seem from the paragraphs above that I too have begun to pass judgment. Why? Criticizing is so easy – the hard thing is to write books.
In “The Zahir”, the main character (a famous Brazilian writer) says that he can guess exactly what will be said about his new book, which has still to come out: “Once again, in these troubled days we live in, the author makes us flee from reality”. “Short sentences, superficial style”. “The author has found the secret to success – marketing”.
Just like the main character in “The Zahir”, I am never wrong. I made a bet with a Brazilian journalist, and I hit the nail on the head.
Let me end this column with a sentence by Irish playwright Brendan Behan:
“Critics are like eunuchs in a harem. Theoretically they know the best way to do it, but that’s as far as they get.”
Please, gentlemen critics, do as I do: don’t take the sentence above as a personal offense!
tags technorati : Technorati Paulo Coelho Paulo Coehlo Warrior of Light Warrior of the Light Newsletter
If Borges was right – if there are but only four basic stories – then mine would have to be a journey. I really hope he is right, because this makes me feel a lot better. Otherwise, the choices seem infinite and overwhelming.
When I think back over all the stories of yours that I have read so far, Paulo, it seems that they were all about the archetypal journey. Even Brida, even The Valkyries, both of which addressed the love triangle, and yet which were both still, essentially, about The Journey.
In fact, the more I think of it, the more it makes sense to me. Is it possible that for some people there is only one type of story? It seems to me that, no matter what story I were to tell, even if there were some sort of power struggle involved, even if it encompassed a narrative of love, that story could only ever be a story of the journey, because in life there is nothing but The Journey. All else is peripheral to that journey, or else inevitably swallowed up by it All else is just a part of the road, an element of the quest – even love, or at least love as I have known it.
I think of the Arthurian Legends – the tales of the Quest for the Holy Grail. Those stories encompass many tales of love, and certainly many power struggles, but those are always only parts of the larger story. The story is The Quest – the internal as well as external journey which that entails.
I think also of the Tarot deck and the archetypal journey it represents. The Lovers card is there, the Three of Swords, as are many cards which might represent a struggle for power, but nonetheless, the Fool and his journey toward card XXI are the essence of the deck.
Thank you, Paulo. Your words, as well as your books as examples, have helped me to understand what is “story” for me. The Journey is the only story I have to tell.
Love,
Savita
Dear Paulo,
best wishes of long life in good health and many, many good literature for your birthday
Dear Paolo,
Impressive!!! the best word i could ever described about your article in “the act ofwriting”. Often than not we always encounter “Critics” in evrything we had accomplished however the criticism that had been utterred had a great effect somehow on our works whether it is in different forms.And more often than not it makes us more careful in handling the next masterpieces we are planning to workout. In short it make sense in any way.
This is also my insight on why you-paolo is very successful in writing though you are an engineer by profession.
More Power and Long Life is always my prayer for a very dear writer who caught the very sensitive part of my heart through his books.
Dear Paulo,
The pen
It is the Eldorado,
It is our Santiago.
It is so true
The pen becomes animated between your fingers
It jumps, it bubbles
Going back and forth
When it comes to critical point,
It makes a pause
Then euphoria installs itself in.
It is your secret garden,
Your refuge that bursts out in the
open.
It is your in-spiration in ex-piration
Bursting out in the open, in full view.
It is our exposure to the world.
It is your own volcano in eruption
With the lava as its words.
It is your private garden.
Soul, pen, world
a perfect balance
of a sacred geometry
and you hold it all at your fingertip.
It is the most precious treasure we have.
You truly are an inspiration, Paulo.
Thank you so much!
Much love
Marie-Christine
Dear Paulo,
Thank you for pointing out the need and the importance of writing for the next generation to come.
With Love
Marie-Christine
no es solo el arte de escribir lo que me llena, es la sensacion de que mi lugar esta mas alla de encontrar un articulo y saber que es bueno. Se que he escrito muchas cosas a mi edad (20 años) fue la unica manera que encontre para sacar a flote mis pensamientos. el acto de escribir me enseña cada dia algo nuevo de mi misma, algo que solo puedo comprender frente a una pluma y una palabra.
I have always wanted to write but the fear of having nothing worth while to write; nothing anyone liked, wanted to read or agreed with stopped me. But with the medium of the blog I ‘ve decided to write to free my soul, unburden myself. I’m hoping that I learn from the responses about myself, the artform and find my voice.
Critics desire something to criticize, and writers desire to write. This topic reminds me of a song called ‘Garden Party’. I am also my own worst critic sometimes. Years ago, I read a lovely little book called ‘Notes To Myself’, by Hugh Prather. Thank You Paulo, Love to All, Jane : )
Dearest Paulo and friends,
I enjoyed this piece, i understand that when one writes something, especially when it is something personal, they are free of it. As for critics, i know that they are abundant. But it comes with the territory i guess, and i suppose the most important thing is not to forget and doubt who you are because of them. Write for yourself, and don’t become commercial.. nothing is more fulfilling. I do realise that every person is different. I may see brilliance in your books Paulo, but others may not. I know of people who couldn’t even finish the alchemist because they didn’t enjoy it, but i also know people who live by it. I suppose it just depends on how you are, what your preference is. I pray i am able to the write the story thats in my heart with perfection..
I wrote this poem sometime ago..
The Art of Writing..
Rhymes and riddles,
twists and tales,
words in letters,
words for mail..
The deepest emotions,
the fakest of affections,
with a pen & paper,
u cast a projection..
Beautiful or horrible,
no matter what it seems,
its perfectly worth,
for it is part of ur being.
You can sit and scout,
from a memory to a dream,
u’ll find they always flow,
like an endless stream.
You could dwell on your sorrows,
and splatter it on a page,
from soft silent tears,
to bold imprints of rage!
If you’re rather uplifted,
u could write about joy,
u could write abt family, friends,
or that one special boy.
There are countless possibilities,
of what u could do,
from making up stories,
to describing a shoe..
You’ll begin to soon see,
that the essence of this art,
is rather very simple,
just speak from your heart.
So don’t be afraid,
to let your hand roam free,
Just let loose of your soul,
and discover who u may be.
06/03/08
what you’ll think?
Care to criticize?
Thank you for being
Yajna
Dear Paulo,
Issue nr. 170 gave me needed impuls to take pencil and in only one evening write more than 200 words, well, it might not seem much, but what is realy important is the fact that I felt so liberated, free and happy entering in my own world of Wonderland like Alice. This issue takes me further, and risking to be boring I repeat again: Thank you, thank you for opening that door !
Like the Flowing River, that I finished last week, and your question about dreams and obsession, made me realize that I was stuck with obsession to write deep novel and never conteplated short stories (just once and it was published)and in that way forsaken my dream about writing !
You in some way gave it back to me and therefore made me better and happier person.
Love
Luci
pen is heavier than a sword.
the last 2 issues were beautiful – thank you.
Was wondering, do you participate – or would you participate – in the NaNoWriMo? Or, National November Writing Month?
haha! someone is criticising the critics!
though, I agree with paulo’s last words, that it is not a personal offnce.
As a writer, I fell that when and if I publish a book, the critics shall effect me in some way, even with my efoorts to keep myself from being influenced by the critics words, a difficult situation but I am sure I may over come it as paulo has.