I am fascinated by language, words, and the way they both work. Language is arguably the foremost characteristic which separates us from other animals. And yes, I do consider us animals not unlike deer or fish. I know, language is merely one unique feature of our species among countless others like opposable thumbs, tools, and agriculture. However, I tend to think that words are what it’s all about. They’re what allow us to communicate (obviously) and to share in what it feels like to be human. They allow us to connect on an emotional level, to understand each other, and to feel empathy.
“Words are what it’s all about.”
Art is largely a form of communication. With it we’re able to share our experiences and perspectives in a thought-provoking and beautiful way. That then fosters further artistic thought and commentary in response. I don’t exaggerate when I say that artistic expression is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful aspects of life. That and feeling love, perhaps. For me, great art comes down to what a work makes you feel, and whether it generates a conversation in the viewer’s mind. In this way I believe writing is an unrelentingly powerful art form.
Today, I’m proud to say that I’m an aspiring writer. After becoming more aware of my love and appreciation for words, language, and communication, a gravitation toward writing only felt natural. However, I’ve found that it isn’t simply “art” which drives me, but storytelling. I love the way a good story engages its audience and offers a glimpse into another world full of new ideas and perspectives. Stories connect us much like how language itself does. They’ve been an ingrained part of our culture essentially since the evolution of language around 60,000 years ago during the out-of-Africa migrations, so it makes sense that they go hand in hand.
“It isn’t simply “art” which drives me, but storytelling.”
Stories tell personal histories that allow us to better understand ourselves as well as the world around us. I like examining what a story is in these terms because it elicits their significance much more than if you’re led to believe a story is simply a way to entertain ourselves or pass the time. They represent so much more than that if you let them, just as a great painting is so much more than a way to take up space on a wall.
As not only an aspiring writer, but an aspiring storyteller, I spend the majority of my writing time on screenplays. While I do enjoy writing of all kinds, I consider myself a filmmaker and screenwriter first and foremost. Digital filmmaking is what I received my degree in and writing scripts is my principal professional interest. In college I developed a deep love and appreciation for cinema because I realized how deeply it speaks to so many of my interests. It unites storytelling with photography, drama, and music while also performing studies on psychology, human nature, tragedy, fear, love, etc.
I feel as though movies have supplanted fiction literature as the primary source of story consumption in our twenty first century socioscape. While I still love a good book, I choose to embrace that paradigm shift. As a consumer, cinema resonates with me more than any other art form. I chose screenwriting as my focus in school because I love writing so much and think movies – good movies, at least – have become the current pinnacle of mainstream storytelling potential. I could write an entire article about why I love movies, but in short, I think their ubiquity and ability to unite so many aspects of art into one complex and engaging visual story provides an incredible canvas for modern storytellers.
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WHY I’M STARTING THIS BLOG
I’m starting this blog for several core reasons. The most basic reason is that I simply love art, storytelling, and the process of writing and I want to create a blog for others who do too. Being an artist of any kind comes with a very particular lifestyle. Making art is an intensely personal act that takes an immense amount of discipline and tenacity. It can be harrowing and emotionally taxing. So essentially, I plan to populate this blog with tips and self-help style articles for writers/artists and provide insights on how to navigate an often difficult and stressful lifestyle. I’ll do this by discussing all I’ve learned (and have yet to learn) about the craft of writing.
Admittedly, I have other more personal reasons for starting a blog too. First, I want to practice and improve my prose. It’s an area of writing I haven’t practiced nearly as much since I began screenwriting and I would like to do so again. Second, and in tandem with the first, these posts will be a way of holding myself responsible to write every single day. I love writing, wish to improve at it, and there’s no better way to do so than repetition and practice.
Third, I want this to be a place where I can muse and soapbox about topics I’m passionate about that might interest other creative types as well. I want this to be a fun and transparent representation of my life, who I am, and my journey as an aspiring artist. This might include posts simply discussing an aspect of my creative process rather than offering any hard and fast tips. Or, posts where I simply discuss any number of my favorite topics – such as time, space science, language, human history, or how to find peace and happiness – which facilitate creativity and inspiration in my life.
Finally, this will also be a place where I’ll periodically share and archive my broad spectrum of creative endeavors. I strive to be constantly creating new work. Over time I’ll likely feature photography, drawings, written poetry, spoken word poetry, and film projects. These posts will usually be accompanied by brief write-ups about the process behind them. I plan to do that because again, the creative process is predominantly what I’m here to talk about.
For a more precise description of what this blog will be about, I encourage you to read the About This Blog page.
“I like art, I like to write, I like to think, and I like to learn about the things I like.”
Blogging is brand new to me and with it comes a certain level of trepidation. However, it’s an endeavor that has become increasingly important to me. I see this as a new personal challenge and I’m invigorated by the realm of new possibilities it provides. I like art, I like to write, I like to think, and I like to learn about the things I like. I’m starting this blog because I like to think that others do too. So, here we go.
Michael
