Some Thoughts on Art

When I wrote my book, I didn't know what was going to happen to my characters, scene after scene. Like in D&D, I presented these characters with issues and problems, but then I figured out how they would respond to them. That and the governance of the dice are the differences.

But you must’ve had an ending in mind and some sort of outline. If not formally written down, then at least in your mind. If you did any editing at all, then it wasn’t an accident how it turned out.

Nope. No conclusions. I do not write to an outline, although I do not criticize those who do. Editing happens after the art is created. Art also isn’t an accident. Just because I don’t know where I am going doesn’t mean that arriving someplace is accidental. It isn’t random. If you like the taste of something you haven’t eaten before, then it follows that you would keep eating it. If you are driving with no particular place to go, you might see things on the side of the road that interest you, modifying the road you take.

Now for school, yup, you need an outline. You need to stick to directions and eat what you are served. But that is not art. That might give you tools you need to make art, as in grammar and words for writing.

In the end, I know my characters that I write about. That is the only thing I know going in. How can I test those characters? What cruelty lies in my heart that I need them to suffer through? How do they get along with other characters: Love them? Hate them? Murder them? The characters are the real part for me. The ‘all important story’ comes out of that character-driven process. Art is my chance to be a god, if in a uniquely solitary way. I answer to no one. My customers want more but I don’t write for them. If they didn’t want more and I never sell another book, then fine. And to bring it back to D&D, the same stands true. If my players don’t like my game, outside of player choices and bad rolls, then I won’t have a game. And if that were true, then not having a game would be for the best.