Magnum Opuses · 4:58pm Apr 7th, 2014
Seriously, sometimes I feel like I'm the only one that gets bothered by specific verbiage on so many things. I guess that's what happens when I join a site that's packed to the brim with amateur writers such as myself. 
Have you ever had someone straight up tell you, "This is my magnum opus?" I sure have. It's infuriating.
To those who are unfamiliar with the term, Wikipedia states that a magnum opus
refers to the largest, and perhaps the best, greatest, most popular, or most renowned achievement of an artist.
This is all well and good; I understand when a truly great work comes to be, it is referred to by the creator as a magnum opus. The part that bothers me about it is basically that the creator is telling everyone, "This is the best idea I will ever have."
What if the delivery is terrible? What if the reception is negative? What if you don't even finish your magnum opus? It's these kinds of things that keep me leery of authors claiming to be writing their magnum opus. 
Let me take a case in point: Atlas Shrugged. Ayn Rand considers this her magnum opus. Did she claim this before or after it began to gain popularity? The book was initially horribly received; I don't think she would have thought very highly of herself when she learned that her so-called "magnum opus" was the subject of criticism as what not to do with a great story idea.
My belief is that she claimed it as her magnum opus after it garnered widespread public support and became something that would truly be remembered through the ages. So, was it her magnum opus? She believes this to be true. But who truly chose it to be her greatest work?
Herein lies the dispute: Is a magnum opus decided by the creator or the audience?
You don't need a massive crowd to create a magnum opus; even if only two people in the world ever see what you created, if it imparts that sense of greatness that is becoming of a magnum opus after the readers or viewers are done, then perhaps it is and you can say it is.
I have surprised myself many times. I often think things to myself, then I realize, "This is an amazing idea!" and I jot down a note of it somewhere so I can remind myself of what I was thinking. I have had an incredibly high number of story ideas, and only about 1/8 of them make it to where they are available for public viewing; that's because I stew over what ideas I have, decide if they're even worth writing, then write them.
I will say, however, that even with all my story ideas, I keep finding consistently better ones. There's a story that I'm working on in secret that won't be read by anyone but me until it's completed. Do I consider it my best idea yet? Yes. Will I ever consider it my magnum opus? Dude, I'm, like, only 1/4 dead so far. I have a whole lot more time to come up with great ideas.
In fact, I consider it limiting to oneself to say, "This is my greatest work; I will never write anything better than this." What's the point in continuing writing after you've written the pinnacle of everything you will ever do? Especially if it's poorly received--that's a serious blow to one's ego, and one that could very simply be avoided... if the creator just reminds themselves that they have lots more to do in their life before they can start boasting, "This is the best thing I will ever make."
Honestly, I say listen to the audience. If they as a majority believe that what you have done is truly something incredible, then perhaps it is a magnum opus; if they feel like it's spectacularly lackluster, then I'm fairly certain that even the highest of hopes won't make it better or more wonderful.
At any rate, when I'm on my death bed, I'll feel comfortable deciding on what my magnum opus as a creative writer was. Not before, and certainly not after.
Good insight into your thought processes buddy.
It really sucks that I'm almost creatively stagnant. I have all these great ideas for storys, but my mind won't slow down enough to allow me to put the erratic thoughts on paper (so to speak). I had the idea of perhaps getting buzzed or something before writing to see if that would improve my ability to write.
It works for some others, why can't it work for me? I mean really?
That wouldn't be creative stagnation would it? It would make me more of a... O.O Director then a Producer
GODDAMMIT! GGGAAAHHHHHH! WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THIS BEFORE!?
I LEARN NEW THINGS EVERYDAY ABOUT MYSELF! INTROSPECTION FOR THE WIN.
Calming down now.
I would say that my current "Magnum Opus" was a project I made in elementary school. It was a topographical map of Washington State made out of saltdough. I thought it was awful but it was the best one made by all of my other classmates. I received the highest grade on the damn thing. I thought it sucked but apparently it was "awesome." I received a certificate and a congratulations for making the best one they have seen. I believe it comes down to the audience for thinking something is great.
Well that was long and boring wasn't it?
Oh well. Just my two cents about it.
Have a good one buddy.
~Adjier (BOW BEFORE POWELL!)
None of my opera have had a great deal of magnum to them; they're probably not as terrible as I think they are, but they're not going to be rediscovered in the 24th (and a half) century and hailed as the work of an unappreciated genius either.
1989098
See, that's the thing. Do you really want to be able to boast that something you didn't even like is the greatest thing you will ever create in your life?
I encourage you to explore ways to bring out your creative side; I'm fairly certain my methods of generating that creative spark won't work for you the same way that they work for me, but I could try to help with that. Perhaps someday, I'll get to read your magnum opus.
1989153
I never expect to be popular, in my lifetime or with what small amount of legacy I have when I die. I guess I prefer to be known by few and touched by even less; I don't think I've ever done something for popularity's sake in my life. 
I feel similarly about my work. I'm just an amateur creating stories for a select few to enjoy. No one is going to have their mind blown reading anything that I write, though I do believe the right kind of person will enjoy it.
1989159
Oh well. Who knows I might want you to help me write one of them one of these days? Truly though, I should really write my ideas down somewhere.
Hell, I would love for you to. (read the opus) Surprisingly enough I get most of my ideas for stories via taking showers and talking to myself. I don't have that many friends I can bounce ideas off of.
Turns out the creative spark is there, but my hands can't do anything with 'em. I find it utterly devastating sometimes. The idea goes into my plot bunny folder as I watch the damn thing play out in my head.
Thanks for the encourgement.
~Adjier
1989175
If I get an occasional "You ... you wrote that?" I figure I've done my job.
Regardless of what we think, whether or not something is a magnum opus or not is subjective.
but we should always remember we can always get better, in one way or another.
1989098 dude we should totally discuss story ideas
1991360 Send me a PM if you want Pumpkin, although your name makes me think of a female.
Not that would be a problem. 
I wouldn't mind discussing story ideas once and a while with ya. 
1991832 I do prefer to go by PK.
1993412 Ha. I should have known PK. My apologizes. LETS US GET PAST THIS AND MOVE ON TO BETTER THINGS!
