Pursuing Creativity · 7:40pm Jun 29th, 2017
Pursuing Creativity
Greetings! This will be the first entry in what I hope will turn into a series of blog posts. My name is Michael Ignacio Jr, and I am the creative director and owner of Kapuha Press LLC. I started this company in 2015, and it grew from a desire to have a creative outlet all my own. I have mentioned this in the acknowledgements of previous published novels, but it was very hard to find publishing companies that would look at the great stories I sent them. There are literally thousands of other writers who yearn to share their stories with the world, and naturally, these publishing companies can’t publish everyone who sends in submissions.
I created Kapuha Press LLC to not only provide myself a platform for storytelling, but to allow others to have another potential outlet.
Let’s talk about the sometimes daunting prospect of pursuing creativity. To be honest, in this day and age, it’s intimidating to imagine trying to pit your stories against so many other people, who also have great stories. What’s the point if your story will be lost in the enormous blizzard of other writers? We’re like snowflakes in that regard. It’s very hard to get yourself noticed, unless you have a brand new idea that has never been heard before.
Most stories have already been told, in one way or another. It’s our job as writers to portray our unique perspective on stories, and share what’s lingering inside us. However, what are we supposed to do when literally thousands of other people are doing the same thing? What’s the point?
The point is that you have something inside you that NEEDS to be shared. I firmly believe this: it doesn’t matter if your story has been done before, or is very similar to others; no one is going to tell your story like you can. If you don’t tell your story, then no one else will, and the world will be lessened for missing out on the opportunity of hearing your story.
Like I said, it’s hard when you’re trying to distinguish yourself as a unique snow flake amidst a blizzard of so many others. This is not an easy business, and to be successful, you need three things.
The first is a sense of imagination and creativity. Ideas are such wonderful things, and it can be argued that ideas are the most powerful resource in the universe. Everything comes from ideas. Stories are born within imaginative minds, so if you can imagine, you have the ability to be successful.
The second is courage. It takes a lot of bravery to put yourself out there, and allow for others to listen to or read your stories. When we write them down, most of us imprint parts of our souls into the words. Words themselves are magical, and they can conjure so many delightful or terrifying things in the hearts of our readers. As writers, we have an immense responsibility and honor to use our abilities. Notice that I did not say use our abilities appropriately or for the good of mankind. What you do with your abilities is up to you; but remember… you are powerful. You must USE your gifts.
The last thing you need is persistence. Believe me when I tell you that this will be the hardest of the three components. Our souls long for validation and praise, its human nature. As writers, we want people to like our stories and be shaped by them. However, success in writing won’t come easy, nor will it come quickly. To be successful in this business, you have to keep pushing, even when it seems that things aren’t going your way. Sales could be low, or people could be saying terrible things about your writing, or no one will even read your stories at all. These are all real possibilities, but you can’t give up hope. When you come up with obstacles or challenges to your writing journey, my recommendation is to take a deep breath, analyze the problem/challenge/obstacle, and then identify a solution. The more obstacles that you overcome, the stronger your spirit becomes.
It may be extremely frustrating to see or hear about other people who have easier successes than you, especially when you’re pushing so hard and doing your best. Don’t compare yourselves to them; their journey is not your journey. Instead of being the next J.K Rowling or Stephen King, be the first YOU. And don’t lose heart if you never get the kind of fame that others achieve. Just do your best, keep writing, and continue to grow as a story teller.
Why did you become a story teller anyway? Why do you pursue creativity? Is it to make a crap ton of money and be super famous? Is it to force people to question things about themselves? Maybe you want to help them improve themselves. Or perhaps you just want to entertain someone. Whatever the reason is, own it! Be proud that you are making this journey.
Even though there are thousands of writers in the world, none of them are exactly like you. The worlds and people you’re creating within your head are specific to you. Revel in that. This adventure can be warm, rewarding, and life-changing if you let it be. I mentioned this before, but I want to say it again: The path to pursue creativity is not easy. You will often feel defeated, broken, and unappreciated. Even in those vulnerable moments, don’t give up. Keep moving forward toward your ultimate dream… even if it’s just a single step at a time. Also, have the creativity, courage, and persistence to do whatever you can to improve your craft.
I believe in you. I know you can be a great story teller if you are willing to do what it takes to march down that path.
