Blargh. Essays.

I don’t really like writing essays. I don’t think I’m a “great thinker” who, generations from now, anyone will feel obliged to revisit all the things I wrote to glean additional meanings from. I write them, I usually struggle at the start and end up with something half-decent by the end, but that’s about it.

I get the impression that the essay format was once far more important, and perhaps it still is in the literary academic world that I have almost no connection to (despite my current English studies). I don’t want to make waves: I just want to make a humble living by my writing. I don’t need to have revolutionary thoughts or opinions or a perspective on the work of others… I just want to tell a good story that people can enjoy and, hopefully, that gives them a little happiness and maybe a touch of hope. I really try to focus on optimistic writing, which can be a struggle because I am not always much of an optimist myself, but I try.

I think it’s less about writing what you know, and more about writing the kind of work that I want to read. And I do want to read lots of optimistic, fun, playful works… and, thankfully, the modern sci-fi market seems to have lots of options for that.

Anyway. I gotta get this essay finished so I can get back to the important work of writing my novel!
Hope everyone out there is staying safe and healthy!