Failure is always the best way to learn

I’ve been trying to write cultural criticism and analysis for this newsletter, but it never felt right. Turns out there’s a reason for that; it’s not what I actually want to be doing.

Like a jazz musician forcing himself to do pop music, I forced myself to fit into what I saw: be helpful, seem educated and give clever advice. And while it might work for a while, it was destined to cause frustration. So I am returning to where I’m coming from, where this passion alway laid: writing fiction.

I’ve been writing stories since I was in 3rd grade, not because anyone made me do it. Nobody paid me for it and there was no pot of gold waiting at the end of the rainbow. Somehow I convinced myself that wasn’t ‘serious’ enough for a newsletter.

And it feels like a giant weight falls off my chest. No more pressure to produce an intricate theory of the world. No more pressure to compete with the brilliant and talented other writers, who are able to seamlessly weave book quotes, cultural critique and exhibitionistic personal narrative into a 1,500 word piece that goes viral.

I’m heading to Kyrgyzstan for a few weeks to step away from all of this and remember what I actually enjoy about writing. When I come back, I’ll be working on fiction instead of trying to be a cultural commentator.

See you in a month.