Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
I know this column is a day late, but hopefully not a dollar
short. I know I didn't write a column last week, so taking this week off isn't
really an option if I hope to retain any semblance of credibility as the author
of a weekly column.
I know D.J. Coffman, winner of last year's Platinum
Studios-sponsored Comic
Book Challenge, posted this year's contest guidelines on Digital Webbing yesterday. I know I want to toss my hat in the
ring this year, even though winning would mean signing the rights over to
Platinum. I know that even as I write this, I question the tradeoff.
I know the rough layouts Noel Tuazon sent me for the short
story he's illustrating for me knocked my socks off. I know I can't wait for
the pencils.
I know I'm several days late and as many dollars short on
the story I'm writing for Renzo Podesta. I know he told me not to sweat it,
that he could get the pages done on time. I know this story could fall flat on
its face, but I have no choice now but to give it my best shot and hope that's
good enough.
I know Mario Cau's probably thinking I'm a schmuck right
about now, for my continued procrastination in getting him the script for our
story. I know as soon as I finish Renzo's story, he's next in line.
I know "By the Southern Grace of God" may not turn out to be
the masterpiece I've always envisioned since originally writing the pitch for
it (for the aborted Platinum Studios romance anthology), but I'd rather give it
my best shot now and forge boldly ahead into the next thing, than still be
dreaming about it a year from now.
I know this quote from Orson Scott Card is a prime inspiration
in my writing life these days:
"You should send out, today,
the best work you are capable of doing today. Of course you'll do better a year
from now. But a year from now you should be writing the story that you care
about and believe in at that time--not reworking this year's story."
"I think that a lot of guys get
really into their writing, and sort of disappear from the world around them. I
know I certainly used to. But the problem is, as you become alienated from the
world around you, you start to lose touch with how people think and act. So,
you lose that human side to your writing. And for me, my friends and loved ones
are probably the biggest inspiration for my writing. From the bizzaro newspaper
clippings my girlfriend finds in the archives at work, to the stories from
being in the trenches of Hollywood, to just listening to people bitch about
their wives, jobs, cars, shitty TV, and all of that, has given me more
springboards for stories, characters, concepts, than anything else I do."
I know reading that a few days ago made me question the
current state of my writing lifestyle and ask myself if I'm spending too much
time alone, in front of the computer, and not enough time with my friends and
family and the larger world.
I know it made me think I might need to live more and write
less, to make my writing (and my life) better. And I know BKV always says the
key to success in writing is to write more and do other things less.
So I know these two opposing viewpoints need to be
reconciled into something workable, whereas today they are spinning and
gyrating in my head, producing a state of harmonic tension that feels ripe with
creative potential but also like there's a rock sewn into the lining of my shoe
that I can't get out.
And last, but certainly not least, I know I owe Philip
Martin of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
a huge apology for stealing his "What I Know" motif for my own nefarious
purposes. (But if I know anything about Philip from reading his columns every
week, I know he's the kind of guy who'd appreciate this tip of my Cardinals cap
in his direction.)
Elton
Pruitt's first published work is a short story, "Fall of the
Triumvirate," in 803 Studios' new anthology, Sequential
Suicide. Currently, he's working on three new short
stories, while trying to decide what his next major project (i.e., submission)
will be. He also has a top-secret formula for making the Major League Baseball
playoffs twice as nice, which one of these days he'll actually share with the
world!
Elton's online hangouts include EltonPruitt.com,
EltonSpace, and ComicSpace. Visit and
befriend him early and often -- you'll be glad you did!
