I think that there’s some kind of mindset in a lot of creative communities (authors, artists, musicians) that your work needs to be groundbreaking and thought-provoking for it to matter. That in order for it to be considered worthy of its medium, it must have a greater purpose.
And if you ask me, its bullshit.
God, it puts so much stress on a creator to have to be important to someone else. I have seen so many people give up because their work isn’t making a statement, that it’s ‘fluff but no substance.’ As though there’s only room for so many people in a community of creators that only people with a point can get in.
If it made someone laugh, it’s important.
If it made someone smile, it’s important.
If someone looks back on it fondly, even for a moment, it’s important.
If you enjoyed making it, even if you never shared it, it’s important.
Sing songs about your cat, draw pictures of lizards eating popsicles, and write a series of novels about time-traveling alpaca.
The world is already full of super-important stuff. Write fluff.
I have a friend (published) who looks down on fanfiction because she doesn’t think it’s “real” writing since it can’t sell. Let me tell you, I truly pity her for never knowing the JOY that is fluff (fan)fiction.
ALL writing and art MATTERS. Nuff said.
This is so true. If matters to you, it is important.
It is also making want a story about an alpaca who travels through them with a cat and a lizard, all eating popsicles.
