There is never One True Way to do anything and everything.
I am not you. You are not me. My way of thinking is not your way of thinking. The things that make me happy don’t make you happy.
Likewise, the process I use to create my art is not the same as the process you use. Sure, they may have numerous similarities – but they are, ultimately, as different as you and me.
Still, all you have to do is scroll through Medium and other blog websites to see suggestions of the One True Way to do this, that, or the other thing. Someone tells you what the perfect date should look like, how the perfect apple pie is created, the best technique for grilling steak, how to make everyone like you, and on and on.
And, so long as we believe in the idea that there is One True Way, people will keep sharing notions of what that is.
As a writer, one of my ultimate goals is to become a best-seller. I have been shown many different examples of how this can be done. I’ve tried a few of them, too. Likewise, I’ve explored numerous angles to better market my work to gain brand recognition and increase sales. With few exceptions, nobody writes a best seller on the first shot. Or second. And so on.
This, that, and the other thing have been touted as the One True Way to become a bestseller. But there is no one true way – because there is no one true reality.
Let’s get philosophical.
No one perception of reality, no One True Way
I love this quote and share it frequently. Albert Einstein said,
“Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.”
The meaning of this is, at its root, simple. Every single person on Planet Earth perceives reality in their own, unique way.
Ergo, how I perceive reality is not how YOU perceive reality.
There is a collective consciousness where we mostly agree on certain aspects of “reality.” These include up and down, blue skies, green grass, hot versus cold, and so on. And even these have wiggle room to some degree.
Unfortunately, some people develop a perception of reality with no basis in anything. This is a frequent cause of conflict and/or sowing divisions between people on various artifices.
To keep this more personal – because of how our perceptions of reality differ, how we live our lives day to day differs a lot. For example, as a white, straight, cis-gendered male I come from a very different place than a black, bisexual, transgendered female. Her perception of reality and mine are automatically colored by our unique life experiences.
This is the primary reason why there is never One True Way. This gets applied to everything in life.
As a writer, the process I use to produce my work is not the same as yours. This is why, even if we take very similar approaches – you might have more commercial success than me or vice versa.
And yet, we both would love to find the One True Way to have that commercial success. So, you might write about how you did it, share that with me and the rest of the world, maybe even offer lectures and courses to help others.
But they won’t all have the same experience you did because there is no One True Way.
This is the way – and so is that
When I first began writing, my approach was the “pantser” approach. As I’ve written before, a pantser is someone who writes by the seat of their pants. No outline, possibly no world-building beforehand – you just sit down and write.
I have banged out multiple novels this way. But I know lots of people who are “planners” rather than pantsers.
Planners tend to create detailed outlines, do a lot of world-building, and layout aspects of their story – in sometimes tremendous detail – long before they begin the writing of the actual story. I used to believe this would stifle the creativity I had as someone just sitting down and writing.
My One True Way accepted another person’s One True Way. Pantser versus Planner.
But then I got a new idea for a story. This required some world-building. That led to beginning minor character detail. Then, before I knew it, I was plotting a book chapter-by-chapter. And then I was planning 4 books in a single series that way.
When I moved to the next phase, I learned that my One True Way – though it had worked well for me – was NOT my One True Way. I discovered the value of being a planner. Now, inside of 9 months, I’ve planned and written 4 novels in my Forgotten Fodder sci-fi series, am about to publish the second book of that series, and have planned at least 3 more books in that world – as well as another, totally new sci-fi series.
Hence, my personal One True Way has changed. And this is true of all One True Ways. They can, will, and do change.
No single One True Way, ever
Numerous worldwide accepted beliefs have changed. Just five hundred years ago, virtually everyone believed that the Earth was flat. People believed that disease was caused by demons, witches, and supernatural forces instead of viruses and bacteria. Less than a hundred years ago global instantaneous communications were impossible.
But here we are in a different world. My first computer was an Apple IIe that I got in 1985. The iPhone I carry with me today is exponentially more powerful than its predecessor and much, much smaller. That’s just 31 years of change.
While you may have a One True Way to do this, that, or the other thing – it might not work for me. What’s more, what works for me now might now work for me in a year.
When we acknowledge and recognize that there is no One True Way for anything, we enable ourselves to work with change. The one and only constant in the Universe – change.
Finally, while we have a whole lot of differences and perceive reality uniquely, we are all one. Beneath our sense of reality and self, we are Universal source energy. We originated and will eventually return to the same place.
This is the way. But not One True Way. Accepting that opens us to make more choices and decisions on whatever paths we’re taking.
Frankly, we’d be super limited if there was only One True Way. Having multiple ways proves there are multiple options available to everyone.
My goal, my way
My goal is to have greater commercial success as a writer. Ultimately, I desire to be a best-seller. The path I am taking to get there will be influenced by my experience, studies, choices, and decisions.
Since there is no One True Way – and its limits – the ways available are many, likely even limitless.
A way that suits me best is out there to be found. And even when I find my way, I know that it can and probably will change.
But this is an excellent truth. No One True Way means there are always multiple ways available. To find and/or create them, all we must do is seek them out.
What way do you go today?
Thank you for being part of my ongoing journey, for joining me, and for inspiring me and my craft.
This is the one-hundred and tenth article exploring the ongoing creative process. Please take a moment to check out the collection of my published works, which can be found here.
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