Originality and Honesty

Alana from Sewn Stories was nice enough to write a guest post for me. I came across her blog a while ago and I enjoyed her writing quite a bit. After a while, I popped the question and she said yes. So here it is ladies and gentlemen, a guest post on being original and how honesty plays a role in your originality. I thought it would be a good idea to post this on the first day of the New Year, as a means to remind everyone to be themselves and to do that which their heart desires (within reason of course). Take risks, don’t be afraid to speak your mind, and continue doing that which feels right even though setbacks and fears might want to make you crawl into a dark corner.  Thank you Alana!

Several years ago I was a young undergrad, majoring in Philosophy. The first philosophy paper I wrote – the first serious essay – I was expected to demonstrate not just an understanding of the material I had chosen to discuss, but to provide my own argument, to demonstrate original thought.

The concept of ‘original thought’ terrified me. I was adept at understanding difficult concepts, and I could demonstrate my understanding, but making that final leap, offering my honest and balanced opinion on an issue someone much smarter than me had obviously spent a lot of time considering, seemed impossible.

What could I offer? I read several different viewpoints on the topic my paper was to focus on, and there were viewpoints I agreed with, but I found it difficult to summon the courage to move beyond the ideas of those I agreed with. They had written what I believed, and that was that. All the thoughts had been thought.

Thankfully I had an extremely supportive and understanding professor, who gently explained to me that I didn’t have to reinvent the wheel. I didn’t have to prove the others wrong, or produce a radical theory never before offered.

I just had to be honest.

My professor told me to be patient. He told me to read, and think, and write, and eventually the answer would come to me. He said eventually my understanding would grow enough to allow me to make the leap, and I would discover through reason my honest and justifiable opinion. He said my opinion would likely be similar to the opinion held by many who had considered the topic before me, but because I had put serious thought into the issue, my argument, or the way in which I would justify my opinion, would be original. It would be my honest opinion.

The idea of originality resulting from honesty has stayed with me. It gives me comfort when I feel discouraged. I am currently going through a period of growth and learning. I suppose it can be argued that we all are always growing and learning, and if we’re not, we’re stagnant. However, at this time my focus is on learning, my intention is to grow, and I am actively seeking change. My focus is on discovering my voice as a writer and improving my skills as a seamstress. I require vast improvements in both areas, and I’m not sure what I have to offer. I started blogging in September as a way to hold myself accountable and tease out the direction I want to take. Blogging has helped me in many ways, but some days I wonder why I am doing it. I wonder why I am writing stories no one reads, why I am making dresses with crooked seams. Will any of this ever provide me with an income? Will I ever be published? Will my blog ever lead me to greater opportunities? Will I ever be a skilful craftsperson, creating quilts and clothes and other items that others would want to buy? Is it enough to do these things only for myself?

What can I write, what can I make, that someone else isn’t already writing, or making, only better?

The answer is that I can write and I can make what I write and what I make. I try to remember that I will never accomplish anything if I don’t try. I try to be patient. If I am honest in my attempt, if I put in the work and I learn from my mistakes, I will grow and improve. Even if millions of others have written similar stories or sewn similar quilts, it is still worthwhile for me to try my hand. In time my abilities, my understanding, and my self will make the leap.What I create, whether it is a short story or a summer dress, a non-fiction article or a quilt, will be original and unique and an honest representation of who I am.

So this is my advice to you, if you ever feel the discouragement I sometimes feel: always be true to your self. Be honest. To be honest is to be original, to be uniquely you. Keep trying, keep learning, and eventually you will make the leap.