“The writer must believe that what he is doing is the most important thing in the world and he must hold to this illusion even when he knows it is not true”
— John Steinbeck
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Simplified Meaning:
When a writer is working, they need to fully believe that their writing is very important, even if deep down they know it might not be. Think of a small kid building a sandcastle at the beach. To the child, that sandcastle is the most amazing and critical project ever. They pour all their effort and imagination into it, ignoring the fact that the waves will soon wash it away. Similarly, a writer has to treat their work like it's the sandcastle— the most crucial thing they've ever created, to stay motivated and dedicated. This level of belief helps them push through hard times and keep writing, even if they have doubts. By doing so, they can produce their best work and perhaps create something truly meaningful.
Related tags
Artistic process Creativity Dedication Illusion Importance Perseverance Self-belief Self-deception Writing
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