Wired vs BrandoSando
The line between Critique and Malice
The recent Wired article about Brandon Sanderson has left a bad taste in my mouth. I found it to be tacky, malicious, and bordering on personal attack with intent. As someone who grew up in the 80s and 90s as a part of nerd culture, it reminded me of the days when being passionate about things that were not considered mainstream was looked down upon and ridiculed. As a shy kid with few friends, opening up about the things that inspired me and gave me hope was disheartening, only to be met with laughter and mockery.
Now, as an adult, I am still passionate about the things I love. And while I understand that people are entitled to their opinions, I believe there is a line between being critical of the art and attacking the artist. In the case of the Wired article, it seems that line was crossed.
While I'm not the biggest Sanderson fan, as a rookie writer, I found his free lectures on YouTube to be a treasure trove of information. It's one thing to criticize a piece of art, but it's another thing entirely to attack the artist behind it. It's important to remember that behind every book, movie, or piece of art is a person who put their heart and soul into creating it. As consumers, we have the right to critique and offer feedback, but we are also responsible for doing so with respect and empathy.
I hope that in the future, we can find a way to have meaningful discussions about art without resorting to personal attacks. As for me, I will continue to support the artists and creators who have inspired me throughout my life, and I will do so with the same passion and enthusiasm that I had as a shy kid all those years ago.
The Complete Malazan Book of the Fallen progress update: 56% Complete
As a side note, I am happy with my development as a writer so far. I've found that slow and steady wins the race. One of my favourite stories is the one I wrote last week, and I feel that I'm getting better with each story.
I have a few different projects going on right now. I'm polishing up a piece of flash fiction and have outlined a few short stories that take place in the same universe. Additionally, I'm still working on my novel, even though progress has been slower than I'd like. However, I know that with each story I write, I'm improving my craft, and when it comes time to tackle an 80k-word novel, I'll be well-prepared.