Welcome back to Up a Creek, a publication about writing and storytelling, relating the lessons I’ve learned in a 20-plus-year career as a comic book writer and author.
Yesterday morning, I had the curious occurrence of discovering that, unexpectedly, I was discussed in an article in The Hollywood Reporter.
According to “multiple sources,” my novel GODFALL is the subject of a Hollywood bidding war. No comment on that at the moment, though…stay tuned for more news.
This led to a day of lots of congratulatory messages and excitement, which was all just very damned lovely. And amidst all of this—and again, a fuller accounting of what “this” entails will be coming soon—I wondered, not for the first time, whether this means that I’ve made it.
Made what? I don’t know. It. IT. That I’m not a fraud. That I can write, and that my writing has meaning and value.
Maybe this seems surprising, given that I’ve been writing professionally for more than two decades. That I’ve written some of the biggest characters in the world. And yet, this path of writing creatively as my profession has always felt more perilous than safe. It’s a path littered with great, huge things that didn’t happen. Projects that fizzled. Stories I loved that didn’t quite find an audience.
And yet.
I always keep going. Why?
I suppose there were enough victories to keep fueling me. And I’ve had the support of an incredible family and spouse, who’ve allowed and championed me to do these absurd things with my life. (And, most recently, a manager in Danny Hertz at Gotham Group who is brilliant beyond words.) This has all let me be the dog chasing the truck, thinking I could take it down with my teeth.
But also…goddamn I’m stubborn.
And I think, as the purpose of this newsletter is to share advice above all, that’s one piece of advice I should share. Be goddamn stubborn.
If you want to do big, weird, creative things, you are going to be presenting with nigh-infinite opportunities to quit. All logic and rationality will dictate that you should quit.
You will wonder when your chance will come. When the luck will break your way.
A couple of things about fortune falling your way:
One. You never know when or if it will happen.
Two. You cannot in any way control it.
And, damn, it is maddening to not have control. What, then, can you do? Well, you can work your ass off, and grow, and learn, and push yourself to get better in every way. Which is what will prepare you to seize the moment when it comes.
Beyond that, you can just keep smashing your head into the wall. Even when it seems pointless. Even when your ego is bruised and bloodied. Even when all logic screams to give up.
Because if you believe in the work, you have to.
I’m Coming to Nebraska!
GODFALL is set in Nebraska, so of course I needed to come back home for a signing. I’ll be at Francie & Finch in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Saturday Nov. 4 at 4:30 p.m.
More info at the shop’s site, but I’d love to see some old friends there.
GODFALL releases on 11/1. If you’d like to order a copy, you can find it at any book retailer online, and local shops can order it as well.
As always, thank you for reading. If you’d like to learn more about me and my writing, please visit vanjensen.com. You can like and comment on the post below! Till next time…
This is some much needed encouragement to keep at it and be prepared for when luck drops an opportunity in your lap. Thanks, man.
Based on my experience of writing in academia for over a decade and all that I've read about the writing habits of novelists and poets, you're totally in good company questioning success, validity, and the like. It never seems to stop. The most important thing (for one's soul), it strikes me, is for the stubbornness to manifest as continued productivity and pursuit of art that brings you joy rather than resentment.