So, of course, like prety much everyone else, I have man interests. I like to write, I like to draw, I like to scratch-build models and model terrain. I have an interest in costumes, and role-playing games, and vaudeville-type variety entertainment.
I've delved into the history of various subjects and prominent persons in those fields. And that, my friends, is how I learned... Bum-Bum-BU-UM... The Secret!
What is The Secret? How did I find it? Well, keep reading, and I'll tell ya all about it! Here are a few examples...in chronological order!
Walt Disney. You heard of him, right? He's the guy that came up with Mickey Mouse. Well, he wanted to make a feature length cartoon. Other folks in the industry thought it was crazy. They said that NOBODY would go and watch a feature-length cartoon. But Walt wanted to make one, and he did! He came out with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and it was a smash success and the beginnings of a multi-media empire!
Chuck Jones. You heard of him, right? Sure ya have, he made a bunch of Bugs Bunny cartoons! Well, he became a cartoon director and studied the minute details of cartoon comedy. How many frames a gag took up, how many to wait before the next gag to give the audience time to laugh, that sort of thing. And ya know what? His cartoons flopped! His bosses told him to start making funny cartoons or he was gonna get demoted. In frustration, he threw out all his notes and made a cartoon that HE thought was funny. Ya know what? Everyone else thought so, too!
Stan Lee. You heard of him, right? He was the face of Marvel Comics. Well, before that, Marvel Comics was...Timely Comics (I think) and he was only working there because his uncle had given him a job. He hated it an wanted to quit. Now, the story Stan tells is that his wife told him to finally write a comic book the way HE thought they should be. What was the worst that could happen? The boss could fire him, he was gonna quit any way! So he wrote up the Fantastic Four, and guess what? It was insanely popular, and people demanded more books with similar themes and tones! Again, the start of something big!
Jim Henson. You heard of him, he's the Muppet guy! Well, his puppets had appeared on TV in a couple of different venues, and eventually he wanted tot make a movie. But he wanted his puppets to exist in the real world, not just stylized studio sets. All the movie execs he took this idea to told him he was nuts and that it wouldn't work! Finally, he took it to Lord Grade in England, who let him try it out. Guess what? That one worked, too!
One last example:
George Lucas. You must've heard of him! That's right, the Star Wars guy! Lucas is the only movie director I can name where I actually know one of the films he made in film school (THX-1138). I haven't seen it, but I know it. He made a film called American Graffiti, and it was a big hit at the time. He used this success to make his passion project: a cheesy retro space opera inspired by Flash Gordon. Everyone in the industry told him not to do it, it wouldn't sell, and nobody would watch it. But George didn't care, he WANTED to make it, and he did! And ya know what? It revolutionized the film industry and indelibly influenced pop culture forever!
What is the point that I'm trying to make? Look, it doesn't matter if you're writing a book, or a comic book, or making art, or making a cartoon, or making music, or making movies. Make the book that YOU want to read. Or the movie that YOU want to watch. Or whatever product it is...make the one that YOU would buy.
In my case, I'm trying o be a writer. They say you should write about what you know. This isn't entirely true. You should write about what you LIKE. Why? Because if you like it, you will have all this enthusiasm and passion to pour into the project, other people will pick up on that and then they will like it too. THAT, my friends, is The Secret!
I know what you're saying:
That's A Secret?!
Sure, you're right. Everyone know it, on some level. But how many people actually, truly, follow it?
Yours Truly,
Timothy A. Sayell
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