In her post I loved the effortlessness with which Knowles expressed her idea, and found myself struck by the simple truth of it. She wrote about Casey Abrams, a contestant on American Idol. Apparently, on the show last night he stuck to his guns and boldly performed a song he was told would 'make him small'. But as it turns out, his risky decision blew him into the spotlight, showcasing his talent while making him shine! There was no 'smallness' in that move.
The way I interpreted Knowles' post, and please forgive me if I'm way off course, is that you don't necessarily have to conform to societal norms to succeed. Be yourself and the rest will fall into place.
And I agree with the premise. I do.
But there seem to be an awful lot of big voices out there. And amongst writers, there appears to be a collective sentiment that if you don't get on the bandwagon and make yourself heard, you will never prosper. I'm referring to media as it relates to writers. Some might call it a platform.
This may seem off topic, but I think the very fiber of Knowles' blog applies to this issue. "You don't have to be a hurricane to be heard." Or do you? As I enter this new technological realm, the idea of getting lost in it weighs heavily on my mind. I'm like one small drop of rain in a tumultuous storm, attempting to change form while remaining transparent.
Being new to the media world, I often find it a little overwhelming, accompanied by the sensation of being trampled underfoot. Don't get me wrong, I'm not technologically stunted, I've met my computer and I know how to e-mail. However, in today's age, e-mailing has become somewhat antiquated. Now most of the world is connected by way of facebook and twitter, blogs and google buzz. The ability to exchange dialogue is easily accessible, it sits at our fingertips, and with the punch of a few buttons, all our friends and business associates could know we just drank a cup of coffee and are currently watching Fox News. It comes so easily in fact, that words tend to fly, they're everywhere and sometimes I find myself ducking just so I don't get hit in the back of the head with one of 'em.
As with any career, promoting oneself is a part of the job. This isn't a criticism but merely an observation. To tell the truth, I enjoy it. It has me doing something I like to do anyway-and that is to write. I'll admit that at first I was hesitant to get on board, worried that I might lose my voice in all of this chaos. That I wouldn't stay true to myself and my beliefs. But I've discovered in the eye of the storm such a wealth of support and acceptance that my fears have fallen to the weigh-side. In the last five some-odd days I've learned this: Get yourself out there, but do it your own way and do it at your own pace. As Knowles so eloquently wrote, "Believe what's in your heart." Remember who you are and try not to second guess. And if you find you've lost your way, why not ask yourself, what would Casey Abrams do?
"If You Whisper, No One Will Hear You" and Other Terrible Things Not to Believe
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