Writing and Reading

I won’t mention your name. No, I won’t (this is providing that said person happens to be reading my blog). But I just had to write a post about this. It came to me. It’s something precious and real.

Dedication.

Somehow, some way, our work tends to mean something more when it’s written not only for our own pleasure–but for others. More importantly, for only one other person. And I’m not talking about appealing to an audience either. I’m thinking more in terms of a *gift*. Like writing a poem or a song for someone. There’s something sacred about the thought–the pledge, the promise, to write a work for someone. Someone special.

Like my sequel to THE CAIN LETTERS, CHIMERA FALLS. I’m going to be honest here: I had no reason to write it. I’m still holding out for a response on the first manuscript. Nothing has changed. Heck, there might be a chance that THE CAIN LETTERS will never see the light of day. Who knows.

But I wrote the sequel anyway. In about four months. What’s odd about that is the simple fact that I really didn’t write it for me; why would I, considering the possibility that the first book may never get published? No. I wrote it for another person–

A person who wanted me to continue on with the story.

She liked the first book. So she asked me, “Pierre, you need to write the second book.” So I did.

What’s even more odd is now that person wants nothing to do with my life. I finished the book almost a month after that fact. By then, I was already committed to it, so I couldn’t stop.

I can say out of sheer certainty that when you have a motivation to write on a project that transcends even your own personal desire, your work tends to shine even more than it already does. CHIMERA FALLS, by far, at this moment, stands as probably my best work. One, I honestly dedicated it to the person who asked me to write it. And two, for crying out loud, it’s the sequel! When we’re continuing the adventure of our characters, the characters we’re so intimately part of, our desire to see them through heightens in ways we can’t even imagine. But my number one reason, to me, was the most important in me finishing the work. It belonged to someone else. She desired it. I created it.

I’m not talking about you, reader (said person who inspired me to write this post). You’re not the ’she’ I’m referring to regarding CHIMERA FALLS. Rather, I only remember this one small project, so small that I can probably finish it in a few hours. But a small thing can make a massive impact–at least when it comes to writing. Or poetry. Or songwriting.

Yes, I’ll be writing a song. I normally don’t. It’s somewhat different than poetry. But at the same time…the same. But I’m going to do it. I’m going to write a song for you.

And you’re going to sing it. Because I remember your voice. And it always made me smile to hear your voice.

I can safely say–

That this tiny, little project will be the most precious project. Because it’s for you.