My Writing, My Go
I was re-reading Untroubled Sky just because I had quoted Isumi in my previous entry and wanted to make sure I'd gotten him right (yup, verbatim). And then I realized just where the story had come from: writing.

Writing is like playing go. Everyone is born with varying amounts of talent, whether it be inventiveness, a sharp mind, keen observational skills, or a way with words. We start at different ages, some of us playing go writing as soon as we learn to hold a go stone pencil, others only beginning in high school, college, or their first few years of work; some of us begin after starting a family. We take different approaches to practice and studying, some of us more diligent than others. Some people read a lot of kifubooks; others play a lot of go write a lot. Some find rivals, mentors, or study groups writing/beta circles, others take go writing classes. Some take others under their wings and hope to learn something as they coach their proteges.

Some of us become insei begin to develop original work, whether of our own volition or pushed into it by others, and start moving towards becoming a pro getting published; others continue playing writing in amateur tournaments magazines or have fun at the local go salon write lots of fanfic. It's not an easy road. Some become discouraged and drop out; some of those become journalists, organizers agents, or sponsors editors. Some hit losing streaks writer's block. Some people seem to win tons of games write tons of stories effortlessly, while others wear their fingers to the bone trying to get into Class One earn some recognition and win the right to compete in the Young Lions' Tournament get noticed.

Not all of us will pass the pro exam get published. Some of us graduate without passing give up after enough years have passed, and others continue to try until they're thirty dead. Even if we pass the pro exam get our first book published, it isn't clear whether or not that will be our first and last significant victory publication. We compete with each other for titles industry awards. Some may be content to stay as they are with one title book to their name. Some may lose heart and do questionable things like sell fake gobans plagiarize. Some will retire early because they get tired of it all. However, most of us will continue to hone our skills. Some of us just want to keep getting better and better, and to find out just how good a game of go book they are capable of, and there will always be some of us who constantly strive towards The Hand Of God literary immortality.

We all play go write for our own reasons. Some of us just want some fun. Some of us like the feel of go stones pen and paper/keyboard. Some of us feel satisfaction at a good game played good story written. Some of us secretly (or not so secretly) seek titles critical acclaim or The Hand Of God literary immortality. Some play go write because other people do. Some of us do it because we just can't stop.

Why do you play go write?


ETA: Writers
Courtesy of moonsliver, some words I could really use whenever I feel down:

Writers are people who write. By and large, they are not happy people. They're not good at relationships. Often they're drunks. And writing -- good writing -- does not get easier and easier with practice. It gets harder and harder -- so eventually the writer must stall out into silence. The silence that waits for every writer and that, inevitably, if only with death (if we're lucky the two may happen at the same time: but they are still two, and their coincidence is rare), the writer must fall into is angst-ridden and terrifying - and often drives us mad. (In a letter to Allen Tate, the poet Hart Crane once described writing as "dancing on dynamite.") So if you're not a writer, consider yourself fortunate.

-- Samuel Delaney, On Writing