No writer was ever such a failure in life as Henry Miller before his mid-forties, and seldom has any successful contemporary author ever received such limited financial compensation for his books during his lifetime. Nevertheless, his rise as a literary power in the second half of the 20th century was as unstoppable as a tidal wave.
The first contact with Miller's novels leads most readers to an overwhelming silence, the nervous quietness that comes over the savannah after an antelope has just been taken down by a lion.
Why is Miller's work so different from anything that had been published until that time? How come that it generates such deep feelings of admiration?
The answer does not lie in the
storylines of Miller's books, since, to the extent that his novels have a
plot, it is usually a messy one. His narrations remain far away from the
classical three-act structure of beginning, middle and end, because Miller's purpose was to
explore every bifurcation of the road before establishing a definite direction.
The growing popular appreciation for Miller's
work reflects the awakening of modern
culture to the concerns of the individual, namely, his self-fulfilment and
philosophical integrity. Miller did not describe each character's
motivation, but provided the necessary details to enable readers to gain important insights.
Miller composed his books
using a portable, mechanical typing machine. The manuscripts, which are
now deposited at public libraries in the United States of America,
show some corrections made by hand here and there, but all in all, relatively few. Unless the original text contained grammar mistakes, Miller tried to keep it, as dictated by his inspiration.
Whether
you are attracted to his books or not, there are important
lessons to be drawn from Miller's work methods. Those teachings will prove of
interest, not only to writers, but to anyone pursuing a demanding long-term goal.
Like old-time travelling
salesmen, Miller never hesitated to propose his work to any potential customer he could find, in his case, book and magazine publishers.
More often than not, he received quick rejections
accompanied by unfavourable comments.
Decade after decade, Miller shrugged his shoulders at negative reactions and kept searching for readers that would appreciate his work.
Despite difficulties, he maintained a constant purpose throughout his life. Have you ever been evicted from your home? Or close to starvation because you could not afford a meal? Have you had your books prohibited from publication in your own country?
Tragic as these events may be, experience shows that people will react differently. A few individuals are going to suffer a nervous breakdown from which they will never recover. Many men and women are going to be psychologically paralysed for months. Yet, others will immediately get back on their feet, and start rebuilding their lost fortunes.
In the case of Miller, he experienced poverty for decades, and had his novels rejected countless times before publication. In addition, he had his best-selling novel "Tropic of Cancer" forbidden in some countries for years for reasons of public morality.
Without the ability to maintain a lifetime perspective, Miller would have given up his ambitions a thousand times along the way.
How much your dreams mean to you is a question that no one can answer
without knowing the reasons underlying your motivation. In any case, if
there is one thing that you should learn from Miller, is that it pays to
choose a passion that allows you to exert your talents every day, during
good and bad times.
Miller worked relentlessly, especially in times of adversity. When he was not working on a new book, he would devote his energies to painting. His watercolours did not earn him millions, but
he sold many of them, and created a second source of
income.
How persistent are you in pursuing your interests? What are you doing today in
order to improve your skills? I have read that passion and dedication will often help
people reach old age in good health, and live for many years. Henry Miller was the living proof of this principle. He lived to become 89 years old.
Whether
medical advances will one day extend the human lifespan to 120 years is a
matter of speculation. In the meantime, chances are that you will live longer than your ancestors. Keep your long-term goals in mind, and make each day count. Happy New Year.
[Text: http://johnvespasian.blogspot.com]
For more information about rational living, I refer you to my books
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- John Vespasian interviewed by Casey Bell on "CSB Television" about writing techniques.
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- John Vespasian interviewed by Michael Edelstein and Thomas Bateman on "REBT Advocates" about using history for philosophical guidance guide.
- John Vespasian interviewed by Skyler Collins on "Everything Voluntary" about the principles of rational living.