William Faulkner, a Nobel Prize-winning American author and considered one of the most influential writers of the 20th century, once said,

The writer’s only responsibility is to his art. He will be completely ruthless if he is a good one.

Wow. Do you think there’s any truth to that? I like the idea that a writer’s (or any artist for that matter) responsibility is to her art. But I find it hard to be “completely ruthless.” Or even a little bit ruthless. Ruthless isn’t a word I use very often. I prefer words like authenticity, courage, resilience, genuineness. So it’s hard to imagine what being completely ruthless would even look like. But since I want to be a “good one,” as in a good writer, I’m willing to explore this a little further.

Ruthless: adj. Having no compassion or pity; merciless.

I think we need to be ruthless with the resistance that comes from writing or any other creative endeavors.

We need to be ruthless with that part of us that loves to waste time and tells us that we need to check our email a dozen times a day and check in with friends on facebook several times a day, as well.

We need to be ruthless with the inner critic that says we aren’t good enough.

We need to have no compassion or pity for outward critics, either.

And we need to be ruthless with the part of ourselves that wants to quit because it’s too hard to be really good at something. It takes too much practice, too many hours. We will be merciless with the excuses.

Okay, I’m getting the hang of it now. Perhaps my fellow southerner knew what he was talking about. We need to be ruthless with anything (i.e. behaviors and attitudes) and anybody that stands in the way of us expressing ourselves and our art with authenticity, genuineness, courage and resilience.

What do you think? Do you have what it takes to be completely ruthless? I’d love to hear from you.

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