Inspiration

Amateurs Built the Ark; Professionals Built the Titanic

Don’t be afraid to get started

Photo by Kenny Luo on Unsplash

You sit at the keyboard, pick up a paintbrush, or turn on your mic, and then you freeze. The icy grip around your heart is oppressive.

What if no one likes it?

Maybe if you were a trained professional. That’s it. Professionals go to school, right? Even creative ones. After all, Mozart perfected his craft at a university, didn’t he?

On the first day of your new classes, Art Appreciation because prereqs, the instructor makes fun of Noah and his building of the ark. Crude tools, zero expertise. No wonder he only carried animals; who would trust him to carry them through forty days of torrential flooding?

Now, the Titanic. That was a glorious example of Industrial Era engineering! The largest passenger ship ever built. Everyone clamored for a ticket for the maiden voyage. It only took four days for the buyer’s remorse to set in.

Finally starting that MFA

Filled with confidence at your choice to go back to school, you head to your next class, Creative Writing. Finally!

You sit down and see written on the board the day’s itinerary. As expected, the first twenty minutes…