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This Is Why People With Big Egos Can’t Create Art
They don’t have their first fucking times.
“Are you vulnerable?” I heard someone ask me behind my back.
At first, I thought I misheard the question. But then I looked around and realized what was going on: I was standing in a line at Tesco to buy groceries. It’s Monday — first Monday after lockdown — and at this time, they usually allow the elderly and otherwise ‘vulnerable’ people ahead of the queue.
“No. Not really,” I replied.
Being 22, healthy, and (as I like to think) good-looking, I didn’t seem vulnerable at all.
But it made me think.
What does it mean to be vulnerable?
Art in general and writing, in particular, is a connection.
You don’t connect with people by saying what’s safe. You connect by opening yourself up, being naked in front of your audience, by taking the risk.
This is vulnerability.
It’s the feeling you get when you try something new. It’s the same feeling when you meet someone smarter than you, and can’t contribute to the conversation about the United Nations.
In such moments, it’s easy to let the ego out. It’s tempting to let it take control. You might even…
