Microstory 379: Complexity

Click here for a list of every step.

Imagination

Whenever I read a trivia page about a celebrity, they always have at least one interest that’s at least somewhat separate from what they’re known for. Vin Diesel is famous for his action movie career, but he also founded a video game development company, and loves to play Dungeons & Dragons. Harrison Ford is an actual airplane pilot. Christina Hendricks plays the accordion. I’ve talked in this series about finding that one thing where you excel, and nurturing that talent. I’ve not really said that you should also strive to be a complex person. A man named Timothy Sexton wrote the screenplay for a film called Children of Men, which is about a world where everyone is infertile. Timothy Sexton created a television series called The Lottery, which is about a world where everyone is infertile. These two productions are in no way connected, which just goes to show that this Timothy Sexton guy really only has one idea, and the first time around, it wasn’t his idea, because it was based on a book. Don’t ever be like Timothy Sexton. Have other interests besides what you’re known for. Learn to juggle, or take kickboxing classes, or keep a jar of dirt from every state in the Union. When you go to a party, and someone asks “what your deal is” it’s best if your answer takes more than one sentence. If your one job that you’ve had forever is all that defines you, then find a way to add a little spice to your life. I know that people in lower paying jobs aren’t going to have as much free time as wealthier people. Yes, trust fund kid, we’re all very impressed that you both know how to fence, and you “paint”. But just because you don’t have money to throw around, or even a lot of time, doesn’t mean you can’t find something that provides nothing for you but a sense of contentment. I won’t list all of my non-writing hobbies here, because not even 400 words is enough to explain them all, and some of them are rather lofty and ridiculous. I do, however, intend to pursue each and every one, if it’s the last thing I do. Nobody wants to be the next Timothy Sexton.

Ambition