From Egypt to Writerland: A Revolution of the Mind

Cairo, Egypt, February 1st. Source

Have you been following the events in Egypt? If not, there's a stellar run-down here! To summarize: on January 25th, the Egyptian people started a series of impassioned protests in response to the 30-year "democratic rule" - really, corrupt and violent dictatorship - of President Hosni Mubarak.

Protests are still going on, and a recent development is that Mubarak has promised not to run in the next election cycle - although he still hasn't resigned as president. (Update: as of 2/11, Mubarak has stepped down, and a new government is forming! How awesome is that?)

This revolution is legit history in the making. These are ordinary people rising up, just as various disenfranchised groups have risen up for thousands of years, in a determined attempt to change their lives for the better.

It sucks that it had to come to this - that Mubarak couldn't've just listened to his people, that violence had to become part of the equation. 'Course, when you're faced with a problem, it doesn't do any good to wish it didn't exist. The people of Egypt know that well. This picture of human action, IMO, is admirable and "wow!"-worthy.

And it's a little bit inspiring.

A lot of us go through life being held down. This can be super true for writers. Obviously, the oppression we experience is nowhere near comparable to the kind found in a place like Egypt, where issues include a dictator and the violation of human rights.

But some oppression is there. The forces that hold us down are quiet, almost able to be ignored. It could be the cutting derision of a family member in response to your writing dreams. It could be a life circumstance that makes it seem like you'll never be able to sit down and finish something. It could be a financially-squeezed publishing market not willing to take the plunge on your project.

Tahrir Square, Janurary 30th. Source

More often, though, that sense of oppression comes from within. We are the ones who hold ourselves down. As writers, we do it in so many ways: by believing we're not good enough; by doubting the realism of our goals; by letting distractions take over; by stalling at a certain stage instead of moving forward; by attempting to be a one-writer island; by trying too hard to be perfect. The list could go on and on, and each way could make up its own essay.

In reality, these issues don't press on us all the time, or we'd never write at all. But they're always there in the background, leeching off our passion and drive - preventing us from being our best, truest, most awesome creative selves.

When a problem arose, the people of Egypt rose in response. So here's my proposition for the people of Writerland: let's start a revolution in our minds. It'll be small - the news probably won't report on it. But I say that the rule of whatever is holding us down has reached its expiration date. And there's only one group who can do the overthrowing: us!

When one person changes for the better, the people around them notice. Who knows? We might be able to start a whole era of creative freedom - complete with yummy pro-freedom Egyptian chocolate cake! (Don't judge, man. Chocolate belongs in EVERY revolution.) What holds you down?