Write2Ignite

Last year I watched 52 movies, and read 48 books. But I didn’t like them all. Some movies I hated. Some books I rolled my eyes at, or finished with the thought of “Finally. Now, I can read something good!” As I finished the year reading A Christmas Carol, I was struck by this question:

“Why can’t everything be a masterpiece?”

You may think this is a ridiculous question. I might as well ask “Why can’t everyone be a genius?” Or “Why can’t everyone be gorgeous?” But this isn’t my line of questioning. I have written more than ten short stories in my life, and even I know some are better than others. While not masterpieces, I have my favorites. Some ideas were lightning in a bottle, while others required heavy editing just to make them mediocre. Why can’t they all be masterpieces?

What is a Masterpiece?

Before we start running in circles, let’s define what a masterpiece really is. Collins dictionary says that the word comes from the 17^th century German word “Meisterstück, a sample of work submitted to a guild by a craftsman in order to qualify for the rank of master.” When I watch a movie or TV show, read a book, play, or short story, I am looking for a tale told with such quality work that the author has earned the rank of master.

For Charles Dicken’s, Oliver Twist was the first novel to earn himself the rank of master. But it took him a couple more tries to reach that level again with A Christmas Carol. Then, he followed that up with four consecutive Christmas novellas that nobody remembers. It took him seven years until he struck gold again with one of my favorites, David Copperfield. Now, I can take heart as a writer—knowing that Dicken’s didn’t write all masterpieces. Neither did Shakespeare, Hemmingway, Jane Austen, Mark Twain, or Dr. Seuss. But what I want to know is why?

That Missing Ingredient

Life is too short to create or consume mediocre stories. And yet, we constantly find ourselves consuming stories that are just “okay.” Consistency is what we are after. If Carl Reiner wrote The Dick Van Dyke Show, why was Bert Rigby, You’re a Fool so bad? If Mark Twain wrote The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, why was The American Claimant a misfire? What makes a writer so inconsistent? I think it comes down to that missing piece that no one really has a word for. It’s that secret ingredient that makes a story transcendent. It’s what makes highschoolers act out Hamlet and not Coriolanus. It’s what makes us watch It’s a Wonderful Life every year and not Pocketful of Miracles.

I don’t have a word for it. In movies, they call it “cinema.” In paintings, they call it “art.” In writing, they might even call it a “magnum opus.” The point is, we all want to create one, and we don’t want to create nothing else. So now, my question turns from a “why” into a “how.”

How do we Create a Masterpiece?

This is where things get really interesting. Because Dickens, Shakespeare, Twain, Reiner, and Capra didn’t know they had had a masterpiece until it was finished. This might seem like guesswork, but the truth is that none of these masterpieces are first drafts. The Dick Van Dyke Show was originally called Head of the Family and instead of starring the chimney sweeper himself, Reiner was the lead. Mark Twain did not type out Huckleberry Finn the first time and call it good. While Dicken’s wrote A Christmas Carol incredibly fast, you can bet your life that he was not satisfied after the first round. Only God can create a masterpiece in a first draft. What I’m trying to say, is that a masterpiece, like anything well-crafted, takes time and commitment. Do you think I wrote this blog post once and then posted it?

Why can’t everything be a masterpiece? Turns out that’s the wrong question. The real question is how can I turn my story into a masterpiece? The answer to that question is twofold:

Swing for the Fences, and Don’t be Afraid to Fail

Every masterpiece exists because the author took a big risk. You can’t make a masterpiece by playing it safe. You gotta swing for the fences. Try your best to make your story the very best version it can be. My middle grade book Pirated! may not be a masterpiece. But I am swinging for the fences. Because you cannot be afraid to strike out.

What would have happened if Shakespeare had crumpled up Hamlet and threw it into the fire? What if Dickens had decided he couldn’t write a novella in six weeks and left A Christmas Carol unfinished? What would have happened if Carl Reiner’s pride had gotten the better of him and he told the network that he would have to be the star of the sitcom or there wouldn’t be a show? These authors decided that the risk was worth it. They swung for the fences, and they were not afraid to fail.

Edna Ferber thought her novel So Big would be a disaster. In fact, she apologized to her publisher and said that it would probably hurt them both if the book was published. It became the bestselling novel of 1924 and won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Imagine if she had never sent it, too afraid that the book was a failure. But she didn’t. She at least had the confidence to finish the story. Edit it. And even though she attached an apology to it, she sent it to her publisher.

Kate DiCamillo’s Because of Winn-Dixie was sitting on the heaps of rejected novels when an editor discovered it. 25 Years later, we are still talking about it.

Step up to the Plate

So why can’t everything be a masterpiece? The short answer is because we are fallen creatures in a fallen world. Sometimes we strike out. But that’s a blog post for a different day. For now, let’s focus on what it takes to make a masterpiece. And that takes effort. We won’t hit that homerun if we keep bunting. We gotta plant our feet, grip the bat, and swing with all of our might. Because while life can throw us curveballs, every once in a while, we hit a home run.

What is your favorite masterpiece? More importantly, what is your masterpiece? What are you most proud of? Let me know in the comments!

Author Bio

Just like his two older brothers, Kyle Morgan was homeschooled from Kindergarten through High School. When he is not busy writing, the next classic children’s book, Kyle loves spending time with his family, all things baseball, and watching black and white movies. He is a monthly contributor to Write2Ignite where he blogs about writing for children. His work has appeared in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, The Caldwell Perspective and StarLight Magazine. You can check out his Facebook page or follow him on Instagram.