Many amazing things have come from my current stint as Columnist and Lead Editor at The Good Men Project. I have met some great people, honed my skills as a writer, and—most of all—had the privilege of reading some damn fine writing. Whether from established Blue Box columnists or first-time contributors, I have been moved and inspired by the creativity that blesses my laptop screen on a daily basis. As a result, I type this, grounded in the knowledge that I am in good company.
We all write but, likely, for different reasons. Some of us look for healing. Others need to howl. Many just have a story that needs to be told. There is a common thread connects us, however: We can’t not write.
Plenty of men put pen to paper—many of them, spectacularly. This is hardly news, though. Thomas Hardy, Ernest Hemingway, Henry Miller, E. M. Forster, Milan Kundera, and Chinua Achebe (just to name a few) have all graced the shelves of my personal library for decades, now. While I love their writing, I find their creativity—artistry–more intriguing. How could I not?
This got me thinking about the “mystique” of male creativity. I know I shouldn’t look at our creativity in “mysterious” terms; however, it is not really a concept we tease-out very often. Perhaps, others simply overlook it in deference to our more analytical and physical talents. Maybe, one cannot broach the subject of male creativity without admitting that men have real feelings, ones that run deep. It gives one pause to think.
I want to write because I believe in the transformative power of words, their impact, and their permanence. I create because it takes me places, internally, that I never knew existed or, maybe, was just afraid to go.
So, men, why do you? Where does your inspiration come from? What is it about a blank page that inflames your passion to fill notebooks upon notebooks with mad scribblings and existential musings? The Good Men Project wants to know.
To submit, click one of the colorful boxes, below, and identify “David Estringel” as your “Preferred GMP Editor.”
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Request to join our private Facebook Group for Writers—it’s like our virtual newsroom where you connect with editors and other writers about issues and ideas.
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If you are already working with an editor at GMP, please be sure to name that person. If you are not currently working with a GMP editor, one will be assigned to you.
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Are you a first-time contributor to The Good Men Project? Submit here:
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Join our exclusive weekly “Call with the Publisher” — where community members are encouraged to discuss the issues of the week, get story ideas, meet other members and get known for their ideas? To get the call-in information, either join as a member or wait until you get a post published with us. Here are some examples of what we talk about on the calls.
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However, you engage with The Good Men Project—you can help lead this conversation about the changing roles of men in the 21st century. Join us!
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Photo credit: By Khakimullin Aleksandr@Shutterstock