Write Something Great · 16 May 2026
I would like to write something great someday. Even if it is just one thing.
I do not think that I am alone thinking that I would like to write something great. But I also know that even if somebody does think that something I write is great, greatness is not determined by what people think now. Or even in a few years. It seems that greatness is determined by future generations.
As I think about future generations judging me and my writing, I cannot help but think that if anybody does still read my writing in future generations (and that is a big if), they may not have the context of history. They may not understand what circumstances I am writing in. They might not understand what the human race was going through at the time. Which is understandable. We do not necessarily read books with a historical lens. We cannot determine the social context of stories of olde. We can barely read books in light of our own situations. Or maybe that is just me.
Of course, there is the real possibility that none of my books or writings will survive beyond my time. My Amazon account and my blog publishing services could be turned off as soon as I perish. Which, in all likelihood, is what will happen. So despite what we say about the internet being forever, my writings will probably all pass away when I do.
Which is the ultimate writing judge. Time.
Think about it. There are lots and lots of books and other writing that we will never know about because they have not survived. People do not know about the author striving to be published in the whatever-teenth century. We have never heard of very many people who have put pen to paper. After all, we all have writing out there somewhere. Or at least we did. We did until we burned up our term papers and essays and poems when the class was over. When we needed a little something to start the fire. When we decided that we needed to clean out the attic or closet or wherever we store that writing we have kept for so long.
Which is a bummer.
(Wow. I did not mean to write such a downer blog post.)
I really just meant to say that I would rather be prolific and read by many while I am still around than be considered great after my time. I would rather people see me as a hack but still read my stuff rather than somebody who was ignored in my own time and discovered much later. Of course, the ultimate would be to be adored now and later. But that might be too much to ask. Okay. It is way too much to ask. But still…
Well, that is about it for today’s daydreaming. I will keep writing whether anybody reads. And maybe, just maybe, I can write something someday that somebody will think is great.
© 2026 Michael T. Miyoshi
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