Are Writers Crazy?

Recently I finished watching a wonderful show: Avatar--the Last Airbender. It is awesome, and I highly recommend it, for anyone who hasn't seen it yet.

In the show, there is a great character named Iroh who, like me, is a tea fanatic. I mean, the man is PASSIONATE about his tea.

While traveling in the woods, he sees a plant and stops to examine it. It looks just like a certain flower that makes a wonderful, aromatic tea. However, it also looks very similar to a flower that is, in fact, a horrible poison.

Hmmmm. Delectible tea, or deadly poison?

What he's really asking himself is--should I go for it? Are the consequences worth it if I'm wrong?

Okay, I'm sure by now some of you are saying "WHAT THE HELL, OLD MAN! Why is this even up for debate??!"

However, isn't this more than little bit like our writing lives? Come on ;). Don't lie.

Most normal people avoid rejection and criticism like it's a deadly poison. They go out of their way to not put their butts on the line, not be talked about, not be judged. Why? Because it's hideously uncomfortable and the consequences aren't worth it.

But writers?

We're not satisfied until our work is out there before tons of agents and journalists, as well as our grandmas, pastors, and those bitchy girls that teased us in high school, ready to be judged until the cows come home.

AND to get to that point of Extreme Judgery Before the Masses, we put ourselves through cycle after cycle of painful, awkward rejection. Odds are, we won't even make it after all of our toil and suffering. But do we stop? No!

Obviously, there is something very wrong with us.

Why the heck do we do this to ourselves? Is being published just that good?

All true writers will say the same thing: YES!! It's worth it.

There is nothing else that can compare to the thrill of acceptance, of being published, and we can't stop wanting it even if we tried.

So, old uncle Iroh's suddenly doesn't seem so odd. I believe that's the heart of what it is to be a writer. Being so passionate about something that you're willing to be crazy-go-nuts to experience it, even if it means potential suffering.

I'm not going to tell you what happens in the show, just that Iroh drinks the tea.

What do you guys think?

Tea, anyone?