I've worked hard to reinvent myself as this writer/maker guy. A big part of this effort has been to lay out my intentions and goals on my website JROBERTCLARK.COM – Science. Fiction. Create. But despite sharing details on my Home, Learn More, Bio, and Blog pages, there is still a lot left unsaid. What will I write? What will I make? What are my influences? And how will I tie it all together? I expect the answers to these questions will come as I get more of my writing and creations out there1. But starting, a manifesto might be useful to set the stage for what's to come. If anything, it will supply more answers for those wondering, "What the heck, John?!"
But who writes manifestos? Don't bad people like Hitler and the Unabomber write them? What is a manifesto really? And what makes a good one? I thought answering these questions would be of interest to others, and not only me. So I decided to do a little background research and find out 2.
Maybe you are like me, and in the back of your mind, lurks this vague notion that manifestos are dark. "Bad guys" detail their nefarious plans in manifestos, right?
But a manifesto by definition is not bad or good. And although evildoers love writing them3, so do well-meaning people. Consulting that oracle of truth, otherwise known as the Online Merriam-Website Dictionary, I found that a manifesto is "a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer." In this sense, a manifesto is for anyone who wants to share their ideas with the world4.
After working about thirty seconds to define manifesto, my interest was piqued. I then set about taking a deep-dive into the subject5. I found that manifestos of all shapes and sizes exist. Some are brief accounts like a mission statement while others are novella-length treatises. Some are even worthy subjects for semester-long college courses 6. Often manifestos are political declarations. Others are statements on art & culture. And some are individual pronouncements on ideals & personal worldviews.
It seems there are a lot of people with good intentions writing manifestos. Some of these are rather inspiring.
One manifesto I particularly like is Chris Guillebeau's A Brief Guide to World Domination. Don’t let the title fool you – this guy is not on an FBI watch list7. He is a well-known internet sensation and an all-around squeaky clean guy. What's so good (and fun) about his manifesto, provocative title and all, is how he shares his worldview. He's made a career out of Sticking it to The Man by following his passions. That alone is compelling, but how he does it is even more so. He doesn't trash talk the establishment but rather walks his path of "nonconformity." And he does so from a position of self-realization, not externalized resentment. He's his own boss and lives by his own rules – but respects others doing whatever it is they choose to do.
Anyway, in reading Chris's manifesto, you can tell that he believes in his life choices. And he's eager to share his epiphany of nonconformity with all. Watch out though – he's a great salesman. The guy has built an empire around convincing people they can quit their day jobs to follow their dreams. Not that there is anything wrong with that8. Most pertinent here is that Chris has identified and shared what is at the heart of all good manifestos. Regardless of subject or beliefs, a good manifesto makes you listen, believe, and act. Yes, a well-written manifesto declares, "I'm serious over here. Pay attention. Be a part of this."
Back to my manifesto.
After my not-quite exhaustive research, I was starting to think that yes, I should write one. Many of us already have a kind of manifesto within us, waiting to escape9. This "inner manifesto" is part of what psychologists refer to as an "internal monologue." It is the root of how many of us see ourselves and perceive the world. For me, getting this inner voice out might be a great way to do a reality check on what I think and feel. And, as important, to share what I wish to accomplish in my work.
Now, I should say that I don't recommend sharing a rough draft manifesto with anyone but a therapist. Sometimes this inner voice needs to learn how to behave first10. No, better to get it out in the privacy of one's own laptop or pad of paper. Step away for a few hours or days and then revisit.
So after much belaboring over manifestos and their value, I'm sold on the idea. I've already started drafting one. But that advice I spewed about writing it, then sitting on it for a while? Sometimes it's good to listen to that inner voice – so I will ponder my manifesto a little longer.
Yes folks, another cliffhanger11.
Thanks for reading. I appreciate you.
Until next time.
Science. Fiction. Create.
JRC
1 And I’m working on it, trust me! ↩
2 I really just googled the hell out of “manifesto.” ↩
3 Yes, Adolph Hitler and Ted “The Unabomber” Kaczynski both wrote manifestos – bad guys of all kinds write them, so watch out for what links you view online – the dark web is just a browser click away, after all. ↩
4 Not just some loose wingnut. And no, I don’t consider myself a loose wingnut. Please don’t comment. Please. ↩
5 I did another quick Google search. ↩
6 And if you’d like to take a semester-long college course on an epic manifesto, here’s one: ENGL 308 A: Marxism and Literary Theory. ↩
7 That is, as far as I know he is not on an FBI watch list. ↩
8 I first read Chris’ manifesto nearly a decade ago and have been plotting to throw in the towel ever since. ↩
9 No, not like the “chestburster” scene in Ridley Scott’s Alien. That would be bad. ↩
10 I don’t know about you, but my inner voice needs to spend some time in the Manifesto Halfway House before being released into society. ↩
11 But maybe you gathered that already from the nifty foreshadowing in the title. ↩
Note: Second to last paragraph was slightly edited for clarity on 2020.02.08. ~JRC