Mozart or Salieri – Which Kind of Writer Are You?

Everyone knows that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a child prodigy and a gifted and prolific composer.

What about Antonio Salieri?  Do we remember his accompishments?  Not so much.

Yet in his day, Salieri was a well-respected composer and Kapellmeister for the Viennese court.  He had the patronage of the Emperor Joseph II, no less.  His pupils included Liszt, Beethoven, and Schubert.  He was a Very Big Deal.  But his music lost favor over time, he composed less often, and he became little more than a footnote in musical history.

While Mozart… well, he’s still pretty famous, even after more than 250 years.

So what does this tell us?  Well, that no one can rest on their laurels.  We must grow, improve, change with the times, or risk being left behind.  For new writers particularly, that means embracing social media, improving our craft, and becoming as prolific as possible – while still turning out quality work.

Easier said than done?

It doesn’t have to be.  Most writers, no matter how dedicated, take a break from writing at some point during the day.  Use that break to Tweet for 10 or 15 minutes.  It’s a great way to meet new people, keep up with industry news, exchange information, and communicate with readers and other writers.

Blogging is another great way to connect with an audience.  It hones writing skills, gives others an idea of who you are and how you think, and hopefully provides a bit of entertainment or information as well.

Although Salieri is often portrayed in books, plays, and film as a hack composer who was wildly jealous of Mozart, in truth he was neither.  Both men were gifted composers.  Both competed for the public’s attention.  As a result, Mozart and Salieri developed a friendly rivalry – a rivalry that spurred each on to even greater heights of creativity.

Competition, then as now, can be a good thing.  We can use it to motivate, inspire, and improve ourselves and our output.  It can raise our writing from just “ho-hum” to “wow.”

Mozart achieved his greatest fame after his death, but failed to attain financial security during his lifetime.  Salieri achieved both fame and monetary success in life, but faded quietly into obscurity after his death.

So what can we learn from these two great composers?

Well, like Mozart, we should strive to be prolific, and always turn out our best work.  And like Salieri, we should cultivate social media.  Find support in relationships with readers and other writers, and offer support in return.  Everyone likes feedback but everyone loves praise, especially if it’s sincere.

And who knows?  Maybe one day, it’ll be your name that people remember…

 

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