Once a division of Japenese army was engaged in a sham battle, and some of officers found it necessary to make their headquarters in Gasan’s temple. Gasan told his cook: “Let officers have only same simple fare we eat.” This made army men angry, as they were used to very differential treatment. One came to Gasan and said: “Who do you think we are? We are soldiers, sacrificing our lives for out country. Why don’t you treat us accordingly?” Gasan answered sternly: “Who d you think we are? We are soldiers of humanity, aiming to save all sentient beings.”

I don’t have quite guile that this simple monk had. I have too much respect for indoor plumbing. I don’t have quite guile, but I wish I did because that monk was standing up for me right there. In battle of tangible verse transcendent, he found both fields to be perfectly equal and necessary. I think I know why. Art is communication. After all, what is speech but highly stylized singing? Sounds and inflections honed to an exact degree making communication possible. It’s all just noise, it’s composition that gives it meaning. And where does writing stem from if not painting? Think about that next time you’re writing freehand. Pay attention to you pen as it moves across page, what are you doing, how are you expressing thoughts? You are painting, painting stokes and lines which encode our language into a readable form. Writing, all writing, scientific or poetic, is painting. It’s all art. And what is fundamental form of engineering, arch, if not sculpture? Where would modern medicine be without photography? What is geometry if not painting? Math more of same? As it turns out, I don’t even believe art and science to be as opposed as they first appear. I believe they’re same process at work in two different types of minds. The equations and theories that are taken for granted by science today came from somewhere, and I don’t think that Newton watching apple, Archmedes in his tub, Einstien pondering atom, I don’t think that any of these moments are any different from clarity I seek when pondering a plot point. I believe that world of science came to be while someone pondered universe on tangible level. Inspiration struck, and then insight contained within was captured to be communicated with others. Does that sound so different from what you do? It doesn’t sound so different to me. But while greats of science have pondered tangible, I ponder intangible. Math and science can have their neatly provable formulas and theories. There is no equivalent in world I’ve chosen to enter because when I’m sitting in my tub pondering things, it is not physical world I’m pondering. It is my world within, world of my heart and soul. My answers are just as real, but they can’t be measured in physical world. My answers are just as real, but there is no way to point to something concrete when dealing with matters of heart. But my answers are just as real, and they're just as important, I know this because of my father's question. The engineers can build their bridge, and I’m thankful for them doing it. It's people walking across that I must look over. For man walking across who is walking without a clear idea why, for woman who is terrified of what lies ahead, and even for child whose dog has just died. I’ve got answers for you. And if I don’t have them now, I’ll keep looking until I find them. I’ll get them to you just as soon as I find them. I’ll get them to you as soon as I can. I’ll get them to you just as long as I can continue to write.

Joseph Devon, author of The Letter joseph_devon@hotmail.com

The survey revealed that most writers and poets were happy to plod along by trial and error rather than investing in a decent course. They accordingly fail to reap rewards that are there for taking.

They remain amateur writers and poets whilst their professional colleagues cream off best paid writing markets.

The survey compared writers and poets to other professions. Lawyers, Accountants, Doctors, etc., are all highly paid. They all undergo training before rewards are forthcoming. Yet, most writers and poets believe that riches will come to them without spending $1 on training or developing skills.

One per cent. of writers or poets may get lucky. They may have been "born writers or poets" - they succeed without any training. The rest slog away - hoping that one day they may make some money from writing.

The good news

The good news is that there are 1000s of paid writing markets that are waiting to be exploited. There are more assignments than writers or poets.

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