5 Which is totally contrary to the Way of Harry,
6 And quite unnecessary besides,
7 Like all things that are contrary to the Way of Harry.
8 In their agonizing, they ask themselves foolish questions,
9 aSuch as "Should I write schlocky mysteries that all feature the same wildly eccentric but mildly likable detective?
10 b"Or should I write schlocky horror stories that all feature very slight twists on the Grade B horror movies I saw in my youth?
11 c"Or should I write schlocky romance novels that all feature the stock characters in my adolescent erotic fantasies?
12 d"Or should I write schlocky sagas that..."
13 But you can see how utterly pointless this is:
14 There is no kind of book that is enjoyable to write over and over and over and over again,
15 Which is precisely why this path is called the path of art for fortune's sake,
16 eBecause money is its own reward,
17 Even if it is the only reward of paths like this one.
CHAPTER 331 And if you recoil utterly from paths that lead to fortune,
2 Then perhaps it is wiser to choose a path of art-type art instead,
3 Such as painting or sculpture or visual things like that,
4 Because these are all incredibly easy to do,
5 Without thinking about it at all,
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6 And offer an important additional advantage,
7 Namely, that everyone will know you're doing it for acceptable motives,
8 Like the approval of all the pseudo-intellectuals who really count,
9 And not for anything as disgusting as fmoney.
10 If this is a path that appeals to you,
11 Remember that there are only two rules regarding the visual arts:
12 gFirst, never produce any work of art that actually looks like something in the real world;
13 hAnd second, never explain your intentions, unless you're much better than average at reeling off nonsensical ioxymorons and other meaningless esoterica, without thinking about it at all.
14 If you observe these two rules, you can do absolutely anything you feel like doing,
15 jEven if it's just driving a muddy Jeep over a canvas,
16 And IT WILL BE kART,
17 Which means that it's worth something to somebody,
18 lAnd has every bit as good a chance of being praised as the stuff that anybody else is doing.
19 Who knows?
20 Maybe it will be reviewed by somebody important,
21 Especially if you happen to be sleeping with somebody important,
22 Which can be a pretty big help on this path.
23 Maybe you'll be hailed as the latest genius,
24 And get invited to all the right places,
25 mAnd possibly get a big grant to go on with your great work.
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