23 and 29!
23. Could you ever become your own hero? Is that a role you can fulfil [sic.] or is it something you look to others for?
I do not know if I would ever want to write a classically or epically heroic character. This said, there is always room for negotiaton. For my tastes, I see the possibilities in both the tragic- and anti-hero archetypes. The ability to instill flaws into a character is incredibly important to me as a writer; flaws and weaknesses often grant characters a certain depth or gravitas, and that’s what I work toward in my writing.
29. Is genius equal to hard work? Does a genius deserve praise for doing well without effort? Are they above us?
Short answer: No.
Explained answer: I, personally, do not equate genius to hard work… it does a great disservice to the individuals who do nothing but hard work, and see that hard work turn into something meaningful.
In my real life, I am considered a gifted individual, and I’ve been called a polymath by various people throughout my life – e.g.: mentors, peers, &c. While the former has been objectively confirmed by neuropsychological testing, the subjective label ‘polymath’ may or may not be true – I refuse to ascribe such a title to myself. But what I can tell you with certainty is that I work hard, and I have fought with all I am for everything I have attained in both my personal and professional lives.
I speak of this in personal terms, because it’s a principle in which Wellson (and Justine) place great deal of stock – as characters, they are instilled with the notion that hard work produces results, irrespective of giftedness. It’s one of the reasons why they take on mentorship roles… they believe, as do I, that every individual is gifted in their own, unique way; with proper encouragement, those individuals can grow as a person, and rise to esteem.
Intellectual giftedness is a metric of potential, not of accomplishment. In this sense, no, I do not believe that such a person is above any one else.
Thank you so much for the ask, Zai. :-)
(( @heyzailene ))
