ChaoticanWriter is the brain child of aspiring fantasy writer, storyteller, convention panelist, and creative thought leader Matthew Allan Olson.
(That’s me!)
In honest, much of that is self selling. In a nutshell, I’m an adult male speculative fiction geek in his 30’s who re-investing in the dreams of his childhood and is using his creative talents to further his career in creative writing as an author, content creator, and contributor.
The site you see before you is my platform. It is also an expression. It is a method of communicating these thoughts and goals, building upon a foundation of experience, and sharing the knowledge and wisdom that comes with that journey.
There are many reasons why ChaoticanWriter came into existence. In this section, I want to share some of those reasons. Some were practical and well-measured. Others were subject to bouts of inspiration and whimsy!
Reason #1 - Platform of Authorship
First and foremost, I am a writer. The various projects and pieces I write for are represented, in one fashion or another, here in this space. This site stands as a monument to my journey, and to those works that I am driven and passionate to pursue.
As I continue my path to authorship, I want to share that journey with you. I do so as a writer, a marketer, and an entrepreneur, but also as a person who honestly wants you to be a part of that experience, and to gain some truth from it.
Reason #2 - Resource for Writers
Engaging this journey provides a unique opportunity to utilize this space as a “think tank”, engaging in research into the process, the market, individual resources, and worthy thought pieces that are designed to share my knowledge and experience with aspiring writers and established authors alike.
Speaking from the scope of someone who is writing his own works, its not useful to keep the results of my studies all to myself. I would rather provide some value to people who are keen to read it.
Reason #3 - Resource for World-builders
Likewise, when digging into the realms of fantasy, science fiction, horror, and other speculative genres, an opportunity presents itself to research and share concepts of world building and lore creation. This is not limited to writing. Various styles of art and entertainment engage in this same journey of building a setting, its history, and its characters from scratch.
Especially with my own background of table-top gaming, role-playing activities, and genre art appreciation, I want to provide some valuable content to those who are undergoing their own journeys of creation!
Reason #4 - Bridge to the Community
Despite that the process of writing is often one that requires some level of seclusion, I’m a social creature. This means that I consider this space as a form of “dialogue”. If it were simply a private platform, then it would not be open to the public for viewing.
By providing content, I am engaging in a conversation. I’m speaking directly to you as a reader. It also gives me a platform to share directly with those who I speak to in other places, at other times. In a way, it functions both as a professional “office meeting presentation”, and personal “smoking section” banter.
Reason #5 - Chronicle of Creative Progress
A chunk of this site functions as a chronicle and a tool for my own progress as a writer, world-builder, and creative. It helps me keep track of that progress so that it does not get lost in time. I’m finding that having a portal such as this is a useful aid.
It also provides some validation. Its good to know that there are individuals who might find some of the stories that I share humanizing, insightful, and valuable.
Reason #6: - Outlet of Personal Expression
Despite all professional appearances, I’m a human being. Just as any other human on this planet, I’m subject to experiences, challenges, stresses, and the emotions that come from them. If I am cut, I bleed.
This is true, especially as someone who undergoes their fair share of mental health challenges. I do not see these truths as disqualifying, and solemnly disagree with anyone that does. Rather, it makes them more measurable to me as a human being.
Each post, page, and entry is not simply a spark of thought. It is a success of will. It is an expression of myself. A journal, channeled through content. As a general rule, if any one piece of content is of no value to anyone, it is at least of value to me.
Reason #7 - Because I will it so!
Why else? … Why else do human beings do what they do? … Is any other reason necessary? Perhaps it is best summed up in the following quote:
” Yes: I am a dreamer. For a dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world. “
-Oscar Wilde
Like much of this site, this page exists as a living document. As time passes, change is certain. Journeys often never show their full nature until the path is set upon, and sometimes further down the trail, new insights become clear.