"My work done my way. A private, personal, selfish, egotistical motivation. That's the only way I function. That's all I am."

- The Fountainhead

I've always been an avid reader. As far back as I can remember I've had my face shoved between two pages of some kind of work that I'm surprised I don't have a permanent ink stain on my nose. Reading the different thoughts and imaginations of brilliant authors has inspired inside in me the thirst to create such works myself.

One work that I read in particular in high school (assigned to me by one of my favorite english teachers) was Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead. This 800+ page book was the first work written by Rand that I had ever been exposed to-and for this I will ever be grateful. Her words not only gave a social critique on the importance of having an ego, but inspired me to believe so much in myself-and gave me reverence that it was ok to believe this.

The novel's main character Howard Roark is a creative architect who instead of designing traditional buildings expected at that time (1940's) dared to design more modern buildings.

Ok. I know what you are thinking. Who wants to read 800 pages of graphing, drawing, and architecture? This is what I thought too.

This book is not about architecture at all. Yes that is the business that Roark is in and is mentioned quite often, but architecture is just an analogy for something greater. It isabout Roark's ideas and the art of creation. Rand challenges the reader to understand that having an ego does not always need to have a negative connotation. It means that you dare to do what it is that you feel in your heart and that you give everything to what it is you do, even if it isn't accepted by society overall.

As an aspiring writer, journalistic or not, I find this idea very inspiring. Rand was not afraid to say how she felt about society, especially in a time where it was easier to just conform.

I've read countless books, poems, and plays. But there are only a handful that have really gotten through to me like The Fountainhead has. Whenever I critique my writing in a negative way, because it doesn't sound as good as someone else, I remember Rand's words in the novel spoken through Howard Roark-

"You've made a mistake already. By asking me. By asking anyone. Never ask people. Not about your work. Don't you know what you want? How can you stand it, not to know?"

Basically, in the end, I don't need your approval if my writing is "good". It's mine and I think it's damn good. Grammar misuse and all.

Ayn Rand Institute
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