Back in the 80s, Dee Snider spoke up in Congress against the PMRC. Having himself been a victim of being misquoted and misrepresented, he had a rather succinct rebuttal to hurtful accusations. One quote in particular stood out to me above all the rest, and it is a hard, beautiful, inescapable truth.

As anyone who has ever written anything can surely relate, it seems that no matter how much effort we put into a written piece to clarify our thought and meaning, there is always wiggle room for misinterpretation. Sometimes it can hurtful or even damaging to be misunderstood, but if we go into creative works knowing of the possibility, as an art form, there is a heightened appreciation for the artistry of language and grammar, and even sometimes in leaving ideas inconclusive.

There is a beauty in that.

Even with the non-fiction I’ve written, the way different people interpret the words, or what little details resonate with them always interests me. It’s often never quite what I expect. I suppose this is why beta readers are so valuable! Different perspectives see things in a whole new way.

I’ve attached the source video below, and whether you’re a fan of Twisted Sister or not, as artists and creatives ourselves, it’s impossible not to appreciate his words.