Getting Out Of My Own Way

If one cannot figure out exactly what they want out of any endeavor, then they can pretty easily figure out what they DON'T want. And I know for a fact that what I don't want is to insert my ego into this story, or some self important dogma coupled with a pseudo-political agenda. One could argue that some of the greatest novels ever penned would fall under this criteria, but I am not trying to write the greatest novel ever. I am only trying to create something true to itself, and in that way, I must learn to get out of the story's way. But on the other hand, if I cannot be true to myself, how can I create anything true in essence? Enter the razor thin balance between holding fast to my principles and allowing a story to be told without agenda. I can't speak as to which side of this grand hypocrisy I stand in: probably I jump between the two in a strange game of hopscotch. Regardless, as long as the story's voice is louder than my own, I will consider it a victory in the end. Besides, there are many joys and secrets to discover inside this space: The further I go, the more I realize that all the best experiences in creativity lie in the mysterious gray area between the black and white. Perhaps one of the greatest aspirations of a novelist is to remove themselves from the text, while embracing the impossibility of such a task.