The Writer's Next Step

Ok, let's assume you're right that we live in a corrupt age as far as the arts go. This means people are promoting works (both fiction and fine art) for reasons OTHER than they are very good. These reasons may not be clear to the promoters who may be getting gratification from areas OTHER than aesthetic. For example, they get an ego boost (moral boost?) from reading an underprivileged person of color, the same kick someone might get from volunteering or giving money. The kick is that they are doing A GOOD THING (promoting diversity, help oppressed voices be heard, abating global warming, etc.).

"Good" writing (or "good" art) are no longer definable. Good writing is easier to define: grabs you, brings you in, use of language, etc etc.

People are swamped with images and stories, in their desperation and confusion they seek out TRUE stories (ie. from People Magazine to biographies to non-fiction generally). They skip over the fact that nonfiction doesn't necessarily mean "true" (see memoir which is often made up to make the teller look better). They also miss the "old wisdom" that truth is something that helps us understand human nature, the world, the universe, ok even God, better. Wisdom is not necessarily something easy to get from nonfiction (even the Help Section).

Your next piece.
It's difficult to write from anger, to tame anger and make it work for you.
First you need to connect with your passions. I call this your territory. What are my passions? I have a passion for being against "true believers" (often comes out as conservative/contrarian politics but that's only because I'm in a very Blue State). I have a passion for creativity (often comes out as a respect for Outsider Art (as I am highly skeptical of the Art Establishment, not even sure I like the Outsider Art Establishment all that much). I have a passion for Mystery -- I have ready access to awe, and hate most things that put us to sleep (like fear, like fear of Global Warming, or Terrorism, or Republicans, or Godless Liberals...).

I feel strongly that people are interesting because at the core we are mysteries even to ourselves. I believe Paradox comes as close to Truth as we're probably going to get. Putting these two thoughts together: if you find a person's essential Paradox, you are close to understanding (ok appreciating) the mystery of who they are. I'm not saying everyone is interesting, in fact, most people are boring because they've put themselves to sleep ("Calling Professor Gurdjieff!).