What led Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to become a writer?

The story of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s life is one that is intrinsically linked to the story of Sherlock Holmes Tartan. We quite literally would not be where we are as a brand today without his work. For that reason Sir Arthur will always hold a special place in our hearts. Not only did his world renowned works of fiction inspire the very creation of our signature green and blue tartan, they also gave us the opportunity to meet and connect with other lovely like minded individuals.

Of course we are talking about the fictional escapades of his most famous fictional character, Sherlock Holmes. However this was just a part of his genius. Did you know that Sir Arthur was also gifted in his ability to create historical fiction, science fiction and also non-fiction medical literature. What we want to know in this article is, what led Sir Arthur Conan Doyle down the path to becoming one of the most influential authors in history.

Are you an expert Sherlockian? Join the Sherlock Holmes Tartan Society today! But keep it on the low in case Moriarty is on the prowl….

Did Sir Arthur Conan Doyle always intend to become a world renowned author?

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s story and his journey to becoming an accomplished author is inspiring to say the least. His success was the result of ruthless persistence, despite facing failure. Obviously no one will ever be able to get Sir Arthur’s explanation for what motivated him to become such a great writer. However, like many great individuals, it does not seem like Sir Arthur initially intended to become one of the greatest of all time at his craft. His story is a poetic example of how failure is necessary for success and the importance of just being able to roll with the punches when things don’t go as planned.

Initially, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle embarked on a journey to become a medical physician and it could be argued that his failure in this field was one of the most significant contributing factors to his success as a writer. It ultimately gave him the time to pursue his writing. There was also his professor who inspired him, Dr Joseph Bell, who served as a very early source of inspiration for the famous Sherlock Holmes character and his legendary observational skills. It is humbling to imagine a young Sir Arthur becoming inspired by his professor’s work, blissfully unaware of the weight this influence would hold in years to come.

Sir Arthur’s path to penmanship

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was writing short stories and medical literature at the same time and I think this is a wonderful example of how we should pursue our passions no matter what profession we may find ourselves in. Some occupations are just a means to an end, as I would argue medicine ended up being to Sir Arthur.

To be clear, Sir Arthur obviously took medicine very seriously, but I think his failure to really make something of himself in this field is what inspired him to pursue his true gift, his power with prose. After completing a Bachelor and a Master of Surgery in 1881, Sir Arthur went on to work as surgeon aboard the SS Mayumba, an adventure that would take him as far as the Coast of West Africa!

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle then tried and failed to establish a medical practice, twice. His second attempt was in an effort to become an established ophthalmologist. He even travelled to Vienna to gain more knowledge but still he failed to find his place in the medical field. It was this failure though that gave him time to create one of the most enduring, distinctive and well-loved fictional characters of all time.

What we can learn from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legacy

Sir Arthur’s rise to fame teaches us the importance of staying true to ourselves no matter the circumstances. How often do you hear people say things like, “oh I would love to do such and such, but I just don’t have time”? Studying medicine at university of Edinburgh was no doubt very time consuming but Sir Arthur knew his purpose and so he found time to hone his craft whilst studying.

It is also interesting to ponder whether or not Sir Arthur’s career in medicine would have succeeded had he not been writing passionately and instead focused this energy on his medical studies. Regardless, I am sure my fellow Sherlockians out there are glad things turned out the way they did for Sir Arthur!

If you’re looking for an original Scottish tartan as timeless as the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself, browse our elegant range of tartan products and accessories today.