Artwala Road

I’ve been thinking this week about the whole creative process.  The manuscript I thought was done turns out not to be—there’s still work ahead.  I’m truly an idea person.  I get one and I’m off to the races without  a backward glance.  And they seem to shower down on me with abundance.  I work quickly, most of the time, though sometimes I have too many things on the go at once which slows everything down.  When I think I’m done though, I’m truly ready to just move on.  I’ve worked things out to my own satisfaction but it isn’t always to the satisfaction of those who give me feedback.  Suggestions are made and it looks suddenly like the wide-open road ahead is full of potholes.  The other day it felt like I’d never navigate these things, that I might just as well pack it in.

I’ve had the feeling before and indeed I’ve packed a few projects in.  I’m sure most creative people have.  We work on things, sometimes with brilliant results, sometimes not.  Some projects I’ve reworked when it looked like I’d hit a dead end but it often just made things muddy.  I know there’s a time for letting go but it’s not always clear when to hang on and just keep at it.

This time, I’m hanging on.  I’m going back in and making it simpler and more straight-forward.  I do believe that when inspiration comes to us it’s actually meant for us and not the dude next door.  And I think we’re best when we act on it.  Good things come.  Stuff happens.  I had to remember that this week.

Meanwhile, it’s freezing cold here in Boston.  Something went wrong with the heat at the art center today so I had my down coat on all day.  There we were, just 3 artists, all working with sweaters and scarves on, and me with my coat.  I love that we just carried on.  Nice thing about winter, we must just hibernate and do the work, one way or another.  How lucky we are who have creative work of one kind or another to do.  I made at least three cups of green tea, all very soothing.  A few emails, a couple of phone calls, brief chats with my fellow inhabitants at the center.  It was a good day really, even trudging through the work.

We finished Slings and Arrows last night, so very, very good, and now over.  I was warned it would end but am so very sorry.  It’s the best thing we’ve seen in ages and we had marathon viewing sessions, staying up late and once celebrating its genius with a tiny scotch in the wee hours; it was so compelling.  It’s too soon to start it over again so tonight it’ll be a book.  We’re on to Penelope Fitzgerald here.  Dear A has purchased the whole of her work second hand.  She’s a brilliant writer and a very, very good read.  Perfect for this cold night when we’re mourning the end of a great series where the characters seemed like friends.

January 14th, 2009 | Category: Dear Reader | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL