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Inclinations

Here we have it, an Inclination from our own Bob Hembree and excerpted from the Fiction 99 lessons - "Have fun!" Yes, a man of succinct explanations, our Bob, yet so rich in content. As the newly indoctrinated students read the sage advice given at the end of each lesson, they ask the Mentors, "Are we having fun yet?" while they struggle with Point of View and Theme. Our answer in the Martini Room? You betcha!

Do you have fun when you write? Or are you disciplined, nose to the grindstone, ever-suffering? Julia Cameron (The Artists' Way) says, "Think of discipline as a battery, useful but short-lived." She goes on to point out that "over any extended period of time, being an artist requires enthusiasm more than discipline." Wow! I like this perspective.

I do tend to take exception with many of Julia's opinions, so this is a breakthrough for me. She calls it "an artistic defense against what is perceived as a hostile environment". In other words, my artistic child is sulking when I object to one of her pronouncements. Whatever!

Needless to say, I exude enthusiasm when I write. But I do love it when a non-writer remarks, "Gee you must have a lot of discipline to write hour after hour." Of course, I agree with a broad grin and say meekly, "Well, you know, I just love to write." Little do they know I'm having fun.

Think about it. Children in school learn more and faster if they're having fun. I hear writers say, "I just can't make myself sit and write today" or "I guess I'm lazy, I just don't feel like writing this morning." Even "I have so much work to do, I can't find the time". Sounds like they've lost their lust for writing. Lost the fun, the adventure of wondering where this character is going to lead them.

They're focused on the discipline of getting up, turning on the computer and writing for two hours or four hours. What does it matter? It's not fun anymore. The spontaneity of the creative process has been upended. We're not enjoying ourselves. We're stuck in a creative block and fear has us by the throat. Don't look on your writing as drudgery. Look on it as adventure. You might be amazed at what's lurking around the corner.

If you look on your creative nature as an artist child, then let your child play and you will create. If you find joy in your work, you'll feel like a kid again. Rollo May, the American psychoanalyst who wrote The Courage to Create, describes ecstasy as "the accurate term for the intensity of consciousness that occurs in the creative act." Hey, Bob says, "Have fun!" I'll go further - be ecstatic!

John Steinbeck gave us a little insight into his work day when he said, "Three hours of writing require twenty hours of preparation. Luckily I have learned to dream about the work, which saves me some working time." I'll go along with that. Daydreaming leads to creativity, our artist child at work. I can hear my old teachers now, "Stop daydreaming and get to work!" If I only knew then what I know now.

I'll leave you with a thought-provoking inclination by Caitlin Thomas (Irish writer and widow of Dylan Thomas), "There is a great gulf between the really creative person and normal people. The totally creative person does not have the rest of his life in proper proportion." Amen, brothers and sisters.

'Til next month, this is ecstatic Priscilla, the eternal optimist.