Storyteller Quote

Long ago before anyone learned to read and write, there was the art form of storytelling. A tradition of stories passed down from one generation to the next, always in danger of extermination, which is why the stories seemed all the more valuable. N. Scott Momaday, a Native American writer, tells a story of the dance between the spoken word and listening. His grandmother understood this dance and was a master storyteller. Listening to language, using the right word, makes all the difference in our writing. There is much to be learned from a storyteller's art.

N. Scott Momaday wrote about his grandmother's storytelling abilities so eloquently in his Pulitzer Prize winning book, House Made of Dawn. "My grandmother was a storyteller; she knew her way around words. She never learned to read and write, but somehow she knew the good of reading and writing; she had learned how to listen and delight. She had learned that in words and in language, and there only, she could have whole and consummate being. She told me stories, and she taught me how to listen. I was a child and I listened. She could neither read nor write, you see, but she taught me how to live among her words, how to listen and delight. 'Storytelling; to utter and to hear. . . ' And the simple act of listening is crucial to the concept of language in turn is crucial to human society. There is proof of that, I think, in all the histories and prehistories of human experience. When that old Kiowa woman told me stories, I listened with only one ear. I was a child, and I took the words for granted. I did not know what all of them meant, but somehow I held on to them; I remembered them, and I remember them now. The stories were old and dear; they meant a great deal to my grandmother. It was not until she died that I knew how much they meant to her. I began to think about it, and then I knew. When she told me those old stories, something strange and good and powerful was going on. I was a child, and that old woman was asking me to come directly into the presence of her mind and spirit; she was taking hold of my imagination, giving me to share in the great fortune of her wonder and delight. She was asking me to go with her to the confrontation of something that was sacred and eternal. It was a timeless, timeless thing; nothing of her old age or of my childhood came between us.

Even though writer's know how to use words, and we now possess the skill of reading and writing to help us, writers must not forget to listen and incorporate the sound of language into their stories. Incredible power is invoked when we tell a good story that engrosses our reader. Time and age are transcended. When our reader is reading our story they are also listening. The writer must capture the cadence and rhythm of language as it is written and thought for our readers become a part of the story we tell. 'Invoke their imagination' by weaving recognizable words of the soul into a tapestry of great storytelling. 

Notes from Walking in This World, Week 3 Discovering a Sense of Perspective, Section 2 Art Is Therapeutic, Not Therapy.

Julia Cameron writes, "when we are blocked creatively, we often experience ourselves as miserable." Julia has developed tools for blasting through our blocks. "Art is therapeutic. It is not therapy." We become whole when we practice our art form.

"Art is alchemy. It turns the ore of life into gold. Learning to make art rather than drama from a heated imagination is a skill best learned early and practiced fully. If we are to make living art - and an art of living-we must be willing to stand knee-deep in the rapids of the human condition, accepting that life, by its nature, is turbulent, powerful and mysterious. It is the artist's bet that life is better encountered and expressed than diminished and discounted by trying to "fix it" therapeutically. It is the artist's conviction that understanding something intellectually is often far less healing than making something artistically transformative from our shattered selves." We can use the drama of our lives in our stories, music, painting, sculpture... We can turn our misery into a work of art.

Where to You Find Inspiration to Write?

Seven Ways to be Creative Everyday
 
After dreaming of being a writer all my life, sound familiar, I gathered the courage and where-with-all to persevere through Julia Cameron's book, "The Aritist's Way." My first attempt was in 2000. I made it through Chapter 8, if only I had just read a little further into Chapter 9, where Julia covered U-turns. Yes, I made a creative U-turn. The book was working, and I decided to move forward without out it and, oh yes, I was so-o-o-o-o busy at work. I decided to focus all my new found creative energy into my job.

A few years later, an acquaintance at work was willing to become my creative partner and we went through "The Artist's Way" together several times, while supporting each others creative efforts. In 2011, I was able to take Julia's Artist's Way 12-week course in Santa Fe, and meet her for the first time. Even though I have read her book many times, the course deepened by practice and  I have graduated to her second book in the trilogy, "Walking in This World."

Her twelve week program works like a really good medication, by helping you become aware of your life and motivating you to be creative. Beware though, even though you feel better you cannot stop doing it, because you will eventually burn out and return to your old habits of dreaming instead of doing.

Some argue that "The Artist's Way" takes time away from your writing practice, I argue that taking time to do the "The Artist's Way" replenishes your creativity and inspires you to actually work consistently without burning out.

Two half finished novels, many outlined story ideas and two blogs later, I am still writing not just dreaming of being a writer. I also became a writer in my day job and learned all my writing counts, not just the writing I do to complete my novel.  Thank-you Julia.

Seven Ways I Stay Inspired


1. I follow Julia Cameron's Artist's Way Tools: a.) Morning Pages, written first thing in the morning upon waking, three pages free conscious flow of whatever pops into my mind, very enlightening. b.) Artist Date, time spent alone doing fun things with my artist self an hour a week. This is the hardest for me, taking time for myself goes against my grain. Me deserving of time, when there are so many needy people around me and other more productive and goal oriented tasks to complete? Guess what? I do it anyway. c.) A meandering walk once or twice a week, it's amazing what ideas surface through visual stimulation and movement, not to mention the feeling of rejuvenation.


2. Victoria Schmidt's books and other good writing books about how to write better and the writing life. Plain and simple, reading more makes me a better writer. What are your favorite writing books?

3. Participate with VBIAMClub@yahoogroups.com. I regularly read  and respond to the emails of like minded writers on VBIAM. This email group inspires me month after month, year after year.

4. Reading good novels. I take time to read anything that grabs my fancy. Some writer's suggest reading in your genre, and this is a good idea. If I am going to write novels, reading them makes sense to me.

5. Talking and working with other writers. Developing relationships with supportive and encouraging writer friends I can meet for coffee, practice writing together in a group for motivation, and to share tips and ideas with in person or online are invaluable in motivating myself to keep writing. A little accountability to a writing partner goes a long way.

6. Getting to know my creative process, not comparing it to others, being gentle with myself and trying not to criticize myself or my writing. Sometimes my inner writer feels like a little child and I am learning to be very kind and encouraging to this developing writer. She needs to be protected from people and circumstances that will extinguish her creativity.

7. Self-Care, hot baths, walks outdoors, taking a day off from work just for me or a massage once in awhile... Self-care also doubles for artist dates

So there you have it, my favorite activities to fuel my creative fires and help keep me inspired to write everyday. I'm slow, it's been six years since I started writing regularly. The secret, I pick up wherever I left off no matter what has set me back. The goal for me is to write everyday, even if it is just my morning pages. Where do you find inspiration to write?

Notes from Walking in This World (WITW): The Practical Art of Creativity by Julia Cameron author of the Artist’s Way. WITW is the second book in the Artist’s Way trilogy. 

Week 3: Discovering a Sense of Perspective

First Section: Medicine

The Exercise for Section One: Bless Your Blessings

Julia encourages walking. Walking when we do not know the next action, and we are stuck with our project, and walking when we are not stuck. Walking for the sake of walking. In this exercise Julia suggests, “One of the most medicinal tasks we can undertake is a simple walk. It is difficult to remain mired in negativity and depression when we are “shaking it out” a little.” Take a walk and ‘bless your blessings,’ every thing, place and person in your life. Take twenty minutes to walk and during that walk focus on what is good and positive in your life. “As you warm to your task of focusing on the good in your life, both your heart and your step will lighten.” 

"But not only medicine, engineering and painting are arts; living itself is an art." -- Erich Fromm

The second book in The Artist's Way trilogy is "Walking in This World." Julia Cameron writes in Chapter 3 Discovering a Sense of Perspective, "Creativity is medicine. It is not dangerous or egotistical. It is life-affirming and essential. The more we use it, the more steadily and readily and easily we use it. The more we ground it and regularly access it, the better off we are. The "healthier" we are. Humor and acceptance enter the picture. Far more than self-scrutiny or self-correction, self-expression may be the key to a much more synthesized and effective sense of self." A positive New Year's resolution would be to stop criticizing ourselves and our work/art. Instead use that energy for creativity, save drama for the page, canvas or whatever medium we use to express our creative selves. Be gentle and encouraging with yourself as you create. Practice, not perfection brings us to a finished product.

Notes from Walking in This World (WITW): The Practical Art of Creativity by Julia Cameron author of the Artist’s Way. WITW is the second book in the Artist’s Way trilogy. 

Week 3: Discovering a Sense of Perspective

Developing our creativity and making it a part of our lives does not happen in a vacuum. The changes we make affect everyone around us. Julia writes, “Art is a tonic and medicinal for us all. As an artist, you are a cultural healer.” Taking the time to develop our creativity may feel selfish at first, taking private time alone to listen to our inner artist brings up feelings of guilt and those around us may feel abandoned. However, the continuous practice enriches our lives. When we live a fulfilling life, one of satisfaction and creativity, those around us are blessed and prospered. 

First Section: Medicine

Julia believes we are all creative, “we are all artists.” She was an artist before she started teaching creativity thirty years ago and in all those years she has “never, ever encountered a person who was not creative in some form.” We all possess creative energy. This creative energy manifests itself in the outer world in many forms. Some of us make an art of keeping house, cooking, baking, raising children, dressing, or being very creative in our businesses or jobs. These pursuits and many other daily activities are forms of art and a way of expressing creativity. 

Julia defines these activities performed in a creative spirit as art. Many of us find deep satisfaction in living our lives in an artful way. For those who have not found a creative outlet, their creative energy manifests itself in behaviors some would call “crazy.”

Julia presents the idea that the lack of creative outlet leads to behaviors like being “high-strung, nervous, nutty, even crazy.” Is the drama queen at work, or your “crazy-making” mother, spouse or best friend really a frustrated creative? Chances are good, this is the case. What would happen if we started putting the drama in our art form instead of creating it in our daily lives and relationships? 

The “quick fixes” we so desperately seek through the next workshop, author, therapist, medication, or lover may be found in simply doing the art our heart desires us to create. Wow! That sounds way to easy. But how do I create the art of my heart? Julia strongly recommends Morning Pages, Artist’s Dates, Solo Walks and a wide assortment of Artist’s exercises found in her books. Julia promises, if done regularly with an open willing heart, your mood will lighten, energy steady, optimism return or make its first appearance in your life. Through Julia’s process creativity will grow wings in your daily projects. Instead of being “crazy, we can be crazy about doing our art,” our life’s work, no matter what our day jobs may be. Yes, and we’ll even find more creativity in our daily work, as well. 

Our block is fear. Often we are so scared, we do not even try to make art, whether writing, painting, sculpting, dancing, performing, or acting, whatever the dream, we avoid what it is we truly desire to do in our lives. What is your secret dream? What did you really want to do as a child, but were told you were not good enough, or you would end up poor or crazy? What dream have you abandoned? 

Julia’s process can help all of us find “the courage to dream again.” Julia can help us welcome back the lost parts of our selves. Our neurosis may just be “creative knots,” as Julia calls them. She recommends, “getting rid of the nasty labels- ‘crazy,’ ‘grandiose,’ ‘flaky,’ ‘neurotic.’ Our true nature is creative.” By learning to express our creativity we discover a rich and varied universe within ourselves, treasures to live a life full of personal expression and satisfaction.

Julia suggests we become miserable when we avoid our creativity. Our creative selves exist and are “too large for the cage we have put them in, the cage we call ‘normal.’” Often we live in a world were it is dangerous to show our true creative natures. Not only do we hide from others, we also learn to hide from ourselves fearing punishment and loss of love. The lauded “critical thinking” taught in schools and the painful self-examination forced upon us by parents, religious leaders and teachers often leaves us with an overly critical view of ourselves and others.

Creativity in inventions and science are often considered worthy efforts by our society. Why then are the arts considered to be less worth our efforts? When I told my mother I wanted to be a writer as a young girl? My mother informed me I’d better plan on a career where I could make some money? Following her well intentioned advice, I spent most of my life trying to make money so I could write. It was not until I started to write that I really started to make money and enjoy how I made my living. 

My first efforts at writing were lousy. Once I had a boss who criticized and discouraged my writing efforts on every page. It was not until I begin practicing the Artist’s Way and allowing myself to write really badly that I found the courage to practice my writing everyday. Guess what, I got better. Now my current boss praises my writing and communication skills. If I had listened to that early criticism, and stopped writing, I would not be where I am today. 

Julia believes that if we express ourselves, we will heal ourselves and others. “Creativity is medicine.” Our happy healthy selves have always been there inside us patiently awaiting our discovery. Julia’s tools can show us the path to our creative dream, if we are willing to take the time to practice them each day.