It is not that I’m so smart. But I stay with the questions much longer.
― Albert Einstein
I figured I’d wait until the Ides of March passed and the luck of the Irish filled the air before sidling up to my computer to look for answers, or questions. I don’t know about you, but I can get lost in time and space with this endeavor. You try this, discard that, assemble another connection, search for an opening, and ignite the flame.
I love to find a line of poetry, a verse, a song that distills an idea, provokes, inspires. Poets know the secret of the appeal to our senses. By the power of figurative language, Hughes gifts the reader in this poem with an image that haunts and taunts, delivering the essence of the thought.
Hold fast to dreams,
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird,
That cannot fly.
― Langston Hughes
Do you dream to question or question your dreams? Do you dream of writing a novel, a script, a memoir, a song, or envision a painting, a film, a sculpture, or a stained glass window? Perhaps an alternate journey or desire? For some, getting started proves the most daunting stage so they don’t start. If you don’t start, you can’t finish. If you don’t finish, you can’t be judged. Hence you can procrastinate your way to safety. Others can begin with ease and exuberance overflowing with monumental ideas, but the big stall occurs when trying to reduce and refine such grandiose plans to a manageable size. Like a word followed by another word, or a line followed by another line, or a streak of paint, an image, a note, a step. And then comes the insidious temptation to take a little break that turns into a significant stretch of time while side tracking the muse, distancing the dream. And before long you fall prey to the temptation to cash in. And you say with conviction, another day…
Creativity demands experimentation and time, commitment and passion. Stay with the questions. And don’t look back until you cross the finish line.
In life and love, art and writing, you can only play it out scene by scene, line by line, experience by experience. But they all relate – each piece or moment interconnected, progressive, dependent, woven, knotted, tangled, or sometimes just held together by a gossamer thread. An artist’s version of the theory of relativity.
THE WAY (Manifestos)
Countless writers and artists claim they know the way. Write at 6 am, 2 pm, 4 am. Write for 4 hours, 8 hours, 10 hours, write for 48 hours non-stop, take weeks to ruminate. Every writer has writer’s block, there’s no such thing as writer’s block. Write every day without fail, write for 4 days on, 3 days off, write only on weekdays, write when the spirit strikes. Go for long walks, stay in the room. Write alone, write with a partner. Take a course, join a workshop, never be influenced by peers. Research, don’t research. Check e-mail to stay in touch, never get distracted by email. Read every day, don’t read or you will write like what you read. Write with no one looking over your shoulder, write for an audience. Know your theme, let the theme take care of itself. Write blind, make an outline. Dangerous to know where you’re going, dangerous not to know where you’re going.
MY WAY
I say, stay with the questions. Cultivate ideas, deepen thoughts, and express with freedom. Hold fast to dreams.
In the end, I’m with Lennon all the way.
Whatever gets you through the night.
― John Lennon
Having worked with Martha going on five years now, I’ve approached my art from every vantage that she listed. (Did she list semaphore? :-). But regardless of where I am in my journey, however “blocked” or fluid I feel in relation to my process, Martha can always meet me there and take me further. That’s the mark of a truly helpful and inspiring teacher.
Or do our dreams question us? Love the post. You remind me to hang in there as I labor over what I hope will be a coherent piece to read as we sit around the table next time. See you.
Martha, you are a wonderful and insightful writer! I have told you this before! I am sure you are an inspiration (and comfort) for those you help. My youngest, Brooke, is in the midst of writing a novel. I will forward her "Questions 4 Dreams". Hope you are keeping well. I have been in Florida since early January and will be returning to the land of snow and ice on Easter weekend. I look forward to seeing Lizzie.
Please call if you come to London, Gail
Oh Martha – your insightful blog always seems to come at the most perfect time, encouraging me to keep going! Langston Hughes' poem has been posted on my bulletin board for as long as I can remember! But, sometimes I forget to keep it close to my heart. You reminded me! Thanks
Dear Martha, I am not writing, right now, but having interesting dreams. Glad you are still living so thoroughly.
Thanks for the newest blog Martha! I reached a turning point 17 years ago where I started to dream again – if you don't dream (or hope, or wish for something better) what's the point of living? I think it's what keeps us going. I know it's what keeps me going and, beyond that, HAPPY, optimistic – even though in my more reality-minded moments I know the empirical reasons some things cannot happen; however, in my dreamy, mystical, "anything is possible" place it's the possibility, the "pure potentiality" that Deepak Chopra opens "Seven Spiritual Laws of Success" with – that keeps me going. I KNOW some things might not be possible, but just the possibility that they might BE – keeps me going. "Life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly" – great metaphor. Keep those wings soaring, I say!!!
You remain as one of my muses to keep at what inspires me. Very true words are spoken when you say that we must always stay committed to our works, or procrastination breaks will result in ultimate incompletion of our visions. You inspire me to remain fervent in my endeavors.
Yeah.