"It is the inner commitment to be true to
ourselves and follow our dreams that triggers the support of the
universe."—Julia Cameron.
I have written this blog for years, and I have another
blog, https://wishonwhitehorses,
that I have written for even longer. For a time, I was using the same material on
both blogs for I thought I had two different audiences. I am keeping this
one for writing, blogging, and supporting artists.
We need a place for happy thoughts, at least uplifting thoughts. I spent the
weekend with a lady, an old friend with whom I have been out of touch for
years. She was the daughter of my mother's best friend—since they were in
Junior High school. She has her own business and works out of her house. Now
she is single, and with her kids gone, she says she will go for days, maybe weeks,
without talking to someone except over the phone or via email.
Come on folks, we need some human contact. Although
here we will stick with our internet connection.
I once took a workshop where an editor would critique
one page of the participant's work. She called it a "No blood on the floor
critique." It takes someone with the confidence of Johan Travolta to
counter a "Blood on the floor critique." When an agent told him he
would never be an actor, he walked away saying, "They're nuts."
Many never recover from such a put-down.
Yet artists grow. They mature, they learn their craft,
and if a person keeps on, they will improve. (Unless, of course, they keep
repeating the same old tired ways of doing things.) Artists need some fresh
blood in there from time to time to push them to the next level.
Many writers use Beta readers (or sensitivity readers)
to review their manuscripts. For many, such readers are a friend or spouse. We can offer
such a service, but only one page please. We can be fresh eyes on your page,
and offer non-professional opinions, Hey, we’re readers. We know what we like.
Or tell us about your desire to express yourself creatively. Even if it is throwing ingredients into a pot to make a superb spaghetti sauce. It’s fun to cook with no recipes, that’s creative.
If you would like to submit a page of your writing, I will
offer an opinion, but I am not an editor, nor do I claim to be a writing expert.
And we will offer it to our readers for comment—that can be private if you
prefer.
If you have been reading my memoir Your Story
Matters, we are up to Chapter 46 and 47. It is available to read at https://www.wishonwhitehorses.com
P.S.P.S. In honor of an artist:
Two moments ago, I looked up James Earl Jones and was saddened to learn he passed away on Sept 9, 2024.
James Earl Jones—that baritone velvet-voiced guy did
not speak for eight years because of a severe stutter.
This story is from Michael Moore recapturing the voice of James Earl Jones:
“Somehow Professor Crouch, to his surprise and
pleasure, discovered that I wrote poetry. The boy who had written the poems was
the same mute boy who had fought with uncontrolled fury. Both fury and poetry
poured out of my silence.
"I'm impressed with your poem, James
Earl," Professor Crouch told me after he read my ode to grapefruit.
"I know how hard it is for you to talk, and I don't require you to do
that… [But I think it’s best] for you to say it aloud to the class," he
told me.
"It would be a trauma to open my mouth in
front of my classmates, who would probably laugh at my poem and my stuttering….
"I was shaking as I stood up, cursing
myself. I strained to get the words out, pushing from the bottom of my soul. I
opened my mouth — and to my astonishment, the words flowed out smoothly, every
one of them. There was no stutter. All of us were amazed, not so much by the
poem as by the performance….
"Aha!" my professor exclaimed as
I sat down, vindicated. "We will now use this as a way to recapture your
ability to speak."
The voice of Darth Vader did good.
