The Story Artist
March 23, 2009 by Janice
Who knew writing was so social? I did not. I am an artist after all, what would I know about writing? Being an avid reader does not make me an accomplished writer, no matter how much I adore a beautiful flow of words. A character chiseled just right. Or a narrative puzzle to unravel. So how was I to know that writing was so social? And so rewarding.
Being adept at all things visual, knowing how to see, how could I not see this?
A friend has put it out there, this question that is: What have you learned about writing from your community? Joanna Young hosts Confident Writing and if you do not know her, you should. She’ll brighten your day. Make you think. Push you to be better. I have watched and read some of the other group writing projects, but felt “oh, those are for writers, they are not meant for me.” I am a painter after all.
That is until this one.
How are they going to know if I don’t tell them, how much I learn from them? I’ve mentioned to Joanna more than once about how art is a call and a response. All the visual tools are there to elicit resonance. To go after that heartbeat as I ‘ve said. And even though art is created mostly in solitude, it’s not meant to stay there. It’s meant to journey out, be seen, and responded to or so we hope. Art builds community. A community of resonance.
So does writing.
Think of words that linger, words that stay with you for a while, a thought, an idea, or someone’s response to a phrase that you have put out there. That place where it passes between us. There, that spot. That spot is packed with energy of heart and mind. That spot, that exchange, is where you know that good writing is taking place.
Because that’s what good art and good writing does, it engages. It sometimes makes us pause. And sometimes it changes everything, or tweaks what came before. Not for a moment is it just those words or those images. It is the choice behind them. The intent and desire behind them. The desire to take something to community and exchange it for something meaningful offered by community.
Think of it. When I write now, I think how is this of value to say Joanna, or to Karen, or anyone else who might need to know what is at the heart of the very thing that I am trying to convey. And why am I conveying it?
And here is a theory. It’s simple really. We all have this unquenchable desire to touch the face of the universe and say, hey, is it like that for you too? Or here, here’s some really good stuff I found, want some? Or, oh, this is what I have found is good for that. It is exchange. A quality of life exchange.
So what have I learned about writing from my community? That it is well worth every effort and every risk I take cobbling words together for the exchange they bring to me. This large page we are on, this entourage of our own, makes the world a better place because we share it.
So yes, here we are on another Organizing Monday thinking how you all have made me a better painter who writes. So thank you. Ahhh, this was at the top of my list for this week. Now on to the next. The artist smiles…and waves.
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10 Responses to “The Story Artist”
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Janice,
thank you for this wonderful post! Having read it I think that you are an artist with words as well. “A quality of life exchange” – it could not be said better.
The writer smiles back and waves.
Ulla Hennig’s last blog post..Arabian Beauty
Janice, I love this post so much, and there’s so much in it I can’t decide which words I most want to say thank you for! I agree with Ulla, you are a wonderful artist with words. (I do like the idea of an ‘entourage’
)
The bit I shared on Twitter a minute ago was this: “We all have this unquenchable desire to touch the face of the universe and say, hey, is it like that for you too?”
In a nutshell.
I’m so glad you felt motivated to join this project. Your sharing of words means a great deal for me.
Joanna Young’s last blog post..Your Social Media Neighbourhood: Are You Keeping Good Company?
Ulla,
I was thinking of you in this post too. You add so much to the quality of my life. I get these wonderful windows into Ulla’s Berlin. I am so impressed and grateful that you chose to write in English. My German is limited to just a handful of words. But I will have to look some more up.
Joanna,
How could I not do this one? Thank you for tweeting it. I am so glad you like it. I am thinking we have an “entourage’ that thrives us all if we let it.
Janice,
“And sometimes it changes everything, or tweaks what came before.”
No matter what your art—painting, writing, music, raising children, curing cancer—I think that’s what we’re all going for, right there.
You don’t get those moments very often. And I agree, much more frequently, it’s about sharing experiences and resonating with others. I love that simple ebb and flow of the community.
If once in a while, we can hope for that transcendent experience of changing everything or even tweaking it—well, it’s worth staying in the game for the that. And giving it your very best.
What a lovely post. Thanks for this great food for thought!
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Building Your Business With a Poem?
Kelly,
I can’t tell you how many times what you have written has “tweaked what came before” for me. And I think you are right about it being what we’d like across any discipline. I think of how that moment must feel for you when one of your clients actually does what you suggest et voila, notices such an improvement in what they were after all along. Pretty good huh?
Janice,
Thanks! I can absolutely say the same for your writing. Tons of aha! moments here.
Yes, clients, kids, readers… it’s a mighty good feeling when a tweak goes the way you planned it. I love being part of somebody’s forward motion.
Until later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Building Your Business With a Poem?
[...] The Story Artist by Janice Cartier And here is a theory. It’s simple really. We all have this unquenchable desire to touch the face of the universe and say, hey, is it like that for you too? Or here, here’s some really good stuff I found, want some? Or, oh, this is what I have found is good for that. It is exchange. A quality of life exchange. So what have I learned about writing from my community? That it is well worth every effort and every risk I take cobbling words together for the exchange they bring to me. This large page we are on, this entourage of our own, makes the world a better place because we share it. [...]
You’ve made some brilliant observations about why we write and what we hope to convey with it. Thank you!
Karen
Karen Chaffee’s last blog post..Knowing When To Speak Out
Loved your post (got here via Joanna Young).
I particularly appreciated how we look for others who consistently make us think. And give us something to chew on.
You did. And do.
paul Merrill’s last blog post..Now 13