How to turn the "pain you can't get rid of" into creativity
Far too many creative people have been taught to distrust pleasure and to put their faith in struggle alone. Too many artists still believe that anguish is the only truly authentic emotional experience. They could have picked up this dark idea anywhere; it’s a commonly held belief here in the Western world, what with our weighty emotional heritage
... See moreElizabeth Gilbert • Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
People often ask me how I got the courage to put my work into the world.
I’m not sure I have any courage, but I do have rage .
This may come as a surprise to readers of my books, who tell me they’re rather helpful and upbeat. (Not words my friends and family might necessarily use to describe me!)
My secret is: the books are positive because I take a... See more
I’m not sure I have any courage, but I do have rage .
This may come as a surprise to readers of my books, who tell me they’re rather helpful and upbeat. (Not words my friends and family might necessarily use to describe me!)
My secret is: the books are positive because I take a... See more
Austin Kleon • What to do with your feelings - Austin Kleon
I believe that our creativity grows like sidewalk weeds out of the cracks between our pathologies—not from the pathologies themselves. But so many people think it’s the other way around. For this reason, you will often meet artists who deliberately cling to their suffering, their addictions, their fears, their demons. They worry that if they ever
... See moreElizabeth Gilbert • Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
Sadie had willed herself to be great: art doesn’t typically get made by happy people.