The world seems a better place because of creative writers. They may not have deeds of philanthropic nature, but they provide us stories that make sulking over an imperfect world too small a deed.
The Xlibris Blog’s Author Advice section welcomes back Xlibris author Jean Farish Ph.D. who lets us see what’s going on inside a creative writer’s head.
Xlibris takes a peek at Jean Farish’s creative mind
Creative writing is an art of service inspired by divine creation. Whether it fiction or nonfiction, it intrigues and inspires readers with mystery, joy, pleasure, and sometimes sorrow. Readers love to see the hero emerge in our stories even though at the beginning there is wonder as to how the character would possibly overcome the obstacles. An author crafts his art like a painter drawing a picture on a canvas. We all start with the blank page and sometimes we do not know where the story will take us, just as the painter does not know the outcome of his creation including colors and scenes that come to life before the painter’s very eyes. Vincent Van Gogh could paint radiant sunflowers with colors that could blind you.
The inward world of creativity is eloquently expressed by Michael Angelo Galgliardi stated,
“For the first 20 years of my life as an artist when I enter the studio to paint or sculpt it becomes a journey inward. It is an inward journey to find a simple truth about a feeling or emotion. I hope to create works that are simple truths. I want the viewer say, “this work understands what I am feeling”. “How can artists use their tools such as paint brushes or mixtures of colors to create such depth and beauty?” So does the writer in using their tools and creative minds to capture their stories. We doodle, draw, visualize and write notes to ourselves to capture our creation. We can often find a story in almost any experience or event or be inspired by a character or nature scene. Sometimes the scenes are dark with sorrow and others are radiate with joy, all which speaks to the hearts and minds of readers.
There is a similar analogy among the creative arts. The musician strings along individual notes that become beautiful melodies that speak to your heart. Ludwig van Beethoven created one of his greatest classical masterpieces, “Symphony No: 5” while he was almost deaf and relied on his inner musical world. Creative writers speak to the hearts and minds of readers inviting readers to travel through their stories in their mind’s eye as though they were actually at the scene as an observer of each character and event. We sit in our private and solitary world of creation where we get lost in time as our imagination flows freely. The art of creation is truly our divine nature, and to bring an idea into full manifestation is the ultimate gift of inspired creativity.
“What would the world be like without the creative arts?” We find such rest, relaxation, pleasure, and joy when we read a book, listen to a melody or view a masterpiece. It temporarily releases us from our daily struggles and keeps us present in the moment. The masterpieces of creative writers somehow deliver messages consciously or subconsciously that we cannot seem to get out of our heads. Perhaps there is a powerful message that may be helpful in seeking resolution of an unresolved problem or assists us in looking at life with a new perspective. Michael Angelo stated, “I want the viewer to say, this work understands what I am feeling”. I want this to happen without words or definitions. I want it to happen deep within the viewer on a subconscious or primal level”. Creative artists let their creations serve their purpose and let it do its own work to serve humanity. Sometimes, the realization of their contributions may not be immediately apparent, recognized or appreciated. Think of the masterpieces of great artists whose creations were valued and recognized late in their career or posthumously. According to The Huffington Post, prominent and renown authors such as Henry David Thoreau who
began getting praise in the late 1920s. After her death, Emily Dickinson’s sister and two friends edited and published her work. Anne Frank died in a concentration camp. Her diary was published in 1947. Jane Austen received a certain degree of recognition in her lifetime. It pales in comparison to the attention she received after her 1817 death. These authors left a legacy that stood the test of time.
More of Jean Farish’s writing insights are revealed on the second and third sequels of this Xlibris Author Advice.
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