Dear friends,
Writer William S Burroughs says about the Muse – that elusive inspiration we’re ever searching for:
An artist must be open to the muse. The greater the artist, the more he is open to “cosmic currents.” He has to behave as he does. If he has “the courage to be an artist,” he is committed to behave as the mood possesses him. . . .The price an artist pays for doing what he wants is that he has to do it.
William S Burroughs, diary entry from 01/1997
But, my dear fellow writers, artists, musicians etc. – what happens when the Muse does not descend upon us? What if she flits away, and then reappears? What if she abandons us entirely?
I’ve been learning something in other areas of life lately, and that is: Even when you don’t feel inspired…even when you can’t concentrate during meditation…even when it’s difficult to walk outside and you just want to lie down and mope…do it anyway. Get up. Make yourself do it.
And you will feel the difference when you do so.
It may take days, weeks, months – but you will feel the difference! So keep on going. Don’t give up. Don’t stop.
We have got to keep writing. Keep painting. Keep making music. Whatever it is that calls to you, that articulates the dreams and images in your head – creating a song with your guitar and voice, writing a novel, penning a diary entry each day, etc. – keep doing it. Don’t let the dark thoughts make you give up. Or the tiredness. Or the opinions of others. Keep going.
I’ve found that when I don’t keep going, I get more and more discouraged. The longer I stop writing or whatever activity, the harder it becomes to start it up again. And even if I’m writing crappy scenes that I hate, or just dripping paint on paper mindlessly, it helps me to believe in myself again. Eventually, the inspiration and ideas flow once more, and I’m able to create something I like and work on projects that mean a lot to me again.
What are some projects you’ve been feeling stalled on? What are your techniques for getting the engine going again for writing or other creative endeavors? Please share in the comments!
Until next time,
Chaitanya
Typing Madly 