Brendan Constantine, thank you: this blog post says it better than I could have, and echoes my heroine Priscilla Long’s advice: a large part of creativity is production, finished pieces. Can’t make a pie if we spend all our time perfecting the crust. Fling some berries-n-sugar together, spoon ’em in that misshapen piece of dough, cook that baby in the oven and then see if it’s any good.
I’m writing at the Porches in Norwood, VA this week: a tornado alit here last week, folding a metal roof back like so much origami paper and felling a 26,000 pound tree on the local (historic structure) church. The retreat house itself: untouched. The California-based writer in residence during the tornado: went back to her third floor room when she saw the 50-foot-high maple trees in the front yard bending to kiss the earth. Those of us who can imagine three stories off the ground is a good place to be in wind like that: creative to the max.
Whatever the tornado of your life is right now: get back to your room and do your creative thing. That mojo will keep you safe-n-sane.