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Artists Teach Us What to Write, Not Mentors or Superstar Writers
Stories are found in unexpected places, and one of them isn’t usually the fodder for books or films.
How do you begin writing a story—any story? What inspires you, and how long do you take to think over how you will present it? What POV, how visual or muted in words? Think of how some of the most famous artists created their works, and perhaps it will inspire you to emulate their actions and make them your own.
I watched a documentary on Edward Hopper, an artist I greatly admire, and I was reminded that he painted people and rooms and the lives of people the way he wanted. Did he paint to sell his work? I suppose anyone who creates something, obviously something in which they’ve put their soul, wants to sell it as a means of validating their worth. Who would paint to keep their work hidden?
I guess some painters may have done that, but I’m not an art historian, so I can’t address that issue. But what about writers? Yes, some writers and some of them are incredibly successful, do keep their work in trunks only to be opened after they have died, and they stipulate what is to be done with the work. One who comes to mind is J. D. Salinger, who still has a massive amount of work tucked away somewhere and detailed instructions in his will regarding their disposition. Of course, I don’t have…
