The Enemies of the Artistic Process

Enemies of the Artistic Process

Writing is difficult. But knowing who or what is keeping you from completing your writing can be helpful. Read about the various types of "enemies of the artistic process" and then complete the writing exercise below in you journal/notebook or type it up on your word processor! The assignment is due by the end of class today. For details, see below.

The Procrastinator
• Don’t put off tomorrow what can be accomplished today. If you always push away your impulse to create or write, you'll never be inspired. Soon, this becomes crippling

o The Procrastinator says:
• “You can just write tomorrow or the day after or the day after….”
• “You should write after you get all your other work done.”
• “You have too much to do right now to write.”
• “Write after your life gets back to ‘normal’.”
• “Hey, what’s that over there…coffee!”

The Victim
• Bottom line: stop making your lack of a creative life the fault of someone or something else other than yourself. You are in the driver's seat. If you want to write, you will (and you'll be good at it!)

o The Victim says:
• “My family doesn’t understand or appreciate me.”
• “My teachers are too demanding and fill my life with stress.”
• “My friends demand all my time and attention.”
• “I’m going through a tough time and can’t think to write.”

The Talker
• Don’t talk excessively about your idea/writing until it’s done. Writing is, by nature, a lonely and introspective art. Writing is not speaking. Talking is not writing.

o The talker says:
• “Hey, I’ve got a great idea for a story—want to hear it?”

The Critic
• Every artist (even a successful one) has to deal with this guy sooner or later. He is an emotional vampire that sucks all the joy of creating away. Don't be too critical on yourself. Art is expressive but it is also junky and rambling sometimes, and that's okay.

o The critic says:
• “That’s a stupid idea.”
• “This is going nowhere.”
• “This sucks!”
• “You can’t write!”

The Judge
• For everything there is a season. Being too harsh with yourself is not productive. Thinking that writing is a waste of your time is also not productive.

o The Judge says:
• “You should be doing something more meaningful with your time.”
• “How dare you sit there and write when there’s stuff to be done!”
• “Your family and friends need you more than your art!”

The Perfectionist
• Nothing in this world is perfect. & "to err is human." We all make mistakes. A draft of our writing may not be what we want it to be, just like our children or parents--but it does no good to expect perfection all the time in anything. With practice comes skill. With skill comes art. Crafting is all about making new choices, but nothing is ever perfect--especially art.

o The perfectionist says:
• “It’s not good enough.”
• “I’ll never be a writer!”
• “No one will like my story/poem!”
• “I can’t show this to anyone or they’ll think I’m stupid.”

ASSIGNMENT (complete in class today): When you write, which enemy of the artistic process would you say is your biggest enemy? Choose the enemy you feel causes you the most problems. In your journal or using the word processor, write a "hate" letter to your chosen "enemy". Go ahead and "blast" them, tell your enemy that you are not going to take their "crap" anymore. Be ruthless! Tell it like it is! Be creative with your insults! Be creative with your style! Be creative with your writing!

Then believe your letter. Don't let your enemy win! Turn in your letter at the end of class for participation credit.

FOR ADVANCED STUDENTS: If you complete your letter, have taken notes and have learned all about the writing process, please move on to the following task:

Read some poems today.

1. Go to this website: Poet Seers
2. Examine the groups of poems, divided by common theme to the right of this webpage. Choose themes you are interested in. Read some of these poems.
3. Consider the ones you like and the one's you don't like.
4. In your journal write down some of your reactions both positive and if applicable negative. Compare your style of poetry writing with those who have been published and are "famous."
5. Finally, if you have completed steps 1-4, use what you've read to inspire your own poem on a similar theme or in a similar style to those poems you liked. Save any draft as DRAFT ONE.

HOMEWORK: None.You are free to write a poem, short story, scene, or non-fiction article on your own topic, if you are so inclined. All drafts should be saved to be collected in your portfolio for this marking period.