Ask the Author: Sophfronia Scott
Answered Questions (8)
Sophfronia Scott
Hi Jean,
I'm glad you found the notes helpful! I am working on another historical fiction, set in the Civil War south and midwest, that should come out in 2022. I also have a nonfiction book, The Seeker and the Monk, coming out in March.
I'm glad you found the notes helpful! I am working on another historical fiction, set in the Civil War south and midwest, that should come out in 2022. I also have a nonfiction book, The Seeker and the Monk, coming out in March.
Sophfronia Scott
Without hesitation, I would live in Harry Potter's world and be a witch and attend Hogwarts! I'd still be a writer though because I wouldn't want to work for the Ministry of Magic. Too much politicking and weirdness there! ;-)
Sophfronia Scott
I'm glad you're enjoying the devotional. I was honored to be asked to contribute.
Sophfronia Scott
I have huge stack of books all over my office! This summer I'm looking forward to reading:
Hunger by Roxane Gay
The Bright Hour by Nina Riggs
A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline
The Good Divide by Kali VanBaale
Olio by Tyehimba Jess
The Girl of the Lake by Bill Roorbach
Selected Poems by Adonis
The Gypsy Moth Summer by Julia Fierro
Hunger by Roxane Gay
The Bright Hour by Nina Riggs
A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline
The Good Divide by Kali VanBaale
Olio by Tyehimba Jess
The Girl of the Lake by Bill Roorbach
Selected Poems by Adonis
The Gypsy Moth Summer by Julia Fierro
Sophfronia Scott
It's interesting this question should come up now because I recently received as a gift a cuff bracelet imprinted with the words of Captain Wentworth's letter to Anne Elliot from Jane Austen's PERSUASION. My heart flutters whenever I read the part where he says "you pierce my soul." These are two people who loved deeply on an intellectual, spiritual, and physical level. I believe only such a love firing on all those cylinders can survive a years-long separation as their love did. I admire these characters. I admire who they are as people striving to be good but also aching for their hearts' desire. I admire the way they loved each other. That kind of connection inspires me as both a writer and as a human being.
Sophfronia Scott
Hi Sunny!
Thanks for the nudge. Dropping into discussion groups where everyone seems to know each other already is a bit daunting. But now I will go over to AROHO Reads and check in. Emailing you now about the novel. And so glad you liked "Artist as Seer!"
Thanks for the nudge. Dropping into discussion groups where everyone seems to know each other already is a bit daunting. But now I will go over to AROHO Reads and check in. Emailing you now about the novel. And so glad you liked "Artist as Seer!"
Sophfronia Scott
The best way to answer this is with my note about "Artist as Seer" that I wrote for issue 33 of Ruminate Magazine. I consider myself a writer and an artist and this is what it's all about:
I’ll walk out of the house with my son—he’s 10—and say, “Wow, look at those orange-pink clouds!” Or I’ll call him to the window to show him a super bright moon. My work as an artist is this same act on a different scale. In every piece of writing I am essentially pointing out what I see in the world. "Look! I see love. And over there—that’s courage. Isn’t it beautiful? Isn’t it amazing?"
This is important because I believe as a community we require art and beauty to feed our hope, to help us see what makes life worthy when we are too busy or too tired or too frustrated to see for ourselves. I feel confident that when I mark what I see, and do it well, others are encouraged to see on their own, just as when my son says, as he did this morning, “Mama, look at those leaves! They’ve never been that red before.” My role then is to affirm and say, “Yes.”
I’ll walk out of the house with my son—he’s 10—and say, “Wow, look at those orange-pink clouds!” Or I’ll call him to the window to show him a super bright moon. My work as an artist is this same act on a different scale. In every piece of writing I am essentially pointing out what I see in the world. "Look! I see love. And over there—that’s courage. Isn’t it beautiful? Isn’t it amazing?"
This is important because I believe as a community we require art and beauty to feed our hope, to help us see what makes life worthy when we are too busy or too tired or too frustrated to see for ourselves. I feel confident that when I mark what I see, and do it well, others are encouraged to see on their own, just as when my son says, as he did this morning, “Mama, look at those leaves! They’ve never been that red before.” My role then is to affirm and say, “Yes.”
Sophfronia Scott
Creativity playdates are just as important as the time you schedule for writing. In fact, your writing time can be difficult and fruitless without them. If you find you spend much of your writing time staring wordless at the screen or blank page, you’re in need of a creativity playdate. Looking for a story idea? Ride the subway a few stops or go sit in a park and pay attention. Your next character might step on at West 66th Street, or stroll past you wearing a top hat and walking a fluffy Scottish terrier sporting blue booties on its paws. I know my writing eye is awakened every time I travel the 65 miles south to New York City and take in the energy and movement of a different environment. Suddenly my senses have new sights, sounds, and smells to process. It’s exciting.
I encourage you to schedule a creativity playdate at least once a month. If you can’t think of something to do, consider this—you want to excite your five senses. Try to come up with ideas addressing each one. For example:
---Smell: Explore perfume or incense shops; check out a store where you can sniff barrels of coffee beans, visit a florist.
---Touch: Go to high-end stores or fabric shops where you can run your hands over rich materials or beautiful furniture. Take a cue from your childhood and visit a petting zoo or an aquarium that features touch tanks of specimens to hold.
---Sight: Feast your eyes on works of art, or go on hikes to see spectacular views.
---Sound: Attend concerts, plays, musicals, or sit in a place with lots of people where you can pick up pieces of overheard conversation.
---Taste: Try a new cuisine by cooking a recipe you’ve never tried before or going to a different restaurant.
Really, you could do anything you want for your creativity playdate as long as you don’t forget to have fun!
I encourage you to schedule a creativity playdate at least once a month. If you can’t think of something to do, consider this—you want to excite your five senses. Try to come up with ideas addressing each one. For example:
---Smell: Explore perfume or incense shops; check out a store where you can sniff barrels of coffee beans, visit a florist.
---Touch: Go to high-end stores or fabric shops where you can run your hands over rich materials or beautiful furniture. Take a cue from your childhood and visit a petting zoo or an aquarium that features touch tanks of specimens to hold.
---Sight: Feast your eyes on works of art, or go on hikes to see spectacular views.
---Sound: Attend concerts, plays, musicals, or sit in a place with lots of people where you can pick up pieces of overheard conversation.
---Taste: Try a new cuisine by cooking a recipe you’ve never tried before or going to a different restaurant.
Really, you could do anything you want for your creativity playdate as long as you don’t forget to have fun!
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