Ceara Comeau's Blog: Lessons From A Struggling Writer - Posts Tagged "art"
Writer or Artist?
You know the usual greeting when you first meet someone. You exchange salutations and eventually the conversations goes around to, "So what do you do for a living?"
Generally, when I say I am a writer, I get one of two looks. The "You're kidding me, right?" or my personal favorite, "You write? Oh, that's cute." When I first started out on this journey, I felt so insecure about my work that when I got this reaction I didn't feel writing was anything special. I ended up labeling writing as a hobby rather than my passion in life. At the time, it seemed a more reasonable answer to inquiring minds.
Writing not only became mundane for me, but I stopped seeing it as an art form. For years, I would tell people sheepishly that I was a writer and not an artist. But, is there really a difference?
Art comes in all forms whether it be dance, music, painting, or even graphic design. Each form uses its own medium to express something in a creative way. But that's also what unites them; the creation of something new.
I don't need a paintbrush to depict a beautiful Italian scene. I have words. And if put in the right order, I can create anything! So, after twelve years of feeling that my talent is insignificant, I've realized that it is one of the hardest and noblest art forms to take. After all, only a writer can carry you off to worlds beyond your imagination!
Generally, when I say I am a writer, I get one of two looks. The "You're kidding me, right?" or my personal favorite, "You write? Oh, that's cute." When I first started out on this journey, I felt so insecure about my work that when I got this reaction I didn't feel writing was anything special. I ended up labeling writing as a hobby rather than my passion in life. At the time, it seemed a more reasonable answer to inquiring minds.
Writing not only became mundane for me, but I stopped seeing it as an art form. For years, I would tell people sheepishly that I was a writer and not an artist. But, is there really a difference?
Art comes in all forms whether it be dance, music, painting, or even graphic design. Each form uses its own medium to express something in a creative way. But that's also what unites them; the creation of something new.
I don't need a paintbrush to depict a beautiful Italian scene. I have words. And if put in the right order, I can create anything! So, after twelve years of feeling that my talent is insignificant, I've realized that it is one of the hardest and noblest art forms to take. After all, only a writer can carry you off to worlds beyond your imagination!
Critics...We All Need Them!
“Everyone’s a critic” I’m sure you’ve heard this phrase multiple times in your life. And if you’re an artist, you probably say that every time you get a negative comment about your work.
Well, I’m going to tell you a truth that is probably not a popular belief. Artists NEED critics!
Let me give you a recent example from my writing. I was working with an avid reader who I initially wanted to be an editor. To make a long story short, it didn’t work out. My writing wasn’t her genre and she missed a lot of concepts that I was trying to convey to the reader. But she turned out to be a phenomenal beta reader.
She pointed out several “pet” phrases and words I used that I never noticed before. And she found description areas I needed to work on that even my regular beta readers never picked up on before. It was certainly an eyeopener and I made sure to keep note of these things for my future writing. Now, the question is, will I keep sending my work to be read by this individual, probably not as my “out-of-this-world” concepts are a bit hard to understand for her. But I certainly appreciated the help she gave me.
Critics are not bad in general. Yes, you’ll get those people who just want to see you fail. Sadly, that’s a thing in this day and age. But there are those critics you’ll meet that genuinely want to help you and will point out areas you need to work on in your art!
So, if this story resonates with you and that one critic comes to mind, don’t dismiss them like I initially wanted to do with this one. They might find something that will improve your work!
Well, I’m going to tell you a truth that is probably not a popular belief. Artists NEED critics!
Let me give you a recent example from my writing. I was working with an avid reader who I initially wanted to be an editor. To make a long story short, it didn’t work out. My writing wasn’t her genre and she missed a lot of concepts that I was trying to convey to the reader. But she turned out to be a phenomenal beta reader.
She pointed out several “pet” phrases and words I used that I never noticed before. And she found description areas I needed to work on that even my regular beta readers never picked up on before. It was certainly an eyeopener and I made sure to keep note of these things for my future writing. Now, the question is, will I keep sending my work to be read by this individual, probably not as my “out-of-this-world” concepts are a bit hard to understand for her. But I certainly appreciated the help she gave me.
Critics are not bad in general. Yes, you’ll get those people who just want to see you fail. Sadly, that’s a thing in this day and age. But there are those critics you’ll meet that genuinely want to help you and will point out areas you need to work on in your art!
So, if this story resonates with you and that one critic comes to mind, don’t dismiss them like I initially wanted to do with this one. They might find something that will improve your work!
Critical Mass
If you’re like me, you probably work a LOT. And I’m not just talking about the general 9-5 where you wear ten hats in one day. I’m talking about working that, plus having a bunch of hobbies that each require a lot of your attention. Does this sound like you or someone you might know?
What about this scenario?
Take everything from above, but add in the fact you’re really hard on yourself? Everything must be done at a certain time every week and that warning bell in your head is starting to chime.
Well, my friends, that warning bell is your “Critical Mass” level telling you to take a break. Sadly, I reached almost beyond that point this month. That annoying little bell was going off for so long that my “Critical Mass” level nearly broke. And, it was this past week that the realization hit me—I needed to say no.
What does that two-letter word have to do with the dangerous level? Most of the time, my problem is piling too many things on my plate whether it be constantly telling people at work, “Sure, I’ll get this done at some point today.” Or when I’m telling myself, “Yeah I can add one more project to my list, no big deal.” Saying, “No, I can’t do that right now” or “Nope, that idea will have to wait” is SOOOOOOO liberating!
When we reach “Critical Mass” we lose passion in our hobbies whether that be art, music, writing, (etc.) and when we lose passion, we lose interest, and when we lose interest, we can tend to become lethargic. And this can show in our work. I began to see that my hobbies and passions became more like obligatory chores and when I reached my level this week I reflected back on this month and saw my slow decline. It made me sad that I managed to get myself to that point. So, I left work a bit earlier than expected this past week and took a nap when I got home. The second I woke up, everything was so clear to me. I knew what I had to do.
Stop planning.
“Wait…what? But how will you get anything done?”
That’s the point. Not EVERYTHING has to get done the second we think about it. I have a YouTube vlog where I review books and talk about book-related things, I read at least one book a week, I do projects for my family history, and I help people who reach out to me with book and genealogy things, and on top of it all…I’m finishing a trilogy!
But not all of these things are immediate and I feel that as an artist I get caught up in all the things I think I need to do to move my career forward. I am constantly thinking to myself that, “My fans want to see progress.”
Of course they do, but they understand I’m human too and I get burned out just like the rest. I feel it’s important as an artist, writer, and creator to take some “me” time. Do something that is non-project related, even if that means not always posting something, even if that means…taking a day to do absolutely nothing.
So, to all my artsy friends out there…you do YOU, the rest of the world will wait!
What about this scenario?
Take everything from above, but add in the fact you’re really hard on yourself? Everything must be done at a certain time every week and that warning bell in your head is starting to chime.
Well, my friends, that warning bell is your “Critical Mass” level telling you to take a break. Sadly, I reached almost beyond that point this month. That annoying little bell was going off for so long that my “Critical Mass” level nearly broke. And, it was this past week that the realization hit me—I needed to say no.
What does that two-letter word have to do with the dangerous level? Most of the time, my problem is piling too many things on my plate whether it be constantly telling people at work, “Sure, I’ll get this done at some point today.” Or when I’m telling myself, “Yeah I can add one more project to my list, no big deal.” Saying, “No, I can’t do that right now” or “Nope, that idea will have to wait” is SOOOOOOO liberating!
When we reach “Critical Mass” we lose passion in our hobbies whether that be art, music, writing, (etc.) and when we lose passion, we lose interest, and when we lose interest, we can tend to become lethargic. And this can show in our work. I began to see that my hobbies and passions became more like obligatory chores and when I reached my level this week I reflected back on this month and saw my slow decline. It made me sad that I managed to get myself to that point. So, I left work a bit earlier than expected this past week and took a nap when I got home. The second I woke up, everything was so clear to me. I knew what I had to do.
Stop planning.
“Wait…what? But how will you get anything done?”
That’s the point. Not EVERYTHING has to get done the second we think about it. I have a YouTube vlog where I review books and talk about book-related things, I read at least one book a week, I do projects for my family history, and I help people who reach out to me with book and genealogy things, and on top of it all…I’m finishing a trilogy!
But not all of these things are immediate and I feel that as an artist I get caught up in all the things I think I need to do to move my career forward. I am constantly thinking to myself that, “My fans want to see progress.”
Of course they do, but they understand I’m human too and I get burned out just like the rest. I feel it’s important as an artist, writer, and creator to take some “me” time. Do something that is non-project related, even if that means not always posting something, even if that means…taking a day to do absolutely nothing.
So, to all my artsy friends out there…you do YOU, the rest of the world will wait!
