Teresa R. Funke's Blog: Bursts of Brilliance for a Creative Life, page 49

Do You Dream of Agents?

I have lots of writerly dreams that may or may not come true. I dream of seeing the words “based on a novel by Teresa Funke” roll by on the silver screen. I dream of being the first self-published author to win one of the prestigious literary awards. I dream of keynoting at a major writers conference. I dream of finishing my children’s series. I dream of starting college scholarships for kids who want to go into the arts.

When I was a teenager, I used to have a Louisa May Alcott quote taped to my mirror. It read: “Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.” At various points in my life, that quote held different meanings. The other day, I took it down.

See, I’ve lived long enough and been lucky enough to have achieved some of my highest aspirations and to realize that dreams can come true. They don’t exist “far away,” but right here at our fingertips. And many of the dreams that don’t come true, lead us to something better. Something we never would have seen if we’d achieved what we thought we wanted.  I’m incredibly lucky to get the opportunity to reach every day for my dreams and to work with aspiring writers and artists who are reaching for theirs.

If one of your dreams is to acquire an agent and maybe land that big publishing contract, check out my newest video in my That Book Inside You series on YouTube.  Watch it below, and if you want to hear about my videos when they first go up or see the art I give away each month, subscribe to my newsletter here.

 

 

 

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Sing it again, Mom

I love to sing. That’s not to say I’m great at it. I can carry a tune, and I’m game enough to massacre a song or two on karaoke, but my favorite way to use song has always been to get my kids’ attention. As they were growing up, whenever they were ignoring my directives or I just wanted to get a laugh, I would sing some popular song, but change the lyrics in a humorous way. I might take an Aladdin song and turn it into a plea to clean their rooms. Or a Queen song might morph into a request to stop arguing.

Whenever I’d start singing, they’d stop what they were doing and stare up at me with expectant faces, waiting to see if I’d nail the rhyme or blow it. Eager to see  if I’d crack them up or just crack myself up.

The other day we were riding in the car, and I was singing along to a popular song on the radio called “All of Me” by John Legend. I mucked with the lyrics, and the joke worked:  All of me, loves some of you. Not the part that’s kind of lazy. Not the part that drives me crazy.  “Mom, stop!” my grown son pleaded, laughing. But I’ll never stop, and he knows it.

How did your family “play” with art and personal expression?  Did your dad dance you around the living room when his favorite song came on? Did your mom hide silly doodles in your lunchbox? Could your grandpa recite the entire poem, Charge of the Light Brigade?  How many of the inside jokes in your family relate to your relatives having fun with art?

I’ve long been intrigued by all the ways in which art affects us. Today, it’s just fun to think that some of those ways might be forming cherished family memories and weaving us all a little closer together. Aren’t we lucky?

 

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The Power of Art

“Black Lives Matter” may just be one of the most powerful political slogans of our time. And it all started with a Facebook post. According to an article I read, Alicia Garza was upset when George Zimmerman was acquitted of killing Trayvon Martin.  She wrote a heartfelt post on Facebook that contained the words, “black lives matter.”  A friend read it and put a hashtag in front of the phrase, and a movement was born.

It’s like I tell the school children to whom I speak, “your voice has power, but only if you choose to use it.” And your art has power, but only if you choose to put it out there in the world!  Be generous and prolific with your passion. When the spirit moves you, don’t hold back. Don’t always wait for the right moment or the right medium or the right channel or the right opportunity.

We can spend all our time looking for the Yellow Brick Road or we can put our creativity out there day in and day out, in whatever way presents itself, and the results may surprise us. A single editorial about Santa Claus, for example, is still beloved one hundred years later. A Kilroy doodle from the WWII era has become a graffiti icon known worldwide. An eye-catching poster helped land a man in the White House.

Sometimes the results are not so profound, yet still impactful. A while back, my physical therapist was writing a book for her clients. I shared a story that she wound up using. It was a very personal story and emotional to reveal, and I had nothing to gain from telling it other than helping my friend and speaking my truth. I wonder now how many people have read that segment and whether it has helped them heal.

I may never know the answer to that question, because we can’t always see the threads that tie us all together. But they are there. And they are strong. And they move mountains.

 

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Love ‘Em or Leave ‘Em

I love people who laugh at their own jokes. The harder they laugh, the better. Why shouldn’t we take enjoyment from our own creativity? Why create anything if it doesn’t bring us pleasure?

I love people who sing loudly and badly in church. Why? Because they are more concerned with giving praise than they are with what you think of them.

I love those people who take to the dance floor alone. They don’t wait for someone to hand them an opportunity, they go out and seize it.

I love people who stop a total stranger to tell her they adore her shoes. Our clothes are one of the ways we express ourselves. How nice when someone notices!

I love it when poets stand on a street corner and recite their verse. They have learned that we don’t need adoring crowds, we just need one person to listen.

I love it when someone says, “I don’t mean to brag,” and then they do. We work hard. Why shouldn’t we be proud of our accomplishments!

I love it when little kids ask, “Are you rich?” or “Are you famous?” or “How old are you?”  They keep us humble.

I love those students who always have their hands up in class. They have learned that everything in life is more interesting if we get involved.

I love those people who say, “That’s nice, but I could do it better.”  Go ahead then, show me. You either will, and I’ll be glad for it, or you won’t, and I’ll have lost nothing.

Some days I even love people who drive the speed limit. They remind us that there’s plenty of time to get where we are going.

 

 

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The Happiness of Art

There are two lines in the book The Artist’s Way that read, “A productive artist is quite often a happy person. This can be very threatening as a self-concept to those who are used to getting their needs met by being unhappy.”

Yet we, as a society, continue to hold on to the concept that artists must “suffer” for their art. Why? How can anyone in a down and negative place produce anything of beauty and value for the world? I’m not saying that art always springs from a place of gladness – you can write a great love song after experiencing heartbreak, for example – I’m saying that choosing to suffer for the sake of suffering will get you nowhere.

The other night, I attended a reading given by some author friends. They had also invited a singer to open with a few of her songs and a visual artist to paint something quickly on the stage. And here is what made the night a huge success . . . they were happy. All of them!

The authors read from their work, big smiles on their faces. Their voices rose and fell with the rhythm of their words, as they savored every syllable. The singer picked up her guitar and eased into her songs. Her eyes often looked up at the heavens, as if we were not even there, and she radiated joy as she sang. The artist took to the stage and gingerly picked up her paintbrush. As my friend read, the artist put a few brush strokes on the canvas. Though her time was limited, she was in no hurry. She was enjoying the moment, as were we.

I’m giving away a copy of The Artist’s Way on my newsletter this month because I think it’s a work of genius and every artist or creative should own a copy. Next month, I’m giving away one of the paintings by the artist I saw on stage the other night. And a couple of months later, I’m giving away a CD recorded by the singer. It gave me pleasure to purchase their work and will give me even more pleasure to give it away!  I’m pretty sure you won’t recognize these artists’ names, but I’m just as sure it won’t matter. Because their passion is in their art, and you’ll feel it.  And maybe it will make you happy.

To sign up for my newsletter to see the art and enter the drawing to win, click here.

 

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An Open Apology to My Creative Self

I’m sorry for the times I pushed you to move forward when you weren’t ready.

I’m sorry for the times I believed people who said that in order to do your best work, you had to starve.

I’m sorry for the times I drove you to the point of exhaustion and frustration, and for the times I failed to listen when you told me you just wanted to go for a walk or read a book. I should have let you rest.

I’m sorry for the times I failed to protect you from the people who told you you’d never make it.

I’m sorry for the times I failed to let you follow your muse, calling you back to a more practical path.

I’m sorry for the times I failed to tell you that you were enough.

I’m sorry for the times I didn’t let you feel the pain of a sharp word or a hurtful critique, and for the times I told you to ignore it or, worse yet, to toughen up. I should have allowed you to feel that pain and trusted you were strong enough to take it.

I’m sorry for the times I failed to recognize your uniqueness and tried to push you to fit in, thinking that then you’d have a better chance to succeed.

I’m sorry for the times I failed to acknowledge your accomplishments, and for the times I neglected to celebrate when you reached a goal, before rushing forward to set you a new one.

I’m sorry for the times I told you something would never succeed, when, really, I had no idea if it would or not.

I’m sorry for the times I didn’t give you the things you needed because I said we couldn’t afford it or couldn’t spare the time.

I’m sorry for the times I failed to say no on your behalf, and for the times I distracted you with meaningless tasks, when you really needed to focus.

I’m sorry for the times I failed to tell you how much I admire your passion and integrity and dedication to your work. How much I relish the joy you bring to my life. How proud I am to be a part of you!

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Sam I Am

Sam Smith was the big winner at the Grammy Awards this year.  “Before I made this record,” he said, “I was doing everything to try and get my music heard. I tried to lose weight and I was making awful music. It was only until I started to be myself that the music started to flow and people started to listen.”

And there you have it . . . award or no award, Sam had discovered the key to making great art, staying true to ourselves. That doesn’t mean we are all guaranteed fame and fortune, what it means is that we will produce our best work.

Interestingly, I’ve heard other superstar singers comment on the songs that made them famous. Some of them never liked those songs to begin with. Others were not even producing music in the genres they loved. They were doing what their record labels or agents told them to do. They became rich and famous, but at the cost of their art. “So what,” you might say.  “I’d take fame and fortune no matter how it arrives.” If that is how you feel, your goal is to be a celebrity, not an artist. That’s okay. I’m not judging you. Just understand the difference.

Sam also hit on the biggest concern that plagues all artists, our need to be heard or seen or read. The number one thing I see draining passion and energy from the artists I work with is discouragement about their sales. We think if we do “everything we can to get heard,” as Sam put it, that we’ll get discovered, when what we really need to do is what Sam did, find ourselves so that our art can flow.

This post marks my first anniversary as a blogger. When I launched this blog, I attached to it no pressure. I wasn’t going to worry about how many followers I attracted. I turned off the comments section to discourage readers from spending time crafting and tracking responses when they could be crafting their art. I made a decision not to write about anything just because it was trendy or would appeal to the search engines. As much as my books, I wanted this blog to be a creative outlet, to be my art. And it has been. It’s brought me tremendous pleasure. I hope it has brought you some too. Thank you!

 

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Love What You Do

My daughter is taking a college class on a subject she should enjoy. But the professor is monotone and dry and, frankly, boring. If you have lost enthusiasm for your subject, quit teaching.

After a minor surgery, I mentioned to my nurse that I have sensitive veins and asked if she could please remove the IV gently.  She glared at me and yanked it out.  If you have lost your compassion, quit nursing.

I was talking to a lady the other day who told me how much things had changed in her industry and how much she hated working with this new breed of client. If you have lost your desire to serve, quit attending to customers.

When I was just out of college, I was working at a job I had taken out of desperation, but also in the hope that it would turn into something great. One night at the bar, I was complaining yet again to my future sister-in-law and she said, “If you hate your job so much, why don’t you just quit?” Could it really be that easy, I wondered?

So I did. I gave my notice and bought a word processor and launched a freelance writing business without the slightest idea what I was doing. That was 23 years ago.

No one says we have to stay in the same job forever. No one says we have to stay in the same career forever. We don’t even have to work in the same mediums forever. Do yourself and the rest of us a favor: find your passion again. Love your work again, even if that means making a big change.

On this day-before Valentine’s Day, take a moment to reconnect with the things you love. Recommit to that old hobby you used to enjoy, call a friend you’ve been missing, pull out that old creative project you set aside. Regain your positive energy and then put it back in the world in ways that benefit us all.

 

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What to Do with Your Crazy Ideas

“Have you ever watched someone’s face when they utter the words, ‘I have a crazy idea’? It lights up! Why? Because in that moment they are experiencing untethered imagination, when the words ‘what if’ seem oh, so possible.”

Those are the opening lines to my new video “What to Do with Your Crazy Ideas.” It’s part of my Great Ideas Giveaway series on YouTube, but this time I’m not sharing one of my own concepts, I’m inviting you to explore all those ideas you’ve been holding in because you’re afraid they might sound “stupid” or “crazy.” And I’m offering steps for how you can test whether those ideas could actually fly.

When we give ourselves permission to go wherever our outlandish thoughts take us, we feel a rush of creativity and excitement. No matter how crazy your idea, you need to sit with that excitement for a while. Don’t dismiss it too easily or too soon. Feel how it reverberates through your body, how it ignites your mind, how it lifts your soul, and then learn to long for that feeling in every project you undertake.

Click here to watch the video! You can also download a PDF of this video on my “Products” page on my website under “Downloads.”

 

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When Was the Last Time You Scared Yourself?

My son leaves tomorrow for a semester of study in England. He’s quite nervous and hopefully a little excited, just as I was when I embarked on my studies abroad experience at the age of 19. I confess that I was more than a bit terrified as I boarded that plane, but it wound up being the best thing I ever did. It took me away from my safe, familiar life in Idaho and showed me that I was capable of more than I ever imagined.

On my second or third night in London, I was walking home alone from the Tube station in a heavy fog when I heard footsteps approaching.  I’m pretty sure I stopped breathing, until a shape emerged from the mist . . . a bobby (an English policeman) with truncheon in hand. He tipped his hat to me.  I kid you not. It was a scene straight out of a Sherlock Holmes’ story.  One of those impossible-to-believe moments when life imitates fiction. For a budding writer, it was magic.

There were many more moments like that in the five months I spent exploring Europe on a less-than-shoestring budget. Moments when life and art overlapped. And many of the most poignant and memorable instances came when I was feeling lonely or lost or vulnerable.

Several years ago, I set a New Year’s resolution to “write three things that scare me.”  I wasn’t referring to ghost stories, I was talking about essays on topics so personal, I wasn’t sure I dared write them.  By this point, I’d written several books and become a solid writer, but I knew that in order to stretch, I’d have to get out of my comfort zone again. I’d have to scare myself a little.

When was the last time a project frightened you?  When was the last time you weren’t sure you could pull something off? Have you gotten too comfortable, too complacent, too tired?  If so, maybe it’s time to take a risk. Maybe it’s time for a little adventure.

 

 

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