Opening Pandora's Box...
...and not liking what comes out.
Pandora
John William Waterhouse, 1896
(photograph by me)
As I have started this journey of creating short stories, I’ve seemed to open a Pandora’s Box. Not exactly the releasing of all human ills upon the earth, but more of a spilling over of my inability to put pen to paper, fingers to keyboards or camera to subject. I believe I have an incredible imagination, a desire to evoke strong emotions in people I have no previous connection with and tools to accomplish it all.
Getting it done, on the other hand, is the tricky part.
I am woefully undereducated in my pursuits, out of practice with my passions and plainly behind the times when it comes to the technology to make my life easier and process more efficient.
But isn’t that the heart of artistic creation? Devoid of a desire for economy and utility upon it’s inception? Simply creating what moves you the most, with whatever you have on hand. “Is it not strange that sheep's guts should hale souls out of men's bodies?” Wrote Shakespeare, referring to a character singing and playing a stringed instrument. Indeed, sheep’s guts for strings to create beautiful melodies that move us so.
I currently have 10 writing projects started, all beginning to show me what my creative style is. As with any artist regardless of category, I see nothing but my faults and inadequacies before me, jumping off of the page like a court jester mocking a monarchy to it’s face. I become discouraged by my own reality and sink back into daydreaming and looking for inspiration, rather than writing and shooting and designing.
I am hopeful, however, that starting to see my own style emerge from my subconscious and into a short story, I can more reliably get words down in front of me. No more keeping the Pandora’s Box closed in fear of humility, but rather let my ego get checked and build stronger stories that I know can, and should, exist.
So thank you for your patience. More to come.
-A