[stylist] Intuition

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Lynda,

What you say about an artist internalizing to discover a truth about
themselves that they can then fuse into their art, is a scary thing.

When I switched my emphasis from fiction to nonfiction, it took a lot to
dig deep and find how my experience can transform into a universal when
writing about it. It's been extremely difficult to put things on the
page that I still would never have a conversation about.

It seems odd to have such a private, closed-book person write nonfiction
specifically about themselves. In some weird way, it's okay to put it on
paper even if I don't want to openly talk about things. But it was a
difficult process to divulge certain things, and some things I still
can't touch upon. It took me years before I could write about my eating
disorder. I feel vulnerable just writing that here.

Internalizing and finding out truths deep within me has really affected
my entire life, not just my writing. I have had to learn how to harness
emotions, pain, ingrained ideas, just to write about the world around
me. It is this process, though, that transcends an artists work making
it three-dimensional. There is talent, then there is talent with raw,
gritty emotion behind it. You learn to control it; to direct it, but any
artist must learn to do this in order to reach truth and a new level
with their craft.

Having been involved in theatre since I can remember, and getting a
minor in theatre, has helped me with the internalization process. To
look inside and find something to spark, to ignite your art, your craft.

Switching to nonfiction and having to look deep inside in order to
write, has helped my fiction greatly. I have a better understanding of
emotional depth and characterization. And I'm learning to share my
experiences in a way that brings relate ability as well as viewing my
life through a lens I'm comfortable with.

As you say, it's a scary, intimidating journey, but one that can
ultimately bring satisfaction to one's craft. I'm still on this journey,
and I suppose we never truly end it.

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Read my blog at:
http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
 
"History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan

Message: 4
Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:19:48 -0400
From: "Lynda Lambert" <llambert at zoominternet.net>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Intuition
Message-ID: <A720B2884B204C4DA864BF2013379C34 at Lambert>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="utf-8";
	reply-type=original

Donna,

Yes, I have been thinking a lot about this subject myself.  It is hard
to 
articulate. It is a topic I want to explore a lot more in my own life,
day 
by day. These are the kinds of questions I ask myself while I am working
in 
the studio.

I think you can discuss it with students, but ultimately they are
willing to 
leave their safety zone or they are not. It can be such a frightening
thing 
for a student to even being to think about. Looking inward is something
that 
some can never do. This always made me very sad when I recognized it in
some 
of my students. Even the very young ones who came to the college as 
freshmen, were already so rigid and could not expand or explore.

Tappinto their intuition is natural for some students who are
adventurous 
and willing to change as they absorb some new insights into ways of
working 
and others are somehow at a standstill and cannot make frightening (to
them) 
leaps of faith.

I would love to have a discussion with someone like you who is writing 
novels and other articles that are imaginative and innovative.  Too bad
we 
live across the state from each other as it would be a delight to have
good 
conversations with you in person.

My youngest child (who is now 43 years old) was one of those children
who 
was so aware of the inner world. She is a teacher in Kentucky and we
have 
those kinds of conversations. When she took a class in Mythology in
college, 
we had long conversations because it rocked her world and shook up her
mind 
to grasp the impact of it on humanity.  At another time, I can remember
our 
longtalks when she first read the works of a contemporary Vietnamese 
philosopher, Tr?n ??c Th?o who died last year. I am very influence by
his 
concept of "mindfulness." I strive to live a life of mindfulness and I
know 
it is a lifelong challenge.

OK, I better get back to what needs done here, today, for the moment.
Lynda