Consumed!

Egad! I haven't posted in almost a month. DePaul is winding down, and I am eager to write more and post more.

How have you been?

Exhausted. Artists Are Stronger - We Have To Be.

I have hit the wall. Around 4 p.m. today (CST) I collapsed. I can't do any more work - my novel's outline, grade student work, you name it. Here is a letter I clipped from the New York Times over thirteen years ago. I've reproduced it below from my yellow, dog-eared clipping:

Artists Are Tougher Than Other People

To the Editor:

Dr. Joseph J. Schildkraut describes a link between mental instability and creativity in "Depression and Art" (letter, April 18). But he misses what I believe is a crucial point: the extraordinary day-to-day stresses most artists face. These are caused by, first, the essentially subjective criteria for judging the merit of art, influenced (particularly today) by the whims of fashion; and, second, the virtual absence of the usual rewards, financial or otherwise.

Despite considerable industry and sacrifice (most artists work very hard at what they do), the artist faces continuous blows to the ego by one of another dealer or critic. These criticisms can be difficult to refute because of the relative absence of objective criteria for judging art. They lead even the strongest to self-doubt.

Most of us must look to other sources of income, requiring that we accept low-level, part-time work or a full-time job that leaves no time to make art -- unless we sacrifice relationships with family and friends, so important to all humans for a sense of fulfillment and self-worth.

Barring family resources, the artist is preoccupied with financial worries on a very basic level. Should the artist desire, as most of us do, the marry and have a child, the stresses of work with little or no financial reward increase, and he or she faces the choice of who or what to sacrifice -- children? friends? art?

Society treats artists very poorly -- poorly enough to dissolve the hardiest among humans. One might make a case for the opposite of Dr. Schildkraut's hypothesis -- to put up with all this and still get by, the artist may actually be in some way more stable, mentally or emotionally, than the norm.

Cynthia Eardley
New York, April 25, 1994

The "Good" War uncensored - Ken Burns and George Roder, Jr., PhD

Tonight my husband and I will watch The War on PBS by the amazing documentarian Ken Burns. In it he will show uncensored footage from World War II along with interviews by survivors who sacrificed overseas and in America. Fourteen years ago a School of the Art Institute professor by the name of George Roeder, Jr. wrote about and published many graphic images that the U.S. government censored during World War II. In 1998 I was blessed to work as a teaching assistant for Doctor Roeder, a gentle, enthusiastic, and intelligent man who soon became my friend and mentor. He died in 2004, but he leaves a legacy in print and with his students, colleagues, and friends.

The name of Doctor Roeder's book is The Censored War: American Visual Experience During World War Two. A link to order it is provided below.

Link

Outlining a novel.

After my best friend, who is also an amazing writer and honest critic, got on my back about finally writing my novel several years ago, I have embarked on this genre. So far I have struggled with my efforts. I wrote to just write. There was no structure. No story. To quote Janet Desaulniers, my graduate school adviser, I was telling myself the story.

In 2005 I attended an amazing week-long seminar called The Art of the Story led by Tom Jenks. Tom is the editor of Narrative and a former fiction editor at The Paris Review, Esquire, GQ, and Scribners. Through his teaching, I am now outlining and am finding it very helpful as well as laborious.

Back in June I attended the Printer's Row Book Fair with my friend Vesna. One of the writers we saw was Joyce Carol Oates. Oates said that the first six weeks of planning a novel is the hardest, and I agree. Tom did tell me that it makes the writing of it more fruitful. Perhaps that is another reason she is so prolific.

I am curious how many of you writers outline your work?

Agent and Author

My friend Tami sent me this. Oh so true - and not only with a literary agent.

Spiritual Evictions

Funny. I don't remember any of this taught in the Beatitudes or the Catechism.

A recent Associated Press article revealed that the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is evicting nuns from its convent. Despite many of the nuns having lived there for forty years, the Archdiocese plans to sell their home regardless what they think about the Archdiocese's decision to sell. The reason for this? The monies will be put toward its recent settlement for sexual abuse. The vicar general even wrote a letter to the nuns saying that if they left before their December 31 deadline, it "would be acceptable as well."

But I guess we can't be too hard on the L.A. Archdiocese. After all, there were no pay raises for their employees this year. Who, as far as I know, still have a home.

I have a huge suspicion that Jesus and His Father wouldn't look favorably on an action such as this.

And it's our, the lay people's, misdirected morals that have driven most of us away from the Catholic Church?

Alleviating Writing Anxiety: Relax Before You Do It

I offer these to my undergraduate writing students. They could also be used with any art genre. Here's the first one.

Breathing and Relaxation: Take ten to fifteen minutes before you write. Close your eyes and sit up in your chair or recline on your bed. Inhale and exhale deep breaths. This aids in relaxation. The medical community also recommends this for those suffering from insomnia. After you have relaxed, tighten your entire body. After you tighten your body, relax each section of your body starting with your head then moving on to your neck, shoulders, arms, torso, legs, and feet. Take your time while doing this. A creative writing instructor I had at the University of Chicago’s Graham School started the second half of her class with this exercise. After you have finished relaxing, begin writing and revising.

Kabbalah and Attaining God

Full disclosure: I am a Roman Catholic - my confirmation name is Teresa, after Teresa of Avila - and among my favorite Catholics are Gary Wills, Thomas Aldworth, Erasmus, Father Thomas P. Doyle, Francis of Assisi and Madonna. I love my faith. However, I especially love those who aren't afraid to question the faith and try to elevate spirituality - independent thinkers who some Catholics and those of other denominations don't believe are true Christians. If you know these amazing people, you know that's not true.

Through my Jewish friends I have learned more about Kabbalah. Two weeks ago I began a Kabbalah class through Bnei Baruch. Kabbalah is not religion; instead, it teaches those who seek it how to attain God. I am enjoying my lessons and learning more about myself and the world I currently reside in. We can change the world by loving our neighbors as ourselves and becoming more tolerant.

How do you view spirituality?

Hello from a newbie

I hope all is well for everyone out there. As the headline says, I'm a newbie; be prepared for lots of formatting mistakes!

I look most forward from comments from writers, artists, those of a tolerant, open mind, and anyone who wants to make the world a better place.