“We know that athletes, musicians, and actors all have to practice, rehearse, repeat things until it gets into the body, the ‘muscle memory’, but for some reason, writers and visual artists think they have to be inspired before they make something not suspecting the PHYSICAL ACT of writing or drawing is what brings that inspiration about. Worrying about its worth and value before it exists can keep us immobilized forever. Any story we write or picture we made cannot demonstrate its worth until we write it or draw it. The answer can’t come to us any other way” (Syllabus: Notes from an Accidental Professor, Lynda Barry, pg.163)
Truth? What do you think?
Totally true!
I would say it is true, but really hadn’t given it thought.
I would say that most actual artists know from experience that it’s hard work, but people on the outside looking in think it’s all inspiration.
I don’t know. I kind of think artists get frustrated if they aren’t inspired by something. When they get into it, then they do the hard work and know it is hard work.