“A writer never forgets the first time he accepted a few coins or a word of praise in exchange for a story. He will never forget the sweet poison of vanity in his blood and the belief that, if he succeeds in not letting anyone discover his lack of talent, the dream of literature will provide him with a roof over his head, a hot meal at the end of the day, and what he covets the most: his name printed on a miserable piece of paper that surely will outlive him. A writer is condemned to remember that moment, because from then on he is doomed and his soul has a price.” ― Carlos Ruiz Zafón, The Angel's Game “Inspiration comes when you stick your elbows on the table, your bottom on the chair and you start sweating. Choose a theme, an idea, and squeeze your brain until it hurts. That's called inspiration.” ― Carlos Ruiz Zafón, The Angel's Game An extract from one of my all time favourite books, the above-listed extracted quotes sat deep in the well of my creative being. Reading has always been something I enjoyed for as long as I can remember, it’s where a lot of my inspiration comes from. It’s beyond the words. It’s the action that captivates me every time. It’s the soul of the author captured in between the cover and back. Imagine: the feel of the book in your hands. The feel of the words running through one end of your mind to the other. How the weighty conversations between characters immerse you into a different world. Books forcefully display and help you come to terms with a perspective you once refused to contemplate. It teaches you to shift gears. It prepares you for the gusty and warm winds of life. Reading has always been my token of appreciation for the effort and thought put into the published art, world and magic. When I reach the last line on the last page, I end off asking myself “how can one be so creative and yet sane?” Growing up, I believed that inspiration was like magic. You’re lucky when it strikes and that ideas are afforded during the thickness of the night. Speed up to the present moment, the age of bloggers and ‘hashtagers’ densely sprinkled across the Internet and you start wonder where all the magic has gone. I feel no animosity towards bloggers and ‘hashtagers’ but surely it is clear as day that content is admired and then regurgitated – magic-less-ly. With photography on the other hand, and it being the most popular hobby in the world, leading to a cluttered industry, it’s safe to say it’s competitive, AF. And then add to the equation creatives competing in the most illogical way by ‘copying’ each other.
There’s nothing wrong about that, but I don’t think its healthy to consume so much of other people as it leaves little space in your mind and centre for you to focus on yourself, to come up with your own original ideas. It blocks the opportunity for the magic to strike you. It leaves little time for you to quietly search the corners of your mind for a self to share with the world.
Have you lost your wand? |
Anthea AdamsAuthor
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