Now that I'm wearing Uggs and my favorite sweater, we can talk about that Scottish archipelago--The Outer Hebrides. Specifically, The Outer Hebrides in March. Cold, people, very cold! An extraordinary muse--Daniel Craig--recently sent me some post cards from his travels. Good thing he's fluent in Gaelic! This is Lew's castle on the island of Lewis and Harris. According to Dan, it's a lovely, old place.
These are the Callanish Standing Stones. Fascinating, aren't they? What were they for, do you think?
Dan's job here is done. He's stirred up our imaginations by showing us mysteries from the past. Off you go, Mr. Craig! Have fun at Castlebay on Barra. (Remember to wear your scarf and coat.) What kind of story would you set on the beautiful island of Lewis and Harris? If you could take your pad of paper or your laptop anywhere in the world to write, where would you go?
In School of Rock, Jack Black plays Dewey Finn. Dewey loves one thing and one thing only. Rock. He's not a musical genius, though he plays guitar well enough, and yet, he has passion. He wants to form a band and realize his vision. Sometimes, I feel like Dewey. I have the passion to write, but often lack the skill to transfer that dream to paper. I've come close. There are rare, fleeting moments when I get it right and my character says the perfect thing or I think up an unexpected sub-plot. While I'm not to words what Rembrandt was to painting, I've created a little piece of art in that minor accomplishment.
I think those brief, brilliant glimpses of being better than we are keep us coming back day after day. Do you feel the same, readers?It might seem odd, but I actually enjoy being Dewey Finn. I really do.
And for those about to write. . . I salute you.
You arent hardcore unless you live hardcore!!
ReplyDeleteI salute YOU!
I like the idea of Dewey Finn. After all, what is skill and talent without passion? I'd imagine the art to be flat, colorless. Maybe it's the passion which shapes the rest, which holds our heart for all to see.
ReplyDeleteRight back at ya, Lola! "And the legend of the rent was way hardcore!"
ReplyDeleteJoanne, thanks for the beautiful thought. There's a bit of Dewey in us all.
You go Roxy! I always love your posts. Thanks for the book possibilities. I will let you know if I need any. I do feel like Dewey sometimes --not all the time --but every so often I get a glimmer of him show through.
ReplyDeleteI salute you:)
Happy writing and reading!
Thank you for the lovely pictures and thoughts. We do keep going, I think, knowing or hoping that we will hone our skills and our craft and produce something unique and ours. There's nothing wrong with being Dewey Finn.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I see a picture of your muse, I laugh. I'm not sure why. Perhaps I need my own muse, but I have a feeling it may be my cat, which is not nearly as sexy as your muse. Not sexy at all.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, when I left school today, I saw my first burst of crocuses and the daffodils were almost ready to bloom.
Yay Dewey! Here's to all of us! Go forth and multiply, those words.
ReplyDeleteWe all have Dewey Finn days and days of fleeting brilliance that leave us smiling in wonder. I wouldn't have it any other way. :-)
ReplyDeleteLove this post! I adore School of Rock. "Dude, I service society by rocking, OK? I'm out there on the front lines liberating people with my music!"
ReplyDeleteGreat connection you made between Dewey and writers. I'll keep that in mind. :) :)
I believe Beethoven is reported to have said to a student who played a piece without mistake, but no feeling: I can forgive a wrong note. What I cannot forgive is your lack of passion.
ReplyDeleteLive your passion. Bring it to life. That's the message of Dewey Finn (the boys and I love this flick), Beethoven, and you Roxy. Many thanks!
I love Jack Black and School of Rock was a fun movie. Great analogy. I feel the same way. I have mediocre talent, but once in a while something good comes out that surprises me. That's what keeps me writing. I live for those moments.
ReplyDeleteLove Dewey! And I know exactly how you feel, but it is that passion that brings me back every time. Wouldn't life be boring if we just wanted to sit and watch tv all the time? And just so you know I think you have amazing talent. I keep waiting for more of your writing snippets. :)
ReplyDeleteHave you heard the Hebrides Overature by Felix Mendelssohn?
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrides_Overture
It's very pretty. They say he wrote it after traveling there.
Woohooo! I love that movie. :) I think I started feeling good about myself as I writer when I stopped thinking about the great writer that I am not, lol. It's so easy to get down on yourself or your ideas or writer's block or any of the really hard parts of this crazy journey, but in the end, we all write because we love to, and we have things to express. For now, that's good enough for me. Of course, I have not finished my MS yet so I have not had Betas or rejected queries or any of that yet... I'm still in the honeymoon stage. ;)
ReplyDeleteAre the stones some kind of calendar? Are they in Scotland?
ReplyDeleteSometimes talent must be hard-won. You might have the talent, but still need to develop the skill. Even a talented singer must learn how to sing with a band -- something that isn't as easy as you might think!
ReplyDeleteThanks for following my blog!
As Capt Jack Sparrow says: I love those moments. I love to way bye-bye to them as they pass.
ReplyDeleteI feel like that sometimes; a minor inspiration in a sea of doubt. But, those rarities do keep me plugging along until the next one.
Thanks for the encouragement Roxy.
........dhole
Kudos for aligning yourself with "School of Rock" - one of my favorite movies ever! (Not least of all because Adam Pascal has a minor role. *Sigh*)
ReplyDeleteThose moments of betterness are very rare for me but when they come... yes, I'd have to say I agree with you. They feel so amazing that I keep writing, if only to feel that way one last time.