Agenda of an Artist

Photo courtesy @iStockphoto

 

Every time I start writing a book, I dread telling people about it. Inevitably, someone asks, "where are you going with this story?" And I usually don't have a good answer. 

I squirm and flail, mumbling something about a direction the story might go, or offering an apology for not knowing or being clear. Then they think I don't want to spoil the book for them. But that's not the case either. I simply don't know. 

When I start a novel, I don't have an agenda. I have a dirty black canvas, where anything could happen.  A medium to explore and discover. I chip away at the darkness, fashioning a moving, breathing story until just enough light is let in.

Other artists understand this. They don't ask what your agenda is, instead they wonder what you are currently exploring. 

Artists may not have an agenda or know where they're going, but we know how we're getting there.

 

Comments

[Dolores Ayotte]

Audra...how true! Artists may not have an agenda but we do know "how" we're getting there. It's a journey and that's what it's all about when it comes to exploring our creativity. It's seems to be more about faith than anything else.

[Audra Krell]

Yes, we faithfully know where we are going!

Audra 

[Stephanie]

What an interesting post! I dream of writing, so I look forward to learning more about the process from your blog.