Caroline Starr Rose

picture book and middle-grade author

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When Art is Seconds Away From Total Collapse

8 Comments

As I’m in the midst of edits again, I’ve thought often of this post. Happy writing, friends.

The truth is that the piece of art which seems so profoundly right in its finished state may earlier have been only inches or seconds away from total collapse.
— ART AND FEAR: OBSERVATIONS ON THE PERILS (AND REWARDS) OF ARTMAKING

This quote has been running through my mind since July.

There are so many ways for a work of art to fail. But thankfully there are even more opportunities to try and get it right. During the editing process, BLUE BIRDS has balanced on the edge of disaster again and again, but it has come back, stronger, clearer, more fully itself.

And one day, I will set it free. It will be a separate thing from me. I’ll no longer need to stand by, ready to interpret or hold it steady.

It will fly.

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Filed Under: Blue Birds, the writing life

Comments

  1. Jessie Oliveros says

    December 16, 2013 at 6:16 pm

    I hate the disaster-phase! It’s hard to believe it will come around again, but it does!

    Reply
    • Caroline Starr Rose says

      December 16, 2013 at 6:18 pm

      It feels like I revisit it repeatedly. Thankfully, I get to try, try again.

      Reply
  2. Stasia says

    December 17, 2013 at 5:05 pm

    I hear you all too clearly. It takes a great deal of courage to reach out and pull your ms back from the precipice again and again. But that’s what it takes to create your truest work or, as you so beautifully put it, something that will be “separate” from its maker.

    Reply
  3. emily freeman says

    December 17, 2013 at 7:11 pm

    The more write, the more I’m beginning to trust it – the process, I mean. Still, I’m thankful for reminders like this one.

    Reply
  4. Caroline Starr Rose says

    December 17, 2013 at 8:49 pm

    I’m learning fear is a piece of my process, like it or not. It doesn’t get the final say, but man, it sure fights for first place!

    Reply
  5. Kimberly says

    December 18, 2013 at 1:00 am

    “It will fly”–love this so much.

    Reply
  6. Margaret Simon says

    December 18, 2013 at 2:39 am

    Love the image of the blue bird out of focus. Very profound to what you are feeling. Looking forward to the stage of flight.

    Reply
    • Caroline Starr Rose says

      December 18, 2013 at 3:32 am

      I attended a writing retreat with my critique group in October, the weekend before my first-round edits were due. This blue bird hung over the table. It felt like the two of us were meant to meet!

      Reply

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