Helen, this piece helped me in a time of pensive depression over the state of the country I live in (the US) and its assault on who I am (I'm trans). It's hard, so hard, to be so few among the larger population and to be debated as if my existence is a fungus to be bleached away. It's even harder to maintain a winsome spirit to continue to create, amidst a culture that actively works against art and artists. Your words here help immensely to put into perspective my situation:
"I need to use my own voice to bring myself back to life."
It's not odd, then, that, in the worst throes of my depressive agony last night, I crafted a painting. Now, finding my voice, even in darkness, I can look to the rest of this day to put the finishing touches on. Thank you. Please accept my paid subscription not as a "purchase" but as a gift to assist, which in no way matches what you have given me. It's simply an encouragement. Keep it up. You're a bright spark coalescing into an enlightening and persistent blaze, counselor.
Bethany my sweet, you are no fungus. You are a precious human being, created perfect just as you are and just as you know you should be, created a creator, and one with the ability to reduce another to tears ( in the very best positive sense!) with your eloquent words, your kindness and generosity. I have no doubt the world is a better place with you firmly in it hard and cruel though the ignorance and bigotry can be. I will certainly endeavour to ‘keep it up’ and I only hope I can honour your trust in me. Thank you so much for the gift. It’s special indeed.
No you have not prompted me to hide away from you, quite the opposite. I'm a person who is easily influenced which I think comes from a life-long feeling of insecurity. So, your words ring true for me right now in that rather than richochet-ing (is that a word?) from one influence/teacher to another, this is a time for me to believe in my ability to forge my own path.
Yes it’s a word. Though not one I can ever figure out how to spell so you one-up me there 🤣 you absolutely have the ability to forge your own path and in so doing you will also help others to do the same. I am excited to look over from my path to see what yours looks like as we travel through this life together.
Finding our own true voices is related to finding our authentic selves and expressing them, I think.
And connection with others provides so much! Encouragement, inspiration, ideas to write about, making friends, and understanding and feeling understood are all part of the experience.
Thanks for bringing up something I'll be mulling over.
What a great piece, Helen. Very provocative questions posed and lots of food for thought around creativity and sources both internal and external that influence it. I did have a giggle at the reference to taking an hour to write a Substack. I definitely need lots of external influence to help me become more creatively proficient 😂😂😂
Hi Helen. An interesting grappling with the topic. I probably would have left out the paragraph with the description about the physical voice myself but right there is a distinction between my voice and yours. I do agree that one's voice develops over time and that voice is the result of tens of thousands of tiny subtle decisions we make as we go along that results on our own peculiar way of seeing and doing things. I am a collage artist, poet, theorist, philosopher, inquisitor, shit-disturber, anarchist, etc. I wrote an article on this topic but more from a visual artist point of view here https://touchonian.substack.com/p/finding-your-creative-voice . It is an interesting topic and seems to be a Rubicon that all creatives feel they must cross.
As a collage artist who works with found materials, it is an interesting idea to think about where your voice is when you are merely arranging found things but even in that, each artist is fairly unique and identifiable. A writer I suppose is no different; one is working with all preexisting parts - words and punctuation. So yes, where is one's voice in it? Just in the arrangements really. In the music of it, in the ideas, in the insights. It is a very interesting thing to think about.
Helen, this piece helped me in a time of pensive depression over the state of the country I live in (the US) and its assault on who I am (I'm trans). It's hard, so hard, to be so few among the larger population and to be debated as if my existence is a fungus to be bleached away. It's even harder to maintain a winsome spirit to continue to create, amidst a culture that actively works against art and artists. Your words here help immensely to put into perspective my situation:
"I need to use my own voice to bring myself back to life."
It's not odd, then, that, in the worst throes of my depressive agony last night, I crafted a painting. Now, finding my voice, even in darkness, I can look to the rest of this day to put the finishing touches on. Thank you. Please accept my paid subscription not as a "purchase" but as a gift to assist, which in no way matches what you have given me. It's simply an encouragement. Keep it up. You're a bright spark coalescing into an enlightening and persistent blaze, counselor.
Bethany my sweet, you are no fungus. You are a precious human being, created perfect just as you are and just as you know you should be, created a creator, and one with the ability to reduce another to tears ( in the very best positive sense!) with your eloquent words, your kindness and generosity. I have no doubt the world is a better place with you firmly in it hard and cruel though the ignorance and bigotry can be. I will certainly endeavour to ‘keep it up’ and I only hope I can honour your trust in me. Thank you so much for the gift. It’s special indeed.
No you have not prompted me to hide away from you, quite the opposite. I'm a person who is easily influenced which I think comes from a life-long feeling of insecurity. So, your words ring true for me right now in that rather than richochet-ing (is that a word?) from one influence/teacher to another, this is a time for me to believe in my ability to forge my own path.
Thank you for this lovely essay.
Yes it’s a word. Though not one I can ever figure out how to spell so you one-up me there 🤣 you absolutely have the ability to forge your own path and in so doing you will also help others to do the same. I am excited to look over from my path to see what yours looks like as we travel through this life together.
Thank you Helen
Hi Helen,
Finding our own true voices is related to finding our authentic selves and expressing them, I think.
And connection with others provides so much! Encouragement, inspiration, ideas to write about, making friends, and understanding and feeling understood are all part of the experience.
Thanks for bringing up something I'll be mulling over.
All the best to you in 2024.
And to you too Diane!
My next post will be my take on this topic.
Oh fab - a conversation!!
What a great piece, Helen. Very provocative questions posed and lots of food for thought around creativity and sources both internal and external that influence it. I did have a giggle at the reference to taking an hour to write a Substack. I definitely need lots of external influence to help me become more creatively proficient 😂😂😂
Don’t worry. I may have used creative licence there! I worked on this piece over a couple of days!!!
Phew! 😅 🙂
Hi Helen. An interesting grappling with the topic. I probably would have left out the paragraph with the description about the physical voice myself but right there is a distinction between my voice and yours. I do agree that one's voice develops over time and that voice is the result of tens of thousands of tiny subtle decisions we make as we go along that results on our own peculiar way of seeing and doing things. I am a collage artist, poet, theorist, philosopher, inquisitor, shit-disturber, anarchist, etc. I wrote an article on this topic but more from a visual artist point of view here https://touchonian.substack.com/p/finding-your-creative-voice . It is an interesting topic and seems to be a Rubicon that all creatives feel they must cross.
As a collage artist who works with found materials, it is an interesting idea to think about where your voice is when you are merely arranging found things but even in that, each artist is fairly unique and identifiable. A writer I suppose is no different; one is working with all preexisting parts - words and punctuation. So yes, where is one's voice in it? Just in the arrangements really. In the music of it, in the ideas, in the insights. It is a very interesting thing to think about.
By the way, fantastic photograph!