Monday 17 August 2015

Back in the Chair

I have a quote on my desk by Junot Diaz that reminds me to keep good habits: "In my view a writer is a writer because even when there is no hope, even when nothing you do shows any sign of promise, you keep writing anyway."  William Stafford would write in the wee hours of every morning. Chuck Close said "Inspiration is for amateurs; the rest of us just show up and get to work." Stephen King has said something similar. The practice of just getting one's bum in the chair on a daily basis is what usually leads to the good stuff.

Well, my bum has been out of the chair.

And I'm not one to argue with the likes of Diaz or Close or Stafford, but I am one to enjoy a very good and very long and very delightful break. And break we did. The whole family took two delicious months and, well, stayed out of chairs.

But I'm back. Daily. And I've got an addendum to those artistic greats' wisdom. Yes, do what you do every day. Every day. But don't underestimate the sabbatical. Sometimes a planned absence can do a creative process good. In my case, it grew a tree.

I came back to a Singapore that is now the home of a dear friend, and she is savvy enough to map out the way to a business venture, and I am clueless enough to go along with it. So, she does the heavy lifting meeting with printers and potters and fabric makers, and I get to sit right here and enjoy this chair.