by J A Williamson

Created on: February 26, 2009

Any art found in a page of writing is the result of great experimentation, collaboration and most of all effort. Inspiration can be fuel to light the way and hold you to your effort. However, our ability to express our inspirations in writing is our art, and this ability can only be earned.

Be very careful of any suggestions to promote insight over effort. If I wanted to derail a writer and their movement toward progress, I would argue insight over effort. This opinion is what makes the great, elite. They make it look easy. Most people try to match their accomplishments believing they depend on the magic spirit of inspiration. If you voted for insight and you find yourself to be the Muse's fortunate recipient of such a great insight. Don't quit your day job.

It's so easy for some to believe that the muse of inspiration chose to bless the great writers. For some it's easy to believe you could do it if you only had a good enough idea. Excuses will always separate the great from the average. While some pray for the spirit of inspiration, great writers will be writing miles of crap. Then, sifting and rewriting hundreds of miles of crap for a few great lines. Then do you know what they do? They write.

Case and point can be illustrated in a quote from one of our fellow writers on the insight side of the debate. Berry Marcus wrote, "Picasso often said that he allowed his hand to do the painting. The less thought he applied, the better the work." Even if you believe Picasso's hand was possessed by some magic muse of inspiration. You could argue that this muse chose extremely well. This hand was the hand of Picasso, and he had put in the required effort in order express his insight through his art. From wikipedia.org we find the vast effort his hands, mind and body put into painting: "Picasso was exceptionally prolific throughout his long lifetime. The total number of artworks he produced has been estimated at 50,000, comprising 1,885 paintings; 1,228 sculptures; 2,880 ceramics, roughly 12,000 drawings."

The craft of writing is the art. Only with this hard won craft will any inspiration every travel from your inner voice to the real world and the page. Only with the effort required to construct the finest most complete vessel will your inspiration ever reach a book shelf. This fact is proven everyday.

I would seriously look at your choice to begin or continue an adventure in writing if you find effort to be a deterrent. Are you waiting for an inspiration or idea that is good enough? Are you waiting for something you can really sink you teeth into, something that will pull you back to the page? I guess we could call you a waiter.

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