why write?

Corrine Colarusso, a painter from Georgia, has this to say about her muse: "...what brings us to the studio every day - that mark, that surface, that color, that film of glaze, images formed, infinite possibilities unremediated and powerful."
I so get it. For me, it's words with precise meaning, nuances, inflections, the juxtaposition of syllables, the lure of a fine-turned phrase, the possibility of making marks that make sense to myself and others. I enjoy writing, even more so now that I don't have to do so. In college, I even enjoyed writing, but felt rather limited, as the professors weren't interested in random topics. Actually, I'd wager they would have preferred some randomness, rather than the same topic expressed through forty different pens.
Today, at work in a hardwood flooring store, just in casual conversation, I heard myself utter "auspices" and was amazed when it came through my lips. That is a word with a very precise meaning and I was talking on the phone with my Charleston bird at the time. He took it in stride; I was the one who noted what I had said and was surprised by it. Now that I think about that, it WAS rather nice that he took it as such a natural utterance. Yes, I do like that about him.
As I was saying, though, I am inspired to write because of things I hear, things I see, things I taste or touch or sense. Writing about these things makes them more real, gives them context in my world, helps me find my place in the universe. All artists create - not just paintings or poetry or songs, but a new piece of the world we all live in, a bridge between our personal space and that inhabited by all. I like to think that I'm helping to do that, too, for myself and perhaps, in some small measure, for others.

inspiration, deux

A while back, I was at a film festival with some friends. After the film, we were all helping to change the viewing area back into coffee shop seating, moving the couches and tables and two very different types of dining chairs.
So, there we are, moving chairs, and one of the guys says "No, don't put those chairs there, they need to match around the table."
And out of my mouth come the words "Why? The chairs in my dining room are two different colors and I have them alternating around the table in an aromatic configuration. The blue ones represent the single bonds and the green ones are the double bonds. You know, because the green ones have both blue and yellow in the color!"
Honestly, I could scarce believe it myself. I had no idea I was going to say that, no conscious effort on my part. Like everyone there, I was just as surprised when that bit of logic was emitted by my lips.
Perhaps the thought was germinating whilst I was teaching hydrocarbon nomenclature during the preceding days.
Perhaps.
Who knows how the brain draws connections between disparate topics?
But 'twas inspired, was it not?

inspiration

"When inspiration calls, you pick up the phone and give it directions to your house." So said Will I Am of the Black-Eyed Peas. Sounds like good advice, too. The trick is trying to sort out the calls from Inspiration from all the other calls you get.