May 10, 2022

Not a Plan in Sight by Joylene M Bailey

 



Portrait painters captivate me. Maybe it's because I'm not a portrait artist, but I could watch them do their thing for hours. With some artists, the image they're creating is recognizable almost immediately. That's definitely the sitter's eye, her chin, her hair. The plan is clear, the method ... well, methodical. Deliberate.

Then there are other artists who seem to slop their canvases with a mash of bright or monochromatic colours. Completely unrecognizable as a portrait. When asked at this point in the project, I've heard some of these artists say they hope a discernible resemblance eventually materializes. Indeed, as they work, pushing the paint around in sweeps and flourishes and straight lines, a likeness does begin to emerge, rising from the depths to amaze me every time. One tiny brush stroke can change a painting completely. Was that the plan all along? Or did it surprise the artist too?

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What writing projects make my heart sing?

I had to think about this question for a long time. I love to write all kinds of things: children's songs and stories, adult fiction, poetry and rhymes, vignettes and scenes for a novel, my blog posts. Sometimes the project makes my heart sing and sometimes it doesn't. And it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the genre. What is it about each of these writing ventures that brings a thrill. And what makes it feel offkey? 

As I dug deeper I slowly came to realize that my heart sings when I write with no plan. When I let myself go, tap into that je ne sais quoi, and let the story materialize through my fingers somehow. That's it. That's when my heart soars.

One of my favourite stories came out of a prompt given at our writers' group meeting. The prompt was simply: Hello. What grew from there was a whimsical children's story that still makes me giggle every time I read it. Maybe it's only fit to read to the grandchildren, but what a delight it was to write it. And I imagine God delighting in my delight, like I take joy in the joy of my grandchildren.

A keynote speaker and author I once heard at a writing conference called himself an intuitive writer. He related how, during the writing of one of his novels, an essential character decided to get up and leave the book three-quarters of the way in. It completely changed the trajectory of the story.

I LOVE THAT!!

I love the unpredictability and the surprise. Just when you think you're going one way, something happens to make the story change. It's unexpected, and brilliant as a firework. Like the one tiny brush stroke that completely changes a portrait.

Maybe you are a planner. You enjoy the outlines and the method. Like the methodical painter, your portraits are beautiful and full of wonderful details that delight your Creator.

Or maybe your heart sings when you have no plan and no boundaries. You too delight your Creator with your unique, surprising, and beautiful portraits. 

I think we are all one-of-a-kind creations of our Creator, created to create works of art for His glory, His delight, His purpose. And how wonderful to be able to do it in a way that makes our hearts sing.    


~~~~~


Photo by Pixabay



Today Joy writes from her home in Edmonton, where she will be living for nine more days before moving with The Cowboy to their new home in the country. You can find her Joy-infused view of the world at Scraps of Joy

19 comments:

  1. What a wonderful way to start my day, reading your post. I love the comparison of the two artists, the painter and the writer. It has created a vision in my mind of you before a canvass, splashing words across the white space which turn into vibrant colours and leave you laughing and heady with the pure delight. Thanks, Joy.

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    1. Sharon, I love that picture in your mind. :)

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  2. Dear Joy, I can relate to your delight in the unexpected journey of writing without a plan. Although I sometimes wish I wrote an outline first, I've learned that when it comes to fiction, I have way more fun flying by the seat of my pants.
    Yes, one brushstroke can change so much. Those are the moments that keep me excited about a writing project.
    Wonderful post!
    Blessings ~ Wendy Mac

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    1. Thank you Wendy. True, fiction is the place to write without a plan. I'm glad to know there are more like me out there than I thought!

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  3. I loved the way you compared the portrait artist to writers. It made me feel alive to the possibility...and delight...of what would follow as your post unfolded. I felt the joy in your discovery of what makes your heart truly zing with delight when you write. I feel the intuitiveness in your writing.

    Thanks, dear Joy, for your fresh and vibrant post!

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    1. "I feel the intuitiveness in your writing." Wow! I've been thinking about that comment all day. Thank you Brenda. :)

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  4. Anonymous9:11 am GMT-7

    The visual picture first caught my attention. Then your words captured my heart. Why? I think, write and paint very much like what you described. I celebrate and give thanks for another kindred spirit who is being used for His glory.


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    1. Thanks for that analogy. It reminds me of how I created electronic music. On a bed track canvas, I layered a melody and counterpoint. It turned into a sonic landscape, sometimes forboding and sometimes sublime. That my heart really sing. My music is on YouTube if you're curious.

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    2. Yes, that visual picture from pixabay is so good. It painted my thoughts wonderfully. Kindred spirit indeed. "Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world." [Anne of Green Gables] I'm glad to know you are one of them. :)

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    3. Music, artwork, writing ... they are individual yet all so intertwined at the same time, aren't they?

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  5. Speaking of making my heart sing, this post did that for me. You write with such delight - I could feel it in your voice!

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    1. Thank you, Tracy. Your comment makes my heart sing. :)

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  6. Your delight in writing "off the cuff" is so evident in your post today. The comparison between painting and writing is well-done. I'm more of an "off the cuff" person myself.

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    1. Wonderful! Apparently there are more of us than I thought. Happy to be in your company, Lorrie.

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  7. Ahh, Joy, I always look forward to your posts! I too love "the unpredictability and the surprise," in my writing. In writing my poetry in particular I am often surprised at what forms on the page. I am beginning to think the words in my head actually plan surprises to make the surprise even more fun and heart-sing worthy. Thank you so much, Joy!

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    1. Oh yes, poetry can definitely be like that. How intriguing to think that the words in your head are planning surprises. I love that. Thanks, Alan. :)

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  8. I can't really add to what everyone else has said here: this was a joy to read today, Joy!

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  9. Thanks, Joy, and all those who commented. Thanks for your uplifting reminders that we are "created to create works of art for His glory, His delight, His purpose," and "to do it in a way that makes our hearts sing." What wise words!

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