Don't worry about the other horses.

I recently had an email exchange with an artist whose work I admire greatly.  She’s an accomplished photographer whose work, in recent times, she feels is getting lost in the swamp.  It seems everybody with an eyeball is snapping away with their digital cameras and calling themselves professional photographers these days, just like everybody with an ability to form even the simplest of sentences is self-publishing and calling themselves writers. (Heck, even some folks who can’t form a simple sentence do that.) She says there’s so much good photographic work being produced now, she wonders why she should bother trying to contribute something new?

Well, I’ve certainly felt that way about writing, too.

I remember what Flannery O’Connor said when asked whether she felt university writing programs stifled young writers. She replied, “It doesn’t stifle nearly enough of them.” Snort. LOVE that.

Flannery O'Connor and her peacocks

Flannery O'Connor and her peacocks

But when I start thinking that way I know it’s because, once again, I’m focusing on things which are none of my business. I’ve come to believe that almost everything is none of my business, to be honest. I’ve had to adopt that philosophy for the sake of my sanity. Other people’s work, what prizes/grants they’re winning, what reviews they’re garnering, etc., are none of my business. What other people think of me is none of my business. The only thing that’s my business is my relationship with my creative source (call that God or Spirit, or, as I do, The Ineffable) and my own response to the world, the people in it, and my work.

Of course, in my less-than-perfect moments, I do get lonely and I despair. ( I also get restless, irritable and discontent.) However, those feelings signal something’s out of whack somewhere, that I’m off balance in some way.

Generally it means I’m not focusing on my own voice, my own path. It means I’ve got my eyes on some other writer’s trajectory.

When I’m spiritually balanced, I understand that the source of my need to write comes from something much greater than me, and is to be honored and approached with faith. I do the work I’m urged to do, to the best of my ability and leave the outcome in the hands of The Ineffable. I also understand that my work is filtered through my subconscious, my perspective and my experience. This means it is utterly unique to me, and no matter how many other people are writing, they are not capable of writing what I write (and vice-versa, of course). So, when it comes down it it, the only useful comparison is between what I wrote yesterday, and what I’m writing today.  It is better?  Good, then keep going!  Is it not quite as good?  Then revise, and keep going.

I remember a story I heard about the actor/comedian Danny Thomas.  His daughter, Marlo Thomas, was about to open in her first play on Broadway.  She was nervous and afraid of what the critics might say.  Danny sent a package to her dressing room, containing a pair of blinders — the sort used on horses — with a note saying, “Always run your own race, kid.  Don’t worry about the other horses.”

Try not to get distracted.

Try not to get distracted.

7 Comments

  1. Lanham True on September 3, 2010 at 11:48 am

    Thank you. This could not have been a more apropos piece for me
    to read this morning. How did you manage to get inside my head?

    • Lauren B. Davis on September 3, 2010 at 12:13 pm

      Ah, t’aint me, Lanham. T’is the universe at work. That foxy Ineffable. 😉

  2. Lizzie Harwood on September 3, 2010 at 4:10 pm

    Thanks, Lauren…. You really sum it up beautifully. I also always think of your quote about Killing all your darlings.
    Hugs, Lizzie

    • Lauren B. Davis on September 3, 2010 at 4:16 pm

      Nice to see you here, Lizzie. (just to be clear, I was quoting Faulkner!)

  3. Trevor Cole on September 3, 2010 at 7:01 pm

    Hey Lauren,
    Very nice piece. I’ll try to remember that Danny Thomas line. Thanks.

  4. Luba Model on September 10, 2010 at 11:51 pm

    Hi Lauren, I met you at Linda’s show today! Your image is fascinating and intriguing. Remember, I talked to you about writing in English without knowing it (almost!).
    Your personality reveals through your thoughts clearly. Honesty and braverly, aren’t they the synonyms? Thank you for the light you radiate… I wish that you could come to my show to observ to observe my “story” in pictures. My exhibition will start some time in October. Thank you Lauren!

  5. Katie Marsh on September 13, 2010 at 11:55 pm

    Have you seen Elizabeth Gilbert talk about what she is experiencing
    after writing, “Eat, Pray, Love?”
    It really helped me as an artist, a writer, a person, and I posted it on
    my site,
    http://buddhathepig.wordpress.com/about/my-obvious-status/lolas-birthday-video/i-heart-you-tube/top-you-tube-fist-pump-moments/
    Scroll down and its right there at the end! I think it will really
    speak to you 🙂

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