Keep passing the open windows

I’m amazed at the output of some writers. I have one acquaintance who is a professional writer who churns out words like Disney spews out teen idols. I don’t seem to be able to do that. I want to, but I think I have to develop one thing:discipline.

There’s a word with some instant reactions. Most of us either hearken back to school or parents who tried to mold us in some way to their standards. Or to a boss who wrote us up. Or to others, Mistress Kitty’s dungeon on a Tuesday night. But to most, it leaves a bad taste in our mouths.

There are dozens of artists and writers who will tell you they can only work when the mood hits them, or when they’re inspired. Most of those writers will tell you this after they’ve given you your entree or espresso . If you think working only when inspiration hits you is a good thing, ask all of those My Bloody Valentine fans who’ve been waiting years for Kevin Shields to find some inspiration to put out a new CD.

Discipline is something I’d rather think of in Zen terms. One roshi(a zen teacher) when asked what the secret to enlightment was,replied “chop wood, carry water”.

Most Zen practioners will tell you that it alludes to finding a sense of being in the moment from doing ordinary things. I think it can also mean that through repetition and practice, inspiration finds you. That through the structure of daily practice you can find things coming out of you.

Now there might be some little coffee slurping tool who stumbles upon this, who says, “bah! only through free flowing noodling can you find creative freedom. ritual and forms only stifle creativity.”

If that’s the case, throw out a good deal of your art and music. Eddie Van Halen, truly a god of guitars, was classically trained. He had to learn how to play very formalized songs in structures before he broke free and took the guitar to the next level. Like Wynton Marsalis’s jazz playing? Check out his classical tracks.

So maybe the next time someone asks me about what I’m doing with this blog, “chop wood,carry water” will be my answer.