I'm always comforted by how George Eliot thought Middlemarch would be an utter failure. Writers often suck at evaluating their own art. Personally, I love everything you write, Mason! I hope you (and Uno) have a restorative break.
Yes, I love reading about George Eliot's notably tortured process, the poor thing! Thanks so much for the kind words and wishing you a restorative break as well!
Thank you for this one, Mason! I truly laughed out loud about your response to the potential letter: "I mean, if I received a letter like the one Sally Mann describes, I would burn it, tell no one, and pray that the Harvard professor never contact me again." Right on!
From an airy piece in today's Washington Post about artists in their old age --
"This is why in her 70s, Louise Nevelson described her creative life in terms that made her sound like an industrious cobbler. 'An artist goes to the studio to work. Not when the spirit moves you. You go every day and work. Just plain work … .[Then] the tools are put away at night, and the studio is swept down, and the things you want for tomorrow morning are placed out.'"
Hi, really insecure person here. Thanks for this validation. It's okay to be insecure, right? We are sensitive artists and our sensitivity is a gift, isn't it. Defo having a look into this book!
p.s. is it stocked in the UK or anywhere in Europe? Just not a huge fan of ordering very far from the small insular corner of the world I live in (hehe)
This looks so amazingly perfect for me right now!!!!! Experimenting with new forms and really struggling to shut the world out. I think I'm frightened about becoming a crazy cat lady x
Hi Mason. Sorry, just got around to reading your article. I love your editorial assistant. He brightened my day. Merry Christmas and I look forward to more articles next year. Thank you for pushing through your own fears and doubts and putting out such fabulous encouragement.
Merry Christmas, Cali! Appreciate the kind note and of course I'll pass along your holiday greetings to Uno! Wishing you a restful and restorative holiday season.
Insecurity could be in certain cases, a form of humility. Barreling through could cause blind spots and be seen with a lack of connectedness and empathy for readers.
Hope flowers out of the dark soil of insecurity, thank you!
Interesting to hear of your book Women at work, just ordered it, as my focus lately has been about just that! around myself as a songwriter and my life, wondering if I 'dare' 'imposter syndrome talking' lol, create a paid blog - anyhow its inspired me that maybe others would be interested, so thank you, Sally
Thank you! Yet again, you've reached into my thoughts and languaged them into the world where I could see and hear them more clearly. Beautifully written and so timely as we head into the New Year with all that there is to consider. Have a wonderful break!
I'm always comforted by how George Eliot thought Middlemarch would be an utter failure. Writers often suck at evaluating their own art. Personally, I love everything you write, Mason! I hope you (and Uno) have a restorative break.
Yes, I love reading about George Eliot's notably tortured process, the poor thing! Thanks so much for the kind words and wishing you a restorative break as well!
Thanks for your inspiring thoughts. You have a way of lifting me out of a slump through your writings. It's a true gift.
Have a glorious holiday and my best to Uno, who is adorable 🥰
Thank you, that means a lot! Uno says hi!
Thank you for this one, Mason! I truly laughed out loud about your response to the potential letter: "I mean, if I received a letter like the one Sally Mann describes, I would burn it, tell no one, and pray that the Harvard professor never contact me again." Right on!
🔥🔥🔥
From an airy piece in today's Washington Post about artists in their old age --
"This is why in her 70s, Louise Nevelson described her creative life in terms that made her sound like an industrious cobbler. 'An artist goes to the studio to work. Not when the spirit moves you. You go every day and work. Just plain work … .[Then] the tools are put away at night, and the studio is swept down, and the things you want for tomorrow morning are placed out.'"
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/12/06/artists-old-age-hockney-bourgeois-katz/
Thanks for this link — I very much appreciate and endorse Nevelson's approach!
Hi, really insecure person here. Thanks for this validation. It's okay to be insecure, right? We are sensitive artists and our sensitivity is a gift, isn't it. Defo having a look into this book!
I think it is OK! I mean, who really wants to consume writing/art from confident, secure people?? Not me...
p.s. is it stocked in the UK or anywhere in Europe? Just not a huge fan of ordering very far from the small insular corner of the world I live in (hehe)
Yes, you can find links to order the UK edition from various booksellers here:
https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/mason-currey/daily-rituals/9781529059960
https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/mason-currey/daily-rituals-women-at-work/9781509852857
If you do end up reading them, hope you enjoy!
This looks so amazingly perfect for me right now!!!!! Experimenting with new forms and really struggling to shut the world out. I think I'm frightened about becoming a crazy cat lady x
Waterstones, for one --
https://www.waterstones.com/books/search/term/mason+currey
Thanks Uno for your committed & tireless work 🎁🦴
Thanks so much for this illuminating portrait of Mann's creative process--I really enjoyed it.
Thanks for the kind note!
Hi Mason. Sorry, just got around to reading your article. I love your editorial assistant. He brightened my day. Merry Christmas and I look forward to more articles next year. Thank you for pushing through your own fears and doubts and putting out such fabulous encouragement.
Merry Christmas, Cali! Appreciate the kind note and of course I'll pass along your holiday greetings to Uno! Wishing you a restful and restorative holiday season.
Uno!!! Please tell him he did a superb job with this issue.
Insecurity could be in certain cases, a form of humility. Barreling through could cause blind spots and be seen with a lack of connectedness and empathy for readers.
Hope flowers out of the dark soil of insecurity, thank you!
Yes! I also just ran across this somewhat related quote, from Miles Davis: "If you're not nervous, you're not paying attention."
Interesting to hear of your book Women at work, just ordered it, as my focus lately has been about just that! around myself as a songwriter and my life, wondering if I 'dare' 'imposter syndrome talking' lol, create a paid blog - anyhow its inspired me that maybe others would be interested, so thank you, Sally
I thoroughly loved this post. Thank you so much for sharing!
Ripple On!!!
Thanks, Steve, much appreciated
Looks like several years of lectures have been published, but not Sally Mann's --
https://www.hup.harvard.edu/collection.php?cpk=1032
Thanks so much for sharing this fantastic insight, I definitely relate. This was exactly what I needed to hear today!
Thank you. This certainly rings true for me.
Thank you! Yet again, you've reached into my thoughts and languaged them into the world where I could see and hear them more clearly. Beautifully written and so timely as we head into the New Year with all that there is to consider. Have a wonderful break!
Thank you for the kind words, that means a lot!