I sit with my morning pages every morning, making with the blah blah of whiny whatevers. Then at some point, 10 minutes, 20 or 42 I get that itch. Time to work on the real work - the next step in the next novel. "Ignore me at your peril," it whispers.
This was so enlightening. And explained a lot, and let me off my hook of ‘ oh, you never follow through’. My head bursts with itchy ideas sometimes. Like you, I jot them, and I like your line ‘they expire’. I told myself that was bad, lazy, etc etc. Thank you as always, a good read.
Great essay! That itch is always triggered in me by my being around or hanging out with other creative minds - I’m starting to make more notes so I don’t lose the twiglets!
Hi Danny. Oh, yes, that itch is a regular part of my day and frequently bring ideas that wake me from a dead sleep! (So frustrating to be clever only AFTER falling asleep!). Old movies bring on the itch, especially looking at the gowns worn by actresses like Joan Crawford. They sweep into a room, I pause them and sketch. I'm a landscape artist, so don't even get me started of what I sketch when watching videos that are filmed in the villages of the Cotswolds in England!!!
I think I've had somewhat of a similar feeling all my life, just not around art. I've always wanted to do things differently and get restless just sitting around. When I was younger that meant trying new physical activities. As I've gotten older it's more about trying different artistic things, albeit badly. My itch is just endless curiosity, I think. It has lead me to SBS and I haven't been this engaged in something in quite a while.
First off, I really like the illustration of twiglet- the colors, line qualities and the general gesture is just so interesting!
I have begun a series of acrylic paint portraits because I kept having visions of it. Ive done 6 so far- small ones, and I am not finished as I want to do more. Im doing them either monochrome of with complimentary colors…. Im really enjoying it. The itch analogy is perfect for how i was feeling. Trying to paint totally differently than how i do watercolor or colored pencil, with varying results. Great essay, again!
I usually get the itch around 3 am. Sometimes I have to get up and scratch it, sometimes it just floats around for days until I sit down and play. Thanks for capturing that feeling!
Decades ago, as a writer who itched to be writing novels, I had a chance to interview the great Jane Smiley. I asked her if she ever just wanted to write without knowing WHAT she wanted to write. I was seeking some kind of validation for my own itchy-but-plotless situation, but I didn’t get it that day. She told me she couldn’t imagine why a person would want to write if they didn’t know what they wanted to write about.
But yes -- I wanted to write fiction because I wanted to create the feeling I got from reading good fiction. So thankyou thankyou thankyou for describing this so well. It’s really important for people to honor and bless the itch.
I’m surprised by Jane’s answer. I don’t believe that she became a writer just because she wanted to write specific things. Like all of us, I’m sure she just wanted to sit down and make something. Thats the itch.
I love this! My process is not the same as yours Danny but I'm definitely in the same neighbourhood!
I love when I get these Friday posts as they always relight my inner self after a week of general living. I do get an itch and it tends to be the itchiest when talking to other creative people as my mind fires off all sorts of ideas . Thanks Danny.
I just started „art“ as a hobby, whatever that means. Sometimes I sketch, sometimes I write, sometimes I cook. But I have had troubles starting and make my art visible to others, because a lot of the things I start feel unfinished or, as you described it, are not even proper ideas yet. Your article exactly describes the state I’m currently stuck in and really hits the spot: I should just surrender to the feeling of inspiration and not focus on knowing where to end! Thanks for your words of encouragement.
It doesn’t sound like you’re stuck at all. Focus on the itch and the making. Not on whether others can understand it. That part will come — or not. It’s secondary.
When I was a little girl, I woke up with little itchy bites on my hands. My mom said they were spider bites. Years later when I get those “itchy” feelings to create, I attribute it to a spidey-sense from all those years ago. Spiders, after all, are tiny artists!
Oh yes! An itch, a feeling of restlessness that I just can’t shake until I sit & create!😁
I sit with my morning pages every morning, making with the blah blah of whiny whatevers. Then at some point, 10 minutes, 20 or 42 I get that itch. Time to work on the real work - the next step in the next novel. "Ignore me at your peril," it whispers.
This was so enlightening. And explained a lot, and let me off my hook of ‘ oh, you never follow through’. My head bursts with itchy ideas sometimes. Like you, I jot them, and I like your line ‘they expire’. I told myself that was bad, lazy, etc etc. Thank you as always, a good read.
Great essay! That itch is always triggered in me by my being around or hanging out with other creative minds - I’m starting to make more notes so I don’t lose the twiglets!
An itch, a twitch, must flip the switch.
Let in the light.
Release the kite.
Follow its tail, along a trail.
Skip and dance down the path.
Spy the cat in the hat, singing mice and a magic flying mat.
Come back home and what ya got?
Some happy time, ideas to mine, and an itch that got twitched by flipping the switch.
Hi Danny. Oh, yes, that itch is a regular part of my day and frequently bring ideas that wake me from a dead sleep! (So frustrating to be clever only AFTER falling asleep!). Old movies bring on the itch, especially looking at the gowns worn by actresses like Joan Crawford. They sweep into a room, I pause them and sketch. I'm a landscape artist, so don't even get me started of what I sketch when watching videos that are filmed in the villages of the Cotswolds in England!!!
I think I've had somewhat of a similar feeling all my life, just not around art. I've always wanted to do things differently and get restless just sitting around. When I was younger that meant trying new physical activities. As I've gotten older it's more about trying different artistic things, albeit badly. My itch is just endless curiosity, I think. It has lead me to SBS and I haven't been this engaged in something in quite a while.
I’m so glad our community helps!
First off, I really like the illustration of twiglet- the colors, line qualities and the general gesture is just so interesting!
I have begun a series of acrylic paint portraits because I kept having visions of it. Ive done 6 so far- small ones, and I am not finished as I want to do more. Im doing them either monochrome of with complimentary colors…. Im really enjoying it. The itch analogy is perfect for how i was feeling. Trying to paint totally differently than how i do watercolor or colored pencil, with varying results. Great essay, again!
Thanks for your kind comment! I haven’t shown it to Twiggy yet. She may not take it as a compliment.
Lol but it is SO her. 😆 so cute, so puggy, so twiggy
I usually get the itch around 3 am. Sometimes I have to get up and scratch it, sometimes it just floats around for days until I sit down and play. Thanks for capturing that feeling!
Keep a sketchbook by your bed!
It is like a itch! Love this essay.
Decades ago, as a writer who itched to be writing novels, I had a chance to interview the great Jane Smiley. I asked her if she ever just wanted to write without knowing WHAT she wanted to write. I was seeking some kind of validation for my own itchy-but-plotless situation, but I didn’t get it that day. She told me she couldn’t imagine why a person would want to write if they didn’t know what they wanted to write about.
But yes -- I wanted to write fiction because I wanted to create the feeling I got from reading good fiction. So thankyou thankyou thankyou for describing this so well. It’s really important for people to honor and bless the itch.
I’m surprised by Jane’s answer. I don’t believe that she became a writer just because she wanted to write specific things. Like all of us, I’m sure she just wanted to sit down and make something. Thats the itch.
I love this! My process is not the same as yours Danny but I'm definitely in the same neighbourhood!
I love when I get these Friday posts as they always relight my inner self after a week of general living. I do get an itch and it tends to be the itchiest when talking to other creative people as my mind fires off all sorts of ideas . Thanks Danny.
I’m so glad!
I just started „art“ as a hobby, whatever that means. Sometimes I sketch, sometimes I write, sometimes I cook. But I have had troubles starting and make my art visible to others, because a lot of the things I start feel unfinished or, as you described it, are not even proper ideas yet. Your article exactly describes the state I’m currently stuck in and really hits the spot: I should just surrender to the feeling of inspiration and not focus on knowing where to end! Thanks for your words of encouragement.
It doesn’t sound like you’re stuck at all. Focus on the itch and the making. Not on whether others can understand it. That part will come — or not. It’s secondary.
Hi. I find that as I work on a piece, I keep on until itl tells me it is finished.
There is always a new sheet of paper.
And it's impossible to make the same thing twice. Each one has a unique voice. Enjoy!
Sound like a perfect collaboration!
When I was a little girl, I woke up with little itchy bites on my hands. My mom said they were spider bites. Years later when I get those “itchy” feelings to create, I attribute it to a spidey-sense from all those years ago. Spiders, after all, are tiny artists!
They are weavers and engineers! Like Charlotte and her web.