My Novel Freshman Experience, Part Eight...Freedom

So it turns out I cared more about grades than I thought.  I got an A on my first test and I will confess, I felt a spurt of glee. So yes, I guess I care.  But I do hope that coming back to grades after a few decades means that while I might enjoy an A, I appreciate even more that I learned a lot.  Some of the clay brands I might need to look up in the future, but I understand the difference between slip, plastic clay, leather hard and bone dry clay.  It's all greenware, but it's very different.  And you know, I do love the idea different but the same.

So we're working on our coil pot.  My idea got approved, though I need to have more emphasis on different shapes, so one of my ovals became a rectangle.  We talked about underglazes and textures.  I already experimented with an acorn texture that gave me glee, and I have an idea for the other half I can't wait to try.

I talked in my last school blog about INTENT when I'm working on a book, or a pot.  Today, as we went through our project ideas in class, I thought about how there was more to writing/pottery than intent.  Both art and books require a sense of IMAGINATION.  And today's sketch was like a synopsis I might send to an editor.  It's the basic idea for what I want to do...the end product of my intent and imagination.  But I know as I begin to work I want the FREEDOM to change direction...to see that something's not working and try another path.  Or to see that something that does work, but is too predictable and change directions...choose the road less traveled.

I love that PH, my instructor, seems to honor that idea of freedom.  As he listened to people's project ideas, he made sure they stayed on point, and gave a ton of helpful suggestions, but also gave everyone a lot of freedom with what they wanted to do.

In both my writing and my pottery (or any of the crafts I pursue) I approach them with the knowledge that once I set it free, what a reader/viewer sees is totally independent of anything I've done.  And while I've just acknowledged that I'm hoping for a good grade, I'll also admit that I know that's not what matters the most.  What matters is following through on my vision.  

I'm a true novice with ceramics—in some ways I feel as if I'm back at the beginning of my writing career.  I know what I want to accomplish, but I may not have the experience and breadth of knowledge to carry it out flawlessly.  That won't stop me from trying.  And I hope that as I grow in the ceramic arts, people will see that growth in a tangible way.  Just as if you pick up one of my early books, like I Waxed My Legs for This? you'll see the humor and my joy at writing, but when you pick up a more recent book like Hold Her Heart, you'll see my skill at execution has grown.  I hope you enjoy both, but if you think my writing has never changed and grown...well, I'd be doing something wrong. LOL

Oh, and if you pick up Just One Thing, I hope you see both my growth as a writer, but also my love of crafts.  I've wanted to learn pottery for a very long time and that longing is very much present in the story (when a reader asked me if I was a potter...I felt so gleeful that I'd done those scenes alright).  That's the thing about writing, it allows me to live out my dreams and hopefully take the reader along for the journey.

Holly

PS.

If you've missed any Novel Experience posts, you can find them here...
Part Seven, Part Six, Part Five, Part Four, Part Three, Part Two, Part One

My Novel Freshman Experience, Part Seven...Intent

Took my first test in—mumble, mumble, mumble—a lot of years.  I'll let you know how I did. I think I misread one question, but got the bonus question (clay is Hydrous Silicate of Alumina) so I think I'm good.  We're starting a new assignment and I've been thinking.  (Yes, that's as dangerous as you might imagine.)

When I write a book, I tend to have a purpose behind it...a story I want to tell.  There's an intent as I work to translate that idea into something tangible that I can share with readers.  There are themes I touch on over and over again.  Love, Family, Friendship.  More specifically the idea that families are made, not necessarily born.  That differences can make someone special.  

But here's the thing, after I finish a book—after I have taken my intent and idea and turned them into a story—my part's over.  I turn the book over to readers and they might not ever notice my intent.  They might see something totally different in it.  

And that's okay.

I had an English teacher back in the day who used to say things like, "The author intended..."  I call BS.  Seriously.  Unless the author left a detailed diary that outlined their purpose and intent in that book, then she couldn't honestly say what they wanted to say.  Only what she took from the book, what she heard, as she read it.  And her impression was totally legitimate, but maybe I took something categorically different from the story.  Each of our interpretations is as legitimate as the author's intention when they wrote the book.

As a writer, when I let a story go, I give it to you to do with as you please.  You might hear something totally different than I was trying to say...and that's okay.

I've been thinking about that idea of intent...and letting go.  Our next project in class is a coil pot.  It needs to be asymmetrical. We're told to think one form with two halves that are opposite, positive vs. negative, space and contrast.  That idea of women and nature brought me to the idea of yin and yang, and X and Y chromosomes, and...  Well, I've landed on an idea.  I don't know if I have the technical skill to bring what I envision to the clay and even if I do manage it, I don't know that you, as an observer, would see what my intent was.  Again that's okay.  

I think there's so much about pottery, and art in general, that relates to writing.  They all take an inner vision and turning into something tangible...they all are about finding someone finding their story and sharing it with intention.  Even the most simple ceramic forms can have a story to them.  A plate isn't just a disc to serve food on, though that's one definition.  It's something you serve a family with.  That plate can be a symbol of family—of home and hearth.  That's a message I enjoy.

I went down to the Erie Art Museum this week with all these thoughts buzzing through my head.  As I looked at the art, I tried to imagine what the artist's intent was, what story they were trying to tell...and then tried to decide what my view of each piece was, what I heard when I looked at it.  The glass exhibit is so cool...if you're nearby, go down and visit.  If you're not in the area,  a few of my favorites are here.  I bet what you take from each one is different than what I take...and that's okay! 

More on my project soon!

Holly

Laura Beth Konopinski

Elizabeth Fortunato

John Sharvin

And no trip to the museum is complete without a visit to Glass Growers.  Of course, I had to admire the pottery!

Speaking of art...I found an old book by a favorite author.  I'd never read it and got it home...well, you can read about it here.  I took all the pictures in the book and antiqued them.  I'm not sure they qualify as art, but I'm proud of them and the story that poor book inspired.

PPS.
If you've missed any Novel Experience posts, you can find them here...
Part Six, Part Five, Part Four, Part Three, Part Two, Part One