I cannot describe – (although clearly I’ll have a shot at it!) – what it is like – not to play – or I guess more appropriately – when you can’t play.
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I’m not talking about an injury or about Golf – I’m talking about a blockage – I’m talking about the creative process.
I’m beginning to get a handle on mine – having listened to the amazing Elizabeth Gilbert – I wish it was slightly less intense -however -I’m very thankful that it is there at all.
The nearest analogy I can come up with is a writer who’s pen – for some reason or other – stops writing. They can see the ink in the barrel – there’s no malfunction with the ballpoint or nib – and yet – nothing comes out.
I imagine the writer looking at the pen – initially with curiosity, then frustration and then usually kinetic energy – shaking it and banging it on the desk. And then I imagine the pen splitting open and the ink exploding over the writer’s face – leaving them ridiculous with nothing to record the event.
When I don’t play – the ideas stay in my head – it’s as if – if they can’t get out one way – they’ll explode and create a new way out – it’s fucking bizarre – but actually kinda logical in a way.
I’ve worked out how I want to move forward and it involves further development of the themes I’ve been working on over the years. I have a lot of good reasons as to why this makes sense which I’ll write about at some point.
Here’s a development of Wendi’s G Minor theme – no tempo – just the first time I’ve played in 4 weeks – I think it’s sounding pretty cool. You can download the track by joining the mailing list using the widget below.
Image Credit: C Explosion by mary.streepy – Flickr
