pays me on time.
- Ask your artist to list any and all fears about the
projected piece of work and/or anyone connected to
it. Again, these fears can be as dumb as any two-
year-old’s. It does not matter that they are groundless
to your adult’s eye. What matters it that they are big
scary monsters to your artist.
Some examples: I’m afraid the work will be rotten
and I won’t know it.... I’m afraid the work will be
good and they won’t know it.... I’m afraid all my
ideas are hackneyed and outdated.... I’m afraid my
ideas are ahead of their time.... I’m afraid I’ll
starve.... I’m afraid I’ll never finish.... I’m afraid I’ll
never start.... I’m afraid I will be embarrassed (I’m
already embarrassed).... The list goes on.
- Ask yourself if that is all. Have you left out any itsy
fear? Have you suppressed any “stupid” anger? Get
it on the page.
- Ask yourself what you stand to gain by not doing
this piece of work.
Some examples: If I don’t write the piece, no one
can hate it.... If I don’t write the piece, my jerk editor
will worry.... If I don’t paint, sculpt, act, sing, dance,
I can criticize others, knowing I could do better.
Music is your own experience, your
thoughts, your wisdom. If you don’t
live it, it won’t come out your horn.
CHARLIE PARKER
