Erin is a fellow artist & ENFP :) *fist bump* Thank you so much for sharing your process of creation. I appreciate how free-flowing your writing is. I hope other artists can resonate with your words, hesitant artists are inspired to create, and others share their processes to promote a dialogue.
In her words:
Erin: This creative process writing is throwing me for a loop. Basically how it comes about is something (topic, feeling, situation) will catch my attn and I'll ruminate over it. When I can't make heads or tails I start asking other people about it. I must say the 'negative' emotions have fueled my writing more than positive....though when something positive comes to light, I'm always fascinated those words or ideas came from me. I struggle to make sense out of the senseless.... Once I ruminate and ask I just write. I'll write phrases and if nothing else comes I'll leave it alone. A LOT of poetry comes in the shower. LOL I'll be humming along and then BAM! a phrase and my mind just starts playing w/ the words...much like magnetic poetry you might see on fridges. (I actually felt like someone was in my head when I started seeing those things released in the stores.) Some poems come out done. MOST are always up for revision. There have been times I've gone back to something I wrote years ago...and because I have new eyes I will re-write. Though I try to always save the original first so I can go back and look at the journey of my words.
Boonie: May I use this for my blog? And do you have sample writing or an image you'd like to use?
Erin: Now when I am prepping for a role or to sing....that is a more stressful process for me..because I feel responsible to give people a show and to MOVE them into thoughtful moments. I kinda get bitchy during those preparation times becuase I am so concerned with finding the right meaning behind the song or the correct motivation from a character. That's a lot of re reading lines and lyrics and talking out loud (while I'm alone)....making up different scenarios in my head as I go through each line...to see how I might react to it...that sort of thing.
Boonie: I love your process.
Erin: You can if you'd like. It's very incoherent. Kind of like my creative process. My favorite way to write a poem is when it starts to form in my dreams....I have literally been woken up from my sleep with cloud words....and it's not even ME pushing myself to write. I have often felt it was some other being. It's hard to explain. All in all I feel a great responsibility to tell the truth of the any situation I am exploring. Even if it hurts...even if it's joyful...always as truthful as I can be.
Now if you'd like me to try to edit this nonsense I can. If not feel free to post as is. LOL
Boonie: You're such an artist soul. I want to post this!
Erin: Feel free to do so. I am very much a free form person. I don't like being bound to grammar rules and such...I will if I have to. I see the purpose in them...but sometimes they also feel like a hindrance when I need to words and phrases to be fluid.
Boonie: Thank you
Erin: No problem. I have been thinking on it for a bit now. It's honestly just a very primordial reaction from inside...something I must do.
Feel free to post this poem if you'd like as well. It's one I'm proud of...
Love Letter
There is a love letter I cannot send~
It aches deep in the striations and contractions
of my muscles
Past the bones of my frame
Delving into the unknown
And unseen anchor…
Which fills me with hope.
It knocks on the door of my mind
More than I care to admit;
A love letter waiting to be opened
Wanting your hands to feel…
Waiting for your eyes
To recognize the words
Which form deep in my belly;
squeezing my heart
Whenever I think on your face.
There is a love letter
That I want to share …
But I’ve shared before;
I know the scorn and pain
of revealing too much
too soon.
I’ve given love letters I wanted to be real.
That burned when touched
And screamed when defiled.
I’ve learned of false love
When my words fell to the ground
Out of the mouth of those
Who did not understand.
I’ve trusted in the surface,
Far too much.
Doubting the quiet love that was growing like a seed
Under earth and clay; making roots and patiently calculating
The moment to break free into heat and light.
There is a love letter I cannot send~
I open it from time to time
Driving down the road
Or listening to a song…
I remember you;
How I felt seeing you in the same room.
I did not recognize love quietly
Whispering
The familiarity of your heart and soul;
The one I knew before I understood…
The one I knew I could never get over, The one I never wanted to hurt…
I could not make the words form in my mouth
To declare
All of my fear, my want, my adoration for you.
There is a love letter I cannot send~
I close the envelope time and again
File it beyond conscious reckoning
Until it will no longer allow itself
To hide from my view.
Lately the letter keeps
Creeping up,
Witnessing urgently….
The love letter has forever been you.
© Erin Leigh Stump October 28, 2012
