Comments on: Creative Fuel http://therumpus.net/2012/06/creative-fuel/ Books, Music, Movies, Art, Politics, Sex, Other Thu, 23 May 2013 07:12:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Peter http://therumpus.net/2012/06/creative-fuel/comment-page-1/#comment-337133 Peter Thu, 14 Jun 2012 03:51:20 +0000 http://therumpus.net/?p=102073#comment-337133 As a writer willing to try anything and everything in the name of creativity, I enjoyed this article lots. Thanks.

]]> By: betsy http://therumpus.net/2012/06/creative-fuel/comment-page-1/#comment-336119 betsy Mon, 11 Jun 2012 19:07:11 +0000 http://therumpus.net/?p=102073#comment-336119 brian – i’m happy to hear i misread. i really enjoyed your essay. thank you!

]]> By: Brian Platzer http://therumpus.net/2012/06/creative-fuel/comment-page-1/#comment-336087 Brian Platzer Mon, 11 Jun 2012 18:03:24 +0000 http://therumpus.net/?p=102073#comment-336087 Harry,

It’s one of my favorites.
—
Robin,

Exactly right!
—
Brian,

I love that essay.
—
Betsy,

Misread! My wife is the most wonderful, important part of my life!
—
Gordon,

Macallan 18 when I can afford it…

Gratefully to all,
Brian Platzer

]]> By: betsy http://therumpus.net/2012/06/creative-fuel/comment-page-1/#comment-336073 betsy Mon, 11 Jun 2012 17:16:56 +0000 http://therumpus.net/?p=102073#comment-336073 “You can have both,” she said. “There’s no reason I can’t do my thing now and you do yours later. We have our whole lives together.” Though I wasn’t sure what that meant, either.

“Studies show that travel is one way to enhance creativity,” Lehrer writes, “because it encourages thinking outside of your normal self.”

My heart was beating hard—too hard—so I took a deep breath and tried to focus on everything I had.”

wait. is this a veiled revelation about you wanting to leave your wife? i really liked the article but i feel like i’ve been let in on something that isn’t any of my business.

]]> By: Robin Martin http://therumpus.net/2012/06/creative-fuel/comment-page-1/#comment-336036 Robin Martin Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:46:34 +0000 http://therumpus.net/?p=102073#comment-336036 “Unfortunately, I’m a bit of a serious man. I teach middle school English. I’ve got a serious wife. We recently bought a serious house. I couldn’t go around buying and trying an assortment of street drugs.”
Oh, man, I hear that. I do everything I can to live vicariously, and find guilt by association, which too often feels like posing but will have to suffice.

]]> By: Harry http://therumpus.net/2012/06/creative-fuel/comment-page-1/#comment-335632 Harry Sun, 10 Jun 2012 18:32:04 +0000 http://therumpus.net/?p=102073#comment-335632 Your mention of Bob Dylan brought to mind “Ballad Of A Thin Man”.

]]> By: Gordon http://therumpus.net/2012/06/creative-fuel/comment-page-1/#comment-334924 Gordon Sat, 09 Jun 2012 03:59:23 +0000 http://therumpus.net/?p=102073#comment-334924 To toss out a personal anecdote, a couple fingers of single malt scotch seems to help me open the flood gates and make the connections that I may not have made while sober. Whether that’s coincidental, placebo affect, or alcoholism, I’m not sure; but I’m generally pleased with the results. Hell, it may just be due to the free[ing?] association that comes along with the incredible nose (never mind taste/booze) of Lagavulin 16.

]]> By: Brian http://therumpus.net/2012/06/creative-fuel/comment-page-1/#comment-334824 Brian Fri, 08 Jun 2012 23:27:54 +0000 http://therumpus.net/?p=102073#comment-334824 When I think about drug use for creativity vs. staying sober, I think of Emerson’s essay The Poet. He says, in essence, that a real poet must be stone cold sober and “drink water from a wooden bowl.”

I take notes while I’m at the bar, at a coffee shop, etc. But the real work of creating a piece of art I’m happy with: that’s work, and I work best with a clear mind. Meditation helps.

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