Isn’t all art about interiority, the artist expressing theirs in what they create? This, then, is why creative work, while incredibly nourishing to the artist, thrives even more with an audience. I share my soul, and my interiority when I write, and by reading (which is a kind of witnessing), you see me. And, wanting to be seen, and acknowledged, is such an important part of being human. Is only acknowledged work, work? What advice do you have for someone whose work is largely unacknowledged?
When I first heard the word interiority, I wondered what it meant. I read it a different way though. I'd been taught as a writer to show not tell. I viewed or observed the idea of interiority as a 'telling' of the feelings of, say, the protagonist. Not showing by her/his actions. Did I read it wrong, Priya? Your observations will be appreciated.
Hello, Jeanine! From what I understand, interiority in writing is a way of making meaning by the character based on how they relate to the world, their experiences, etc.
In a broader sense, I think of art making as a way of showing my interiority. I would love to hear your thoughts on some of these questions, Jeanine! Thanks!
I dearly love my editor (of my 2 fiction books). I write thrillers and apparently around 70k words is 'the norm.' On book 1 in my trilogy, I'd written a whopping 100k. She had me trim down 30k (yes--I did cry). But it made for a meaner, cleaner read, and readers commented on how they read it quickly, thanks to the expert eye of my editor. But she'd said to have little backstory -- and to show not tell. Every time I'd have inner thoughts on my protagonist, she'd mark it. I showed her emotions through her movements, more or less, but of course, some things needed to be told. That book came out 2018, so maybe interiority gained more momentum since then. Book 2 came our 2020. Book 3, taking a backseat right now to my Substack!
a) the artist wants it that way so we have to respect artist's desire
b) the artist doesn't know how to make the work acknowledgeable so the advice is to open a substack account - sooner or later it will be acknowledged.
2. i never ever heard of any art form, any, ever, that is not inspired from life. even the most abstract science fiction is inspired from life. does longer time dedicated to creation helps? possible but not in all cases. society the way it is today changed people and some people are copping better when are under pressure of deadlines and time restriction
I love this post and this conversation Priya, thanks for starting it. My understanding of Creative NonFiction is that you need to Show and to Tell. (Phillip Lopate's book discusses this at length: To Show and to Tell: The Craft of Literary Nonfiction)
1. And perhaps showing and telling is needed for a narrator's interiority as well.
I also LOVE the word interiority, and the writing that most appeals to me is the writing that reveals both the character's interiority in addition to the external circumstances, including plot, narrative arc, character development, lyrical sentences, conflict in story, scene, setting a reader in time and place, beginnings and desire, structure and scaffolding, description and details, juxtaposition, rhythm, etc. etc. All the aspects of craft we get to play with here on Substack😁
And 2. "Does it make the art richer? Does it imbue it with a scarcity mindset? Or, is that how art is made, taking what we learn from living other experiences and bringing it to the crucible of threshold/liminal times? Do we always benefit from having more time to do creative work?"
Who knows? and maybe it's a case by case basis😁 hard to generalize, but I'd love to read a post of yours where you discuss this with a specific example 😁
I wonder if it is only a question of time. For example, I cherish the silence of predawn when it feels like the entire city is sleeping. But I can also write sitting on a bench inside a crowded, noisy métro station. What if I lived in the countryside where silence would not be so scarce? The hour that I wrote would matter less. The synocpation of creation would change. But I do believe in any event that the mind is constantly grinding, churning, chewing, contemplating what we see around us, what we hear, who we hear (including whatever narrative is playing in our own heads at any given hour, in any given place or series of circumstances). Is there an optimal place or time? No, I don't think so. Having time and space in the head to allow the expanse of the imagination is important, yes, but if something needs to come out, it will come out.
Jaap, I totally agree that something that wants to be born will exert pressure. But I also think, it is quick to disappear if not given time and attention. Thank you for your comment!
Art needs a recipient. Without a recipient, art does not exist, I believe, which does not mean we have to share our work. It can be only for you, and that's OK, too. Art needs an audience, regardless of whether it is acknowledged, loved or hated.
Art imitates life, or as Oscar Wilde proposed, art is anti-mimesis, life imitates art, i.e. through art, we learn to appreciate life.
// As in an example posited by Wilde, although there has been fog in London for centuries, one notices the beauty and wonder of the fog because "poets and painters have taught the loveliness of such effects...They did not exist till Art had invented them." //
Alexander, thank you, this was such a great comment! I think there’s some completion/closing of a circle that happens when the artist’s creation meets it’s audience.
When I first heard the word interiority, I wondered what it meant. I read it a different way though. I'd been taught as a writer to show not tell. I viewed or observed the idea of interiority as a 'telling' of the feelings of, say, the protagonist. Not showing by her/his actions. Did I read it wrong, Priya? Your observations will be appreciated.
Hello, Jeanine! From what I understand, interiority in writing is a way of making meaning by the character based on how they relate to the world, their experiences, etc.
In a broader sense, I think of art making as a way of showing my interiority. I would love to hear your thoughts on some of these questions, Jeanine! Thanks!
I dearly love my editor (of my 2 fiction books). I write thrillers and apparently around 70k words is 'the norm.' On book 1 in my trilogy, I'd written a whopping 100k. She had me trim down 30k (yes--I did cry). But it made for a meaner, cleaner read, and readers commented on how they read it quickly, thanks to the expert eye of my editor. But she'd said to have little backstory -- and to show not tell. Every time I'd have inner thoughts on my protagonist, she'd mark it. I showed her emotions through her movements, more or less, but of course, some things needed to be told. That book came out 2018, so maybe interiority gained more momentum since then. Book 2 came our 2020. Book 3, taking a backseat right now to my Substack!
Book 3! Thats awesome! 👏
Thank you!
1. why is the artist's work unacknowledged?
a) the artist wants it that way so we have to respect artist's desire
b) the artist doesn't know how to make the work acknowledgeable so the advice is to open a substack account - sooner or later it will be acknowledged.
2. i never ever heard of any art form, any, ever, that is not inspired from life. even the most abstract science fiction is inspired from life. does longer time dedicated to creation helps? possible but not in all cases. society the way it is today changed people and some people are copping better when are under pressure of deadlines and time restriction
Perfectlight, thank you! I agree that more time doesn’t always mean better work. And 1b! 😂
I love this post and this conversation Priya, thanks for starting it. My understanding of Creative NonFiction is that you need to Show and to Tell. (Phillip Lopate's book discusses this at length: To Show and to Tell: The Craft of Literary Nonfiction)
1. And perhaps showing and telling is needed for a narrator's interiority as well.
I also LOVE the word interiority, and the writing that most appeals to me is the writing that reveals both the character's interiority in addition to the external circumstances, including plot, narrative arc, character development, lyrical sentences, conflict in story, scene, setting a reader in time and place, beginnings and desire, structure and scaffolding, description and details, juxtaposition, rhythm, etc. etc. All the aspects of craft we get to play with here on Substack😁
And 2. "Does it make the art richer? Does it imbue it with a scarcity mindset? Or, is that how art is made, taking what we learn from living other experiences and bringing it to the crucible of threshold/liminal times? Do we always benefit from having more time to do creative work?"
Who knows? and maybe it's a case by case basis😁 hard to generalize, but I'd love to read a post of yours where you discuss this with a specific example 😁
Thanks, Camilla! I appreciate your sharing! You’re right, it would be great to see this with specific examples.
I wonder if it is only a question of time. For example, I cherish the silence of predawn when it feels like the entire city is sleeping. But I can also write sitting on a bench inside a crowded, noisy métro station. What if I lived in the countryside where silence would not be so scarce? The hour that I wrote would matter less. The synocpation of creation would change. But I do believe in any event that the mind is constantly grinding, churning, chewing, contemplating what we see around us, what we hear, who we hear (including whatever narrative is playing in our own heads at any given hour, in any given place or series of circumstances). Is there an optimal place or time? No, I don't think so. Having time and space in the head to allow the expanse of the imagination is important, yes, but if something needs to come out, it will come out.
Jaap, I totally agree that something that wants to be born will exert pressure. But I also think, it is quick to disappear if not given time and attention. Thank you for your comment!
Art needs a recipient. Without a recipient, art does not exist, I believe, which does not mean we have to share our work. It can be only for you, and that's OK, too. Art needs an audience, regardless of whether it is acknowledged, loved or hated.
Art imitates life, or as Oscar Wilde proposed, art is anti-mimesis, life imitates art, i.e. through art, we learn to appreciate life.
// As in an example posited by Wilde, although there has been fog in London for centuries, one notices the beauty and wonder of the fog because "poets and painters have taught the loveliness of such effects...They did not exist till Art had invented them." //
Alexander, thank you, this was such a great comment! I think there’s some completion/closing of a circle that happens when the artist’s creation meets it’s audience.