Dear Friends,
I cannot stress enough, how connected all art is for me, in particular: music, dance, and literature.
More often than not, my art begins with a bud of inspiration from music. Certain songs just have an automatic, almost visceral response from my body that elicits feelings so strong, they demand to be made whole. Initially, my body shuts down as the music soars through, becoming part of me. Every hair buzzes, as I radiate the notes from my very core to a song which seems to play from within. In my inner eye, without much thought, I see a story that plays perfectly to its new soundtrack.
Here, the story changes with the music, and not the other way round. Sometimes I am the protagonist, other times only a bystander. Each time, however, I am entirely invested in the outcome. At this point, I am likely to start dancing. The sound within me now comes without, searching for some immediate expression. No matter the genre, I'll dance.
After playing the song a good five times or so, I start to feel like I've sufficiently embodied the spirit of the piece. It's that spirit that help me keep the mood as I write. Sometimes, I'll play the song over and over again until I'm done. And when I'm through, I'll read over it with the same track, to see if what I've written compliments what I feel. Serious editing takes place much later.
Many say books are amazing because they give you the rare opportunity to live life much more than once. I say the same for a good song, a good dance, a good performance.
Stay inspired,
Cathy.
