Speaking of this creative life? - Sara Zarr

April 4, 2012

Speaking of this creative life?

Speaking of this creative life and all that comes with it, here?s some stuff that inspired and provoked thought for me this week:

If you?re familiar with the PBS series American Masters, you know how great it is (usually). If you aren?t, I encourage you to get familiar. This week, I saw two episodes I highly recommend to writers. One covered Margaret Mitchell and Gone with the Wind. Mitchell is a woman I didn?t know much about, and her story is fascinating. The other episode, Harper Lee: Hey, Boo, is a must-watch, in my opinion. It?s about Lee, her book, and the movie. I think the thing out of all of it that moved me most of all was learning the story of the friends who gave her the money to take a year off to write. (There?s also a lesson about artistic envy in the arc of her relationship with Capote.) You can watch both from the PBS site or app.

I liked this interview with Noel Gallagher about life after Oasis. Though I never was a big fan or got all of the hype, I appreciated hearing his perspective on those years now and the way he seems to hold status lightly. Which may be easier to do once you?ve achieved it, or may be more difficult, I don?t know.

On the subject of holding things lightly, Image Journal?s annual April Fool?s edition of the Image Update newsletter was a good reminder of 1) even spiritual and intellectual deep-thinkers are allowed to have a sense of humor, especially about themselves, and 2) how much fun the Glen Workshop is going to be. (And if you?re going or thinking about going, and nervous that it will all be too high-minded and full of uptight Christians, hopefully this eases those worries! It?ll be a good time.)

Re-listening to my interview with Antony John got me fired up to get on the stick with trying new things and stretching out that time between ?it?s an idea? and ?it?s a product?.

Lastly, it?s neat and inspiring when art generates more art. Last week, a high school senior sent me this video he made, based on Story of a Girl. It?s not your typical book trailer, more a genuine preview of an imagined movie. I thought he did a great job.

What?s been inspiring you lately?

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