1. The special kind of arrogance required to be a writer. If I don't have it, I don't believe my work is worth reading and therefore I don't write anything. When it's in full flow words come out of my fingertips and know that what I am saying is fascinating and compelling. I imagine this is what being a man is like.
2. The people at work who oh and ah over my cross-stitch. It's easy to forget when I keep my nose to the fabric, thinking only of the next stitch, just how much I have done.
3. The fish that swim through the air in Mirrormask.
Interesting first comment. Sometimes I can feel the words coming from my fingertips too. I know that knowing. Thanks for putting it into words so clearly. You always do that so well!
ReplyDeleteThat's part of being an artist of any type, and also part of several professions. I beg to disagree only to a degree about the word arrogance. I feel it is more confidence. Arrogance goes beyond confidence. But to be truly an artist or a consumate professional, you must walk a few steps beyond confidence, so there is a slight degree of arrogance. But, it doesn't seem to be overbearing arrogance.
ReplyDeleteLOL! I don't know if it's what being a man is like (being one), but I loved the thought and image.
ReplyDeleteLong time reader and admirer and booster of your blog here. You're a living example of the gratitude for life we should all have!
Tom
Love the blog...will come back again!
ReplyDeleteHi Clare, first time my eyebrow has been raised reading your blog...."I imagine this is what being a man is like"..not all women (and men) would agree (- one hopes!).
ReplyDeletehey! i think what you're doing is great. and i agree with stella, writing everyday is a feat in itself. Have you heard of flying squirrels?
ReplyDeleteI hope I can put on my three beautiful things for the day that Clare looked at my artwork displayed on my blog.
ReplyDeleteIt's also easy to forget how my like writing cross-stitch is -- keeping your nose to the fabric (paper), thinking only of the next stitch (word)...
ReplyDeleteshould've said "how MUCH like writing"... cold fingers!!
ReplyDeleteI have long felt that when I think I know that what I'm writing is fascinating and compelling, it usually turns out not to have been.
ReplyDeletedid you really mean men in general, or were you digging at particular men ?
ReplyDeleteI was rather enjoying feeling as what I was writing was going to be worth reading. It wasn't a dig at anyone.
ReplyDeletewhat a great perspective and such a neat idea for a blog! i'm afraid many people wouldn't be able to think of 3 things each day.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with the "this must be what a man feels like" sentiment, but I didn't take the "fascinating and compelling" as a dig - I think that's a good thing. I feel like that sometimes too, although I've never been able to articulate the feeling quite as accurately.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think that if you have any cripplingly perfectionistic tendencies (along the lines of "nothing I write is good enough" - which has been a huge problem for me), you've got to take these moments of artistic arrogance when you get them. The trick is to not let yourself be governed by them. You've got to have a few moments where you think you're the greatest, most brilliant person on earth. Sometimes I think these moments are all that's keeping me going!
Hi Clare, despite the fact that it may have been considered non pc. I laughed out loud at your first BT. I didn't take it as a dig at men at all, I think they often do seem to have that air of just knowing they're right whereas women often seem to question themselves more.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about that confidence, I think of that feeling of being 'in the flow' it's just like you're operating from a higher place when you feel like that - like there's no DOUBT.
Hope I haven't added to the controversy. Keep blogging, I read it every day!
Sara
Great post
ReplyDeleteI alwys assumed that's what being a woman felt like ...shows how much I know!! :-)
If only more people could share.
free hugs and 3BT -we could make the world a different place.
Oh, another Neil flic - thanks for bringing that one to my attention.
ReplyDeletebeing a writer is the hardest thing to do ever.
ReplyDeleteyou wrote: "I imagine this is what being a man is like." HA! Probably.
ReplyDeleteOhmygosh! I loved Mirrormask! I don't know anyone else yet who's seen it. It was wonderfully Henson-y. I think he would've been proud. Frankly, I really liked the floating giants and the scene where the mechanical arms transform Helena into the princess while they sing "close to you." ... enough gushing. Good flick. Agreed on the cinematic beauties.
I also find the your 1st beautiful thing interesting, specifically comparing the feeling of competence to what a man feels. I don't agree nor disagree. It's just interesting.
ReplyDeleteLove the blog!
Nice first comment. Thanks!
ReplyDelete1. The man thing!! HA HA! Made me laugh out loud! Great!
ReplyDelete2. You made me want to pick up some new cross-stitching stuff....it's so relaxing. Maybe I'll pick it back up again...
Oh man, the fish! I LOVED the fish! Great concept for a blog! It reminds me of an article I once read about a 'happy journal' ie only writing things in your journal that make you happy... i have one but i don't write in it often enough. Great blog.
ReplyDeleteI've been visiting 3BT now and again since blogger.com featured it. This post rocks from the "this must be what it's like for a man" observation to the mention of "Mirrormask," a movie I love with all my heart. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteDont worry - you write marvellously well and I dont think you need arrogance to prove you are good at something - the work speaks for itself !
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh - that made me laugh out loud - really really hard. What a great insight into male confidence!!!
ReplyDeletePoint number one here so clearly expressed something I so often feel. Thank you...
ReplyDeleteI really love the simplicity of this blog. I think it has become my second beautiful thing of my day so far. And its only 11am.