In a SALON magazine interview, Amy Tan said, “I think I was pushed in a way to write this book (‘The Hundred Secret Senses’) by certain spirits in my life – the yin people. They’ve always been there, I wouldn’t say to help, but to kick me in the ass to write.
“I’m educated, I’m reasonably sane, and I know that this subject is fodder for ridicule. But ultimately, I have to write what I have to write about, including the question of life continuing beyond our ordinary senses.”
Are there benevolent ghosts, angels, fairies or Muses? I don’t know, but I’d like to think so.
But Tan’s candor about such spirit beings may, for many people, be “fodder for ridicule” or add fuel to the idea of the “crazy” artist.
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Well said, Douglas! I can’t tell you how often I run into the misconception that improving mental health (ie treating it via psychopharmacology) will take away the creative spark. Untreated illness impairs creativity and productivity. The insane artists we admire produced in spite of their illnesses not becaues of them. They are heroic for doing so but would have likely made wonderful art had they been fortunate enough to get treatment.
Rest assured (anyone who may have these fears) that no matter how sane and healthy you are, life will always provide enough tragedy, suffering, loss and pain. You can still use your creativity, great talent, and passion to transform these inevitable experiences into something meaningful and beautiful.
Great post — thanks for taking on the “creative people have to be crazy” myth head on! Thanks too for the quote and the links!
And Dr Rosemary makes a great point that we all have enough uphill battles in life to help us grow…both as people and as writers!
Thanks to both of you for your thoughtful comments. Here is a related perspective:
Musician Sting said, “Do I have to be in pain to write? I thought so, as most of my contemporaries did; you had to be the struggling artist, the tortured, painful, poetic wreck.
“I tried that for a while, and to a certain extent that was successful. I was ‘The King of Pain’ after all… And I’m thinking, well, I would just like to be happy,” he continues.
From my post Pain and suffering and developing creativity
http://talentdevelop.com/2810/pain-and-suffering-and-developing-creativity/
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