Like a Little Kid!

Joyce Carol Oates - what a woman! She has the spark of a child but the writing style of a professional. Here's a bit about her and her book, The Faith of a Writer, that I really loved.

1) Art originates in play

Play is the creation of a whole new and different reality! Art is the same way :) Art gives us the opportunity to be child-like again and free!

2) Desire to create something DIFFERENT and REBELLIOUS

Children - desire to create something simple and not beyond the norm > there is a lot of beauty to this! We could all use to be more like children in this respect.

Adults - desire to create something new and unexpected and mature...equally as important, different, and necessary for growing 

3) Memorializing

Storytelling is a way to remember something but keep it fresh and new -- maybe it's a time we want to remember about ourselves, a time we were most like ourselves or most outside ourselves. 

Stories tell a bit of who we are, where we're going, and who we want to be - they build a sense of community amongst each other! Sharing is key, being part of each others' lives is artistic.

4) Salvation and Repenting

Art comes from within our buried selves - it's an expression to try to REDEEM ourselves

Repenting is not letting your failures or way off the path consume you.