Reading this quote by Orson Welles, I think what he’s saying is true.
I think setting some kind of limitations, perhaps so many that it’s near impossible–think Catherine Zeta-Jones in the laser scene in ‘entrapment.’
No, gentlemen readers! I did not mean for you to literally think of the former scene. I use it as a metaphor. I think embracing and setting limitations might just be 50 percent the cure for writer’s block, and for all manner of creative blocks. In some cases, as in the many forms of poems–have you heard of haibun, a villanelle or a persona poem?–you can set yourself up quite an acrobatic course.
But you see, while you’re following rules, worried you’ll be disqualified and counting on your fingers to make sure you have the right number of syllables, you don’t have time to sweat whether the muse is gonna stop by. And, inevitably, when you’re paying attention, she will. Why is the muse a she? I dunno. The muses were female in Greek and roman mythology as well as in the movie “Xanadu.”
Anyhow, I’m gonna spend the next while taking Orson Welles’ advice. I’m gonna set some boundaries, i.e. limitations, and hope it stirs up my inner rebel, nonconformist and, yes, wordsmith.
–Sarah Torribio
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