In The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron talks about creating art as sinking into the Well to touch the flow of inspiration that lies just beneath the surface. When you’re deliberately dipping into the Well and remaining open to Creation, then the exact inspiration you need will be provided.
Take a small step in the direction of a dream and watch the synchronous doors flying open.
This happens all the time, if I am open and listening. Usually, it’s music recommendations. I always have a very specific playlist for each book, sometimes for each character. As the story arc develops, I sometimes need a new message, a new tone or inspiration.
Sitting at 80K and dying to reach “the end” of Return to Shanhasson, I’ve been searching for THE song to get me through the big big climax. It’s just around the corner. I feel its beady little eyes boring into me, hear its evil cackle on the wind, and sniff the faint stench of death. It makes me sick with dread but I creep closer every day.
Why this dread? Because I don’t know how I’m going to save them.
Oh, if this were Romancelandia, they’d all go off and live happily ever after. But this is Blood and Shadows, and my characters don’t always get to ride off on white chargers to live in the Cinderella Palace. Don’t get me wrong, the ending overall is VERY uplifting and wonderful, but bad things happen along the way. There’s a very dark moment ahead and I can’t see my way through it.
I can’t see who reaches the brief patch of light on the other side before the next horrifying hairpin turn, and that makes me very, very nervous.
I needed a song, and I found it thanks to Mrs. Giggles. It’s far from a new song, but seeing it again, and reading the lyrics, I felt the hypnotic pull of the Well trying to suck me under to the bottom of the ocean.
Who wants to live forever
Who dares to love forever
When love must dieBut touch my tears with your lips
Touch my world with your fingertips
And we can have forever
And we can love forever
Forever is ours today
The Breaking Benjamin tribute isn’t bad, but no one will beat the original Queen.