1
Why Create? Contributors Offer Context
Brown, Christopher Paul
My motivation is to experience being in the “flow”. For me this is the outcome of alchemy. Once I straddle a single polarity all the others seem to open up to me: conscious/unconscious, work/play, inner/outer, etc. Of course I bring my predilections to bear from the outset. I like patterns, textures, nature, old buildings and graceful, athletic female models. I also like music, video and painting. However, I find it best to drill a deep, narrow hole rather than a wide shallow one, and so tend to concentrate my attention in one arena (currently photography) for an extended period.
Beyond my predilections and my aesthetics there is little control or direction from my conscious self. Intuition is in the driver’s seat and there are surely energies beyond my ken involved. I always hope to be surprised. Anything I can say about the process is simply conjecture. I have no interest in researching how the mechanism of alchemy works. My goal is simply to discover/create art in this manner.
Earley, Melissa
I often feel caught in the net of who people think I’m supposed to be – as a divorced woman in her 50’s, and as a pastor of a United Methodist Church. To untangle myself from others’ expectations and be my authentic self in the world takes a lot of effort, particularly when I am still discovering who that authentic self is. My writing these days, is an attempt to hear my own voice.
Eisner, Lori
Although told by the smart but hapless individual, Soft Hands, Threading has the town of Murrayville as its main character. It has a personality that is defined by its somewhat quirky people. Richard Russo’s novels, Empire Falls, Everybody’s Fool, and Nobody’s Fool have been an inspiration to me. I have subsequently written about other incidents that have occurred in Murrayville. By having the town as the main character, I can concentrate, not on a specific protagonist, but rather on the episodes in the town’s existence. A place often anchors a story and affords the author more latitude with plot than he or she may otherwise have.
Gardner, D.B.
Blind Alleys of the Heart is a story about desperation, desire, and the search for identity in an increasingly fractured world. The motivation for writing this piece comes from personal reflection and observations, both internally and externally, of myself and others, as we struggle to connect, to find ourselves, to get comfortable in our own skin. The second-person narrative was a suitable vehicle for this type of exploration, as it felt more personal.
Gnanadesikan, Mukund
My work generally reflects on daily observations of the contemporary world, as well as more introspective discussion of thoughts and emotions that may be relatable to numerous others. “Visibility” was inspired by all the disadvantaged kids I’ve worked with, and the common desire we all have to establish a distinct identity. “Life Ends in Immolation” is the tale of a woman who I knew only by sight (from the grocery store) who burned herself to death when she lost custody of her child after fleeing an abusive relationship. “An Alternate Universe” is a nod to all my friends of color who experience life differently than I do. Last but not least, “In Memoriam” mourns the loss of my daughter.
Green, Kris
I’m motivated, even in the grimmest of my stories, by shining a light on something good. Candles illuminate the darkness. The world is too beautiful and wonderful to spend all our energy on the negativity and cruelty we see.