The Girl Booker

The Girl Booker

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Big Excitement for Big Magic

Oh irony! So this post has been sitting, unpublished, in my drafts for about 18 months... Here is is, in all its imperfect glory:


One of the reasons I started this blog was to keep a record of what I had read, but it soon became more than just a record-keep activity. One unexpected bonus was that I was sometimes able to get even more out of my reading experience, because I had to think more carefully about what I was reading. I discovered things about my thoughts and reached conclusions about the books that I otherwise wouldn't have. I didn’t really tell anyone much about the blog, so I was free to write and muse  to amuse myself. I have since found that, as more and more people read Girlbooker (at least two at last count!!!) I often become more and more worried about what the post will sound like, and worried that everything I have written on here is complete bullshit. Sometimes I prevaricate so much I don't even end up finishing the post. 

Big Magic (Elizabeth Gilbert) is the book to say “it doesn’t matter what other people think of your creations. Just create for yourself, for the sake of creating something”.  It can be really hard to remember that sort of thing when the whole damn world and it’s imaginary expectations are crowding in on you, which is why I would like to re-read this book every year or so. It was very freeing to let go of the baggage and think I could write something just for my own enjoyment. It inspired me to get amongst it all, and do something. In fact, it’s a good thing I had this blog ready to get into, or I may have unleashed some awkwardly realised craft on the world.  It may have involved found objects. It may have been clay and leather jewellery. It may have been an apple and onion tart. 

Aside from making me feel freshly excited about potential projects and other possibilities, I found the book a joy to read. Gilbert covers some really interesting territory. I don't agree with absolutely all of it, but I enjoyed reading about her point of view on things. I really like the way she talks about creative living as being work. Sometimes it is hard, sometimes it is even boring, and only sometimes is it wondrously inspiring. But if it is something you feel compelled to do, and it makes you feel better at the end of each day, then it is important. She also affirms that it is important even if you are the only person to see the finished product. It's about the process for the creator, not about the intended or eventual audience.

There are plenty of other big themes in the book, and I liked nearly all of them. The idea that creativity shouldn’t be expected to pay your rent is one. The idea that getting something out there even if it isn’t perfect is another. I feel like having read Big Magic gave me permission to have fun. It inspired me to get as creative as possible as often as possible. SO I may very well bake that apple and onion tart after all, and keep it to myself.


4 comments:

  1. Well hello!

    I can't even begin to tell you how much I needed to read this post this week!
    I may even dip into Gilbert's book now as well. PB really enjoyed it too, but I was sceptical - her non fiction doesn't usually appeal.

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    1. Bron, I seriously loved it! And i think it is quite different from her other topics so hopefully you'll like it.

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  2. Excuse the pun...but your post is 'food for thought'. By reading and blogging about a book I too find more depth in the story and author that I would have missed. Sometimes reviews 'write themselves' then I know how much a book has meant to me. Now I too must examine if my words are not too analytical (writing what another expects....) and search for the creative side I know is in me somewhere. I connect with Brona Joy via our blogs...and and glad I found yours!

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    1. Hi N@ncy!! i couldn't agree more. Perhaps we don't tend to give ourselves time to ponder and reflect these days as much as we should ... so taking the time to write or blog about a book gives us that opportunity.

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