Letters to a Young Poet

So I've been doing lots of reading and watching. People watching, mostly. Noticing odd behaviors (it used to be my favorite past time) and then finding beauty in them. Because as cliche as this might sound, there really is beauty in everything. I was telling my mom about the recent happenings in my life as of late, and all she said was "Good is going to come out of this, you know that right? It's just not as obvious right now."

It just clicked. That is exactly what I needed to hear at that moment. After all, only after a terrible winter do we truly appreciate a good spring day. Only after you lose your way, you appreciate the familiarity of your own home. It's beautiful.

So I'm reading three books right now. Pretty interesting I must say. A book on quantum physics, one on hinduism, and finally my favorite so far, Letters to a Young Poet. I've read this before, this is only my third or fourth time. It's a short book about "letters to a young poet" (duh) from a fellow poet who has been writing for a few years.

The title focuses on the word "poet", but more than anything this book is for anybody who has a passion for something creative. It's so applicable to processing your thoughts to creativity, what encompasses good art, and how to grow as a writer/poet/artist, whatever your "thing" is. He refers to influences as "Things". Things of inspiration - whatever tickles your brain.
He suggests using everything in your environment as a sign of beauty and then finding the beauty in it as part of your venture as an artist. How simple and insightful.

He also emphasizes the importance of not letting the small trivial things overpower your thoughts. Think about them, but don't make them the focus of your writings. He stresses writing about everyday life and general themes that appeal to everyone. He also talks about not obsessing over criticisms from outsiders. A lot of times, bad criticism will make the best writers shun away from their true gift. It's the best "how to" book for a creative person.

The part so far that appeals to me the most is the idea of "necessary" writing. He says that writing that is not desperate for self is not even worth creating. When you pursue your passion because you can't breathe without doing so, creates the best work of art. Forced creativity might be good, but it will never be magical.

This book just speaks to me. Anyone reading this who has even a little interest in writing, take my suggestion and pick up this book. It's only 7 bucks and its going to give you unlimited insight for the rest of your life. I write because not doing so suffocates my soul. It's my way of speaking to myself from the outside in, but using my own perception and train of thought.

Awesomeness. (yes, that is a word)
Peace&Love