born delusional

[adelaidesean]

I have come to Steve Martin's autobiography Born Standing Up rather late (but not for want of trying) and am therefore slow in receiving this particular pearl of wisdom:

"[T]here is no harm in charging oneself up with delusions between moments of genuine inspiration."

This single line explains so much, not just about comedians, but about all artists and the culture built up around them.

This may be a delusion, but I'm going to say it anyway: that writers rarely talk about what inspires them. We save those precious words for the work itself. When we do have something to talk about, it's usually the delusions, because we need help getting past them and back to the real stuff. That's what our community is for (among many other things).

Thanks to everyone who's tolerated the odd delusion of my own. You save me from myself.

Everyone should read this book.

----------------
Listening to: Tetsu Inoue - Symphony H2O

Comments

[shadowsandice.livejournal.com]

That is indeed a brilliant little sentence. It justifies EVERYTHING. At last!

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

That's exactly how I read it. Hurrah!

The trouble, of course, is telling the delusions from the inspirations. That might only be possible in hindsight.

[shadowsandice.livejournal.com]

Pffft. Trivial piddling little detail.

[roberthoge.livejournal.com]

So, Sean, what inspires you?

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Everything!

:-)