Monday, February 13, 2012

WHY PAINTING IS LIKE WRITING, PLUS ROW80

It sounds like the start of a bad joke:
Why is painting a room like writing a book?
I don't know, why is painting a room like writing a book?

 I hope you weren't waiting for a punch line -- I'm fresh out of punch lines, too tired from painting.

Okay, okay.

WRITING A BOOK      

What should I write?
Idea!
PREPARE
Research/Brainstorm
GATHER THE RIGHT TOOLS
Notebook, notecards, sticky notes, whiteboard, pens, computer
WRITE
Halfway through your idea changes
Suddenly in a tight corner -- how do you write out of this?
Move things around
Want it done so badly, it's all you do in your spare time
First pass -- done!
Needs fixing
Re-write
Think you're done, until someone else looks at it!
Fix the misses
Done! Still, it never matches what you first envisioned

PAINTING A BIG ROOM


What should I paint?
Chose colors
PREPARE
Tape baseboards, remove wall plates
GATHER THE RIGHT TOOLS
Paint, brushes, tape, rollers, ladder, screwdriver, hammer, cloth, newspaper
PAINT
Halfway through, you realize you have to paint the room 2 different colors
Suddenly in a tight corner -- how do you paint behind the weight machine?
Move things around
Want it done so badly, it's all you do in your spare time
First coat, in certain lights it looks done
Needs second coat
Think you're done until your husband comes in w/ the mega light
Fix the mixes
Done! Hey, it looks better than what you thought it would.

So, here's what I learned. It does eventually get done. If you have the right tools, it's a hell of a lot easier. If you prepare, it goes so much faster (sure it's a pain, but worth it in the long run). It feels damn goodly to be done.

So, yesterday, I loaded Pages on to my iPad -- it's easier to bring to work than the laptop -- I can bring it anywhere. That's part of the right tools. I'm concentrating on the re-write right now. that's part of needs fixing. Plus, the whole thing just made me excited.

That's it -- sort of a check-in.
How are you doing?

8 comments:

  1. For me, writing and painting have always complimented each but your post is terrific! Thanks for a smile and a comparison I will remember for a long time.
    Karen

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    1. Thanks Karen! I agree about painting a picture and writing a book, I just had never thought about painting a room and writing! Thank you so much for stopping by!

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  2. Oh, I love that analogy, Amy. Your process sounds exactly like mine. Good luck on those rewrites!

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    1. Thanks Sheila! I'm sure your process is much more organized than mine...thanks for stopping by.

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  3. I loaded Pages not too long ago. It's convenient for writing outside of home.

    Great analogy.

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    1. Media, I'm liking Pages -- some things were not intuitive, but that's okay, I don't mind figuring things out. I emailed my manuscript and opened it in Pages, love the ease of working at it wherever. Thanks for stopping by!

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  4. Wonderful comparison. You have a such a gift with words, Amy! I look forward to reading many more of them someday. :)

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  5. JK you have a gift for words! I have a gift for...I don't know what. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

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