This month’s themes for our resident poet, Pride and What They Don’t Teach You

By Resident Poet Peter Devonald

Pride Is For Everyone

A celebration and love song. This world should be so much simpler and better.

What They Don't Teach You At Art School

Exploration of some of my ideas and views from my experience of being in the TV/ Film/ literary world for 30 years. As ever, quite subjective!

What They Don't Teach You At Art School

1) Opportunities will come - just makes sure you are good enough when they do.

2) Seize opportunities when they arrive, even if you feel you aren't ready for them. No one ever feels that they are really ready unless they are full of hubris and ego - in which case they are probably heading for a fall (and probably not bothering to read this list!).

Sometimes we all fail, or not succeed enough, but only through failure will we learn. I could have saved myself so much heartache if I had only embraced opportunities and taken more risks. Life overlaps beautifully sometimes - we just have to remain brave, strong, and fearless.

You never know when chances will happen again, so cherish them - and put your heart and soul into them. Even if the finished product isn't as good as you'd wish - you will learn so much, develop contacts and be better next time.

3) Over the decades I have talked to so many professional film, TV, and book people - almost everyone feels like they are an imposter sometimes. Imposter Syndrome is worth reading about and acknowledging feel the fear and do it anyway. According to Dr Young, the five kinds of imposter syndrome personalities are, briefly:

i. The perfectionist: sets the very highest goals for themselves, so even a small flaw is seen as a failure
ii. The natural genius: always top of the class, so any criticism or minor failing leads to deep questioning
iii. The rugged individualist: never reaches out when they need help, so misses out on vital skills
iv. The expert: because of their expertise they realise it is impossible to know everything, leading to feeling inadequate
v. The superhero: pushes themselves in every area, but of course, no one can be perfect in everything. Can't we? Really? Why not! :-)

This feeling of inadequacy and fear is all part of the journey, to question everything, to grow, develop and eventually become what we wish to become.

4) Though life is linear, creating art is not. You can work so hard and get nowhere - or the world will be ready for you when you are not. It is absolutely vital to seize life first and let it lead you toward developing art. So many TV shows are written by ex-policemen, medics, teachers, and all sorts of careers. Life feeds into writing/ art. UK's Poet Laureate Simon Armitage was a probation officer in Greater Manchester till 1994. Life is art - and makes it all the richer for it.

5) Balance. Learn your craft but also always network, self-promote, and move relationships forward; all this is necessary. I know so many brilliant artists who don't network enough and it holds them back. But also, sadly, I know some brilliant networkers who are very successful despite their art taking a backseat to party. What do you want your legacy to be? What sort of artist are you?

6) To be contradictory, and the arts are always contradictory, rest and recover. Enjoy life. Take time out from creating. Your work will be all the better for it. Treat yourself well. Eat well, exercise and be aware. It is so easy to treat yourself as second best. Far too many artists get ill. You have to be really careful. Take time to relax: all rest is working anyway, your artist mind never stops, it whirrs, if we are conscious of it or not.

7) Form is temporary, class is eternal. Know what is contemporary but plow your own path. Contemporary will eventually be because of the work you have always created - and you will be an expert as the world tries to catch up.

8) Our industry is hard. Write affirmation sheets, keep pages of praise, and keep positive quotes from networks/reviews/ contemporaries. Delete rejections, and surround yourself with supportive friends and artists. Find your tribe. Insulate yourself from criticism as much as possible: use what is valuable, but the main focus is to create the best you can. You can always rewrite or recreate or use previous art as a template. Negativity is the death knell of good art - so be careful who you listen to.

9) Cherish your allies. Support them, go to their galleries, buy their books: together we are stronger. Review works online – Amazon and other sites have a tipping point of reviews that can make all the difference. Comment on work you love rather than just liking it. Form a group/ collective/ community. Work together for one significant goal. As a community, we have real power and impact.

10) Really celebrate successes and live in the moment when they happen. Take time out for that gallery/ screening/ publication. Invite friends and loved ones to share in the moment. Focus on the positives - rather than forever getting onto future projects. Still the universe - and enjoy, fully and completely.

Tomorrow's art can wait for tomorrow.

Take a moment to realise how far you have come and the amazing amount you have achieved. We can make our lives so much easier by seizing moments and putting our hearts into them. Taking a moment to realise our successes.

Consider teaching art/ editing/ mentoring others - you will realise just how far you have already come. Give help and support to the next generation even as you climb the ladder.

Still, a journey to go, but be pleased with accomplishments, adventures, and fulfillment. And good luck to you. The world needs artists now, more than ever. I wish you all the success in the world.

Peter Devonald

http://www.scriptfirst.com/

LATEST NEWS

Flash Fiction 150-words Wildfire Words competition: Highly Commended
Poem: Hamlet Sleep

https://wildfire-words.com/ff150-anthology/?fbclid=IwAR0-6hBlZ7zVkMx5WdC53ZwA_ROXBZY7qh0gyydgdrKf9yrkTIluADkVonc#Peter-Devonald

The Sixpence Society Issue 2 – wonderful journal, extremely impressive

Poems: Reflect Bitterness and Details Make the Heart Bleed
https://sixpencesociety.wixsite.com/journal

Forget-Me-Not Press 5th Issue: 'Bloom’ June – another wonderful literary zine

Poem: Discussions with Myself #1 published in

https://forgetmenotpress.net/bloom/invented-discussions-with-myself-1

Rivista Issue 8 – my first publication of Italian poems

Poems: 9 Vaults Deep, I And The City and A Memory Of A Beautiful Day