As mentioned in these posts over the last six months, I’ve been working on a book. A number of you have supported it through contributions. THANK YOU. A progress report is in order.

When I read a good book, I come away with at most a dozen key thoughts or ideas that add something to my life. The book is presently about 300 pages. That’s too long. And it’s not yet finished. I’m boiling it down to its essence. A Pause For Beauty has a role to play in that process.
A creative project starts a vision, a concept. Over time, if you give it breathing room, it develops its own energy, its own personality. It is like having a child. It is partly you, but you need to give space so that it can create its own personality, its own independent nature.
     In a similar way, a creative work is partly you, (a mysterious entity itself, and one difficult to understand), and partly the product of the creative energies of the universe which are constantly seeking vehicles through which to manifest. Hence music, art, novels, poetry, computer software and all of the other manifestations of creativity exploding around us.
       The book has had various preliminary working titles including “Creating A Life Worth Living: The Gentle Arts of Living And Creating On Your Own Terms.” At this initial stage, the value of a title is mostly to aid in focusing. What’s this book about? What’s the essence here? When you strip everything forgettable away, what is worth remembering?
      I started work on the book a year and a half ago, and set it aside. It needed some more time to germinate. Something was missing. Probably a lot of things were missing, and I couldn’t figure out what they were. The initial working title was,

 The Song Within:
Words and Art By And For Creative Outsiders

Now, after at least ten different revisions, the current working title is as shown on the cover mockup above. Also, the format is shifting from lots of words – no art – to an art journal with only the key points summarized. Ultimately each chapter will be a painting and a few key notes. I’m writing this book to remind myself of what’s important as I create Heron Dance in the hope that what I’m learning and offering may help you put your own key thoughts and plan together, both in the way of creating a life, and in creating a your own unique work. Uniqueness is key to the whole philosophy underlying this book, Heron Dance and my life. You are unique. Therefore find your own unique path in the woods. Your song within. We’ll feed off each others’ creativity, grow and blossom together.
            Below the first chapter as it now stands:

To access a version that is easier to read, you can scroll down or, to download a PDF, click on to the image above.