Katherine Anne Porter: Notes on Writing
#339/365 Paintings
Katherine Anne Porter : NOTES ON WRITING
Berlin, December, 1931. From a letter to G.
… I can’t tell you what gives true intensity, but I know it when I find it, even in my own work—there perhaps first of all. It is not a matter of how you feel, at any one moment, certainly not at the moment of writing. Feeling is more than mood, it is a whole way of being, it is the nature you are born with, you cannot invent it. The question is, how to convey a sense of whatever is there, as a feeling, within you, to the reader;
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I love the searching in her words. I love the sentence, “Feeling is more than mood, it is a whole way of being, it is the nature you are born with, you cannot invent it.”
She goes on to talk about the technical aspects of conveying ‘yourself’ to the reader. That it’s a matter of rapt attention and ability development. Again, I just love the struggle and search for how to get closer to her reader. The need in it.
I asked my musician brother what spurred him on to compose music. I always remember his response. He recalled what Mozart had said “it just happens, like needing to take a piss”.
Love what you are doing “X”, look forward to your next chapter.
Oh that does sound like a son of yours Dave. Ha ha. What a crack up. I’m also looking forward to the next chapter. Thank you for your loyal support. Wow.
A couple of things I like from that quote: 1) the focus on “true intensity,” and 2) the way she writes about conveying “a sense of whatever is there, as a feeling, within you….” It sounds as though she, too, is discovering through writing what she feels. Thanks for this painting.
Yes me too. “True intensity” is a fascinating subject isn’t it. It brings all presence to bear. I really appreciate your insight and the study of this painting. ; )