My passion—creating imagery.

I paint. I write.

I’ve written lots of poems, storing them away in a briefcase. At first unsure of my ability to write well I imagined poetry as painting with words instead of a brush. This made writing manageable…easier. Pictures spilling from my mind as words on the page.

Completing my first manuscript, I joined several writers groups. Their advice, and encouragement help me understand how a story is woven—like a delicate tapestry.

I’ve re-written my story many, many times, adding a few strokes here and there for refinement. Finishing strokes. Or are they? And removing unnecessary words, scenes, chapters…

Someone asked me if there is a similarity between painting and writing—knowing when to stop? There definitely is a similarity. When am I done? Will I mess up the ending like the painting that should have been left alone? That additional touch of color, or mixing the wrong colors can produce a dull, muddy painting.  Adding too many words to ‘fluff’ a sentence or paragraph also results in a dull, ‘muddy’ story.

I am still writing and re-writing.

Happy writing and painting to you.

J. M. Orise