My First (and last!) Ever Reference to Desparate Housewives

The fabulous Brodi Ashton has the following subtitle to her blog:

"There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein." ~Walter Wellesley "Red" Smith

When I first read it, I knew it was one of those quotes saying more than I understood. I thought the idea here was that the real work behind writing is excruciating. Difficult. Downright Painful.

The true interpretation came to me through THE most unexpected medium:

Reputation Necessary Disclaimer: I HATE THIS SHOW.
Just the commercials make me choke. But I happened to get snagged when the Teri Hatcher character can’t put her paintbrush to the canvas because her teacher’s criticism keeps stifling her creative thoughts.

Red-Head: Is everything alright?
T.H.: Oh I can’t get his voice out of my head…He keeps telling me how bad I am…
I’ve been staring at this blank canvas for two days. I don’t sleep, I don’t eat.

Naturally, my empathy hooked me. And fortifying myself through the extra “drama” proved so worth it, I’m blogging about it!

Teri finally confronts her teacher at his home, desperate for validation that she’s good enough. Otherwise she can’t move on with her art. The cunning, wise, so often misunderstood but truly devoted—*cough cough cough*

Sorry, something caught in my throat!

Anyway, the teacher promises her an A+:

T.H: I do not want you to give me a fake grade. It doesn’t mean anything if you’re lying.
Teacher: Why not? You’re lying.
T.H. (dumbfounded) : No I’m not.
Teacher: Every time you sit down to paint and don’t paint the fear and pain that’s in you, you’re lying.
Every time you care about what someone else thinks about your art, you’re lying.
I used to think you were holding something back. Now, I wonder if anything is even there.
So enjoy your A+. Don’t come to my class anymore. We’re done.

Wow. Did the Desperate Housewives really just preach to me? Am I about to get struck by lightening?

"There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein." ~Walter Wellesley "Red" Smith

It’s not the pain of the cut Smith valued. It’s the blood you’ve exposed. Art is sharing the most intimate voices inside you—-the ones that prove you’re alive. Maybe they keep you alive.

So, what do you think? Do you have to courage to open a vein? Or are you already worn out by the thought of cleaning the mess?

(cause Teri made a mess when she did--it's the entire premise of the next epis. You can bet I'll avoid it.)