There's also the interesting drive some of us have to revisit work to continually revise and redo it, even after it has been published. I had a novel published in 2009, but as I matured, I became dissatisfied with aspects of it. Initially I thought: I should just move on. But it didn't sit well with me after a while. There are no laws that said I couldn't make a second version, or a third, or a fourth. So I did, and released it in a collection in 2022. Since I started writing this novel in 1996, it felt at that point like a collaboration with another, much younger person, and it really was; revision is, in many ways, collaboration with our former self (or selves). Even after we "abandon" our works (as Paul Valéry famously put it), we can reclaim them, then abandon them again! And if people prefer the early version--fine! They can have it!
In the musical realm, I recall that John Fahey did the same, re-recording entire albums, making multiple versions. And then there is Edward Hicks, who repeatedly made versions of the same painting at least sixty times. And, of course, Walt Whitman is the one name people mention to me, too.
I must admit, seeing that photo of my dining room table right under the words, "abundance and accumulation" made me laugh! Excellent article as always and love the photo of Cecil and Zach. I've seen Zach's paintings on Instagram and like his work a lot. I'll need to listen to his music next. Obviously creativity runs in your family!
There's also the interesting drive some of us have to revisit work to continually revise and redo it, even after it has been published. I had a novel published in 2009, but as I matured, I became dissatisfied with aspects of it. Initially I thought: I should just move on. But it didn't sit well with me after a while. There are no laws that said I couldn't make a second version, or a third, or a fourth. So I did, and released it in a collection in 2022. Since I started writing this novel in 1996, it felt at that point like a collaboration with another, much younger person, and it really was; revision is, in many ways, collaboration with our former self (or selves). Even after we "abandon" our works (as Paul Valéry famously put it), we can reclaim them, then abandon them again! And if people prefer the early version--fine! They can have it!
In the musical realm, I recall that John Fahey did the same, re-recording entire albums, making multiple versions. And then there is Edward Hicks, who repeatedly made versions of the same painting at least sixty times. And, of course, Walt Whitman is the one name people mention to me, too.
I must admit, seeing that photo of my dining room table right under the words, "abundance and accumulation" made me laugh! Excellent article as always and love the photo of Cecil and Zach. I've seen Zach's paintings on Instagram and like his work a lot. I'll need to listen to his music next. Obviously creativity runs in your family!
Great stuff, brother. Love it!!!