Doing The Impossible

"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
--Pablo Picasso

Earlier this morning I was coaching a writer through his book, a novel with wonderful possibilities, which begs for more scenes to be added to the story. "But how do I do that?" Leo asked.

"I'm not sure," I said. "You'll have to just write it." And Leo wrinkled his brow, put his face in his hands and slowly drew his fingers down to his chin. He looked so confounded that I had to add, "It seems impossible now, but it won't always."

At times our writing asks things of us that make us feel uncomfortable, and downright stumped. We're in the dark. We don't see the way. Wouldn't it be nice if someone could tell us exactly how to tie up the loose ends of this story?

We learn by doing. Learn by doing. And the more you stretch and pull your abilities, venturing beyond the edge of what's easy and doable, the more you grow as an artist.