Ask the Author: E. P. Mattson
Answered Questions (7)
E. P. Mattson
Candyland, but I'd get fat, and I might get caught in molasses swamp.
E. P. Mattson
Opulence is simply the best poetry I could write up until this point. I say it's 'sprawling' because it's literally about everything in life. This has made it incredibly hard to market, believe me!
I have an idea for a blog about how artists have been sequestered over time into these little boxes of subject matter. Like, you have to write about this to succeed, or you can't write about too many things. Screw that.
I think this all comes from the cartesian thought that began with the industrial revolution and has bled into modern medicine and manufacturing; the 'widget' approach to understanding the world. I don't subscribe to that way of thinking. The Universe is infinite and so is our potential.
I have an idea for a blog about how artists have been sequestered over time into these little boxes of subject matter. Like, you have to write about this to succeed, or you can't write about too many things. Screw that.
I think this all comes from the cartesian thought that began with the industrial revolution and has bled into modern medicine and manufacturing; the 'widget' approach to understanding the world. I don't subscribe to that way of thinking. The Universe is infinite and so is our potential.
E. P. Mattson
I used to write a lot at midnight, but I don't stay up as late as much anymore. I suppose I'm like any writer, usually it's an odd turn of a phrase I hear or read that sets me off.
Recently I tried automatic writing at the beach and it yielded some interesting results. This is an aphorism that came out of that practice: "We become what we tell ourselves we think we are."
I'm writing a book of aphorisms that I've been releasing slowly on Instagram with original graphics. I'll continue posting them in the future, so stay check in from time to time. https://www.instagram.com/ep_mattson/
Recently I tried automatic writing at the beach and it yielded some interesting results. This is an aphorism that came out of that practice: "We become what we tell ourselves we think we are."
I'm writing a book of aphorisms that I've been releasing slowly on Instagram with original graphics. I'll continue posting them in the future, so stay check in from time to time. https://www.instagram.com/ep_mattson/
E. P. Mattson
My travel book! It is poetry and photography covering the last 25 years or so. I try to write 3 poems in every country I visit and I've been blessed to visit a bit more than your average American, haha.
Trying to figure out if I want it to be a coffee table book, or if a higher priced book would turn off readers. I'd be interested in hearing other writers opinions on the subject!
Trying to figure out if I want it to be a coffee table book, or if a higher priced book would turn off readers. I'd be interested in hearing other writers opinions on the subject!
E. P. Mattson
Pretty boring, but keep writing and pay no attention to trends. You can copy someone temporarily (like a cover band) but do that only to flex your skills and try not to become known for it.
If you hit a wall, buy The War Of Art by Steven Pressfield. (Though Do The Work, and Going Pro may even be more useful as you try move toward completion on your project). Very helpful books for me personally.
I will say one other thing to echo Marianne Williamson's quote, it is not your right to hold onto your talent. Not only is it selfish, but it will make you sick over time. An artist needs an audience like a bird needs the sky.
If you hit a wall, buy The War Of Art by Steven Pressfield. (Though Do The Work, and Going Pro may even be more useful as you try move toward completion on your project). Very helpful books for me personally.
I will say one other thing to echo Marianne Williamson's quote, it is not your right to hold onto your talent. Not only is it selfish, but it will make you sick over time. An artist needs an audience like a bird needs the sky.
E. P. Mattson
I think the best thing about being a writer or artist is that we have the ability to transmute our experience and emotions into something greater than source material, so we can be of use to humanity in an energetic, vibrational way.
I think we fail short of being a true artist when we wallow in an emotion (or trauma) we feel rather than transmuting it into something beautiful. If we do this, we're no longer of help to humanity. It is our job to pull back the curtain of life and shine our light. This unconsciously gives others the permission to shine theirs. Marianne Williamson said it best in what I think is one of the great quotes in literary history:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
I think we fail short of being a true artist when we wallow in an emotion (or trauma) we feel rather than transmuting it into something beautiful. If we do this, we're no longer of help to humanity. It is our job to pull back the curtain of life and shine our light. This unconsciously gives others the permission to shine theirs. Marianne Williamson said it best in what I think is one of the great quotes in literary history:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
E. P. Mattson
With Opulence, there was no block because it evolved organically over 20 years. I wrote when I felt like it (or after a night of partying, haha).
I do think the muse will notice you more and give you more gifts if you are diligent, so I am doing my best to be a regular worker from now on. Though mostly I'm doing marketing for Opulence to give it a good shot out there.
I do think the muse will notice you more and give you more gifts if you are diligent, so I am doing my best to be a regular worker from now on. Though mostly I'm doing marketing for Opulence to give it a good shot out there.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more