"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." This famous quote by Pablo Picasso explains why writers write, painters paint and musicians make music. For those of us who write, it is the art of writing that keeps us hooked. Sure, we care about the mechanics and structure of writing, the mundane details that make the difference between mediocre writing and excellent writing. And we truly love language in all its intricacies. But it's not the fundamentals of writing that keep us coming back for more. It's the art of writing, that particular essence of the writing process that helps us transcend the pains and struggles of life. It's that otherworldly feeling that comes when a piece seems to write itself or when words touch us in places there were previously no words for or when we experience the deep sense of accomplishment in seeing our words in print, knowing our voice has joined the larger voice of humanity. These are the moments that collectively create the artistic element of writing. In between these moments are often long periods of tedium and frustration, but it's those special moments of euphoria that we live for, however brief and far between, because they are our antidote to what's wrong with the world. They make the difference between a life lived in despair and a life lived in dreams. Whether we write or paint or dance, there is one thing we know for certain: where there is art, there is always hope.
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