Why the “Switch?”

Here I am. An oil painter.

‘What happened?’ you ask. ‘Didn’t you used to be a writer?’ you continue.

Yes. Yes I did. I still am - kinda.

After writing Control Switch, my debut novel that became an Amazon Bestseller in my native Canada, I actually did write another novel. It’s on an external hard drive, waiting (somewhat impatiently) for me to do another round of edits.

God, how I hate edits. I’m a spiller. I prefer to spill the initial story onto the page and move on. You can’t do that with novels. You have got to tweak. And tweak, and tweak, and tweak. This, my friends, explains the 180.

Here’s the thing: when you write a novel, the reaction to said work is subjective (as are reactions to most things). Publishers, editors and agents all have opinions that they love to insist on. The result? Unless you’re a well established and guaranteed major seller, everyone is going to want to change your work.

For those of you familiar with my novel, I was told to make my protagonist younger (don’t get me started), I was asked to change the ending, and even to concentrate on the romance, which wasn’t the point of the story, at all. The list goes on. In the end, I self-published.

I possess an attitude about art in all forms: it should be an expression of who we are and what we want to convey. Not someone else’s. Cookie cutter, formula driven anything steals away part of the creative process. A big part.

Welcome painting. WOO HOO!! Since picking up my first brush, I’ve been able to express myself as I see fit. No one has come up to me and said, “I think that would be better if you changed ________.” They either like it or they don’t, and I’m fulfilled in either case.

I’ve been at this painting thing now for 3 years, and with each brushstroke, I get closer and closer to finding my voice, but I still wouldn’t change any of the pieces I’ve done up to this point. Not one. And I wouldn’t change my novel either.

I’ll share this ad nauseam, but, in my opinion, working toward our individual authenticity is the goal of this big fat journey, and free expression is the best roadmap.

If you liked my writing, thank you. If you enjoy my paintings, another big thank you. The important element here is that I do, and you should enjoy how you express, too. So much of what makes you unique is what the world begs you to share.

Someday I’ll finish that second novel, but in the meantime, I’ll be telling stories with color. A colorful life is a life well lived.

Happy spilling, my friends!

Leana