The Fairytale Every Artist Should Read

The danger for any artist right now is giving up our inheritance. Trading what is slow, powerful and unseen for what is quick, gratifying and comforting. I sit down to write my book, but the house needs cleaning, and the bills need paying, and why not write a post instead?

The trade feels harmless, and that’s why it works. This might be the most important fairytale any artist can read, as our world unfolds at dizzying lightspeed.

In the tale of Rumpelstiltskin, a king makes an impossible demand of a young maiden: spin straw into gold or die. In her despair, a strange little creature appears to offer help. For a price.

He will turn the straw to gold if she gives up her future.

Out of desperation, the bargain is struck. At dawn, the straw becomes gold and the king makes her his queen. But time ticks on, and they have a child. The strange little creature returns for her firstborn, and only then does she understand what she gave up.

He offers to free her from their bargain, if she can guess his true name. In fairytales, names hold power. A name grants the ability to influence one’s heart, so they are concealed at any cost.

Through the queen’s wit, she learns his true name, and calls him Rumpelstiltskin. His powers are nullified, and he vanishes for good. The magic of naming is what breaks the spell.

Rumpelstiltskin visits us every day. He says, “Work on your book later! Write a caption instead.” He says, “Finish the album later! Won’t the house look lovely once it’s clean?” There have been days when I’ll scrub a damn toilet before writing a poem.

And every day, we have to say, Rumpelstiltskin—to name the bargain, and take back the influence over our own hearts.