Introduction Inspiration Creative writing exercises Toolbox Stay grounded & motivated Share your text with us
introduction
In the heart of every creative process lies a labyrinth—a place of twists and turns, where clarity is elusive, and shadows hold both fear and potential. It is this space that we will navigate together in this course, guided by the profound, unsettling, and deeply personal work of Louise Bourgeois. Here, doubt is not an obstacle but an invitation, uncertainty not a failure but fertile ground for discovery.
The psychology of doubt To begin, let us confront the very nature of doubt. Psychologically, doubt arises as the mind's response to ambiguity and the unknown. It challenges our sense of control, forcing us to question assumptions and revisit truths we believed were secure. But what if we reframed doubt—not as a hindrance to resolve, but as an active state of inquiry?
For Bourgeois, doubt was a constant companion, a presence she described as both agonizing and essential. Her sculptures, drawings, and writings do not resolve these doubts; instead, they carve space for them, making them visible and visceral. The suspended figures, the spiraling forms, the cages—they speak of tension between containment and release, security and vulnerability.
In writing, doubt manifests similarly. It unsettles narrative structures, disrupts coherence, and questions authority. But rather than resist these moments, what if we leaned into them? What if we allowed our texts to wobble, to hesitate, to contradict themselves?
Doubt as a catalyst Doubt demands courage. It asks us to create without guarantees, to write without the safety of knowing how the work will be received—or even where it will lead. It requires us to unmoor ourselves from conventions and expectations, opening up to the unknown.
Consider this: Can you let doubt reshape your writing? Instead of fighting for resolution, can you dwell in tension, tracing its contours? What might emerge if you approached the page without the desire to “fix” uncertainty, but to explore it?
Louise Bourgeois: Art as an emotional blueprint Bourgeois’s art is an excavation of the self. She once said, “Art is a guarantee of sanity,” acknowledging that her creative process was not just an intellectual pursuit but an emotional survival mechanism. Her works often drew upon childhood memories—fraught relationships, feelings of abandonment, and the complexities of familial love.
What does this teach us as writers? That the act of creation is deeply personal. It is less about achieving perfection and more about unearthing truths. Writing, like Bourgeois’s art, can become a dialogue with our own vulnerabilities.
Free-style poetry: A medium for uncertainty Poetry, with its fragmentary structure and openness to interpretation, is a powerful tool for navigating doubt. Its rhythms can stutter; its images can contradict. It can pause mid-thought or spiral into unexpected associations. This freedom mirrors the very experience of uncertainty. As you engage with free-style poetry in this course, consider:
How do you evoke unease through rhythm? Can you interrupt flow to reflect hesitation?
What images emerge when you dwell in discomfort? How do they shift when you lean into vulnerability?
Where does your writing stutter, resist, or fracture? Can you allow these moments to remain unresolved?
The beauty of shadows Bourgeois reminds us that shadows are not merely absences of light; they are landscapes in themselves, rich with texture and depth. So too is the shadowy terrain of doubt and uncertainty. As we write, we are not simply illuminating these dark spaces; we are inhabiting them, finding their contours and shapes, and discovering the stories they hold. Let this course be a space where you are unafraid to falter, where your writing stumbles into new territory. Doubt will not be your barrier but your guide. Together, we will transform it into art.
Louise Bourgeois, a French-American sculptor and installation artist, explored doubt and uncertainty through her artwork by delving into themes of anxiety, fear, and existential questioning. One of her notable works that embodies these concepts is "Maman," a series of sculptures depicting giant spiders. While the spider motif itself may evoke fear and uncertainty in some viewers, Bourgeois imbued these sculptures with deeper psychological meaning.
"Maman" (French for "Mother") represents Bourgeois's own mother, who was a weaver. The towering scale of the sculptures, combined with their protective posture and ominous presence, evokes a sense of maternal strength and vulnerability. However, the spiders also symbolize the complexities of family dynamics, with their intertwined legs and segmented bodies suggesting both interconnectedness and entrapment.
Through "Maman" and other works, Bourgeois confronted her own anxieties and doubts, exploring themes of childhood trauma, motherhood, and the human condition. By infusing her sculptures with personal and universal symbolism, Bourgeois invited viewers to confront their own uncertainties and insecurities, fostering a sense of empathy and introspection.
creative exercises
1. Set a timer for 10 minutes and focus on the first artwork by Louise Bourgeois (Femme Maison, 1946)
2. Begin by deeply observing the artwork and allowing it to evoke emotions and thoughts related to doubt and uncertainty.
3. Start writing free-style poetry, letting your words flow without censorship or judgment.
4. If you encounter doubt or uncertainty in your writing, embrace it and make it visible by following the guidelines provided: - Don't delete any words or sentences. Instead, write the new version next to the one you want to erase. - If you want to modify the syntax, write down the sentence in its modified version but do not delete anything. - If you want to modify the stylistic, do the same. Don't delete.
5. After 10 minutes, move on to the second artwork by Louise Bourgeois (Altered States, 1992) and set a timer for 20 minutes.
6. Repeat the process, allowing the second artwork to inspire your poetry writing on doubt and uncertainty.
7. Finally, after 20 minutes, move on to the third artwork by Louise Bourgeois (Arched Figure, 1999) and set a timer for 30 minutes.
8. Continue writing in the same manner, exploring the themes of doubt and uncertainty as inspired by the third artwork.
9. Once the timer stops, take a moment to reflect on your writing journey and the emotions it evoked.
toolbox
Doubt and uncertainty are not obstacles but opportunities. They invite us to step into the unknown and discover what lies beyond the comfort of certainty. Approach your poetry with curiosity, and let your hesitation guide you toward unexpected beauty.
1. Freewriting warm-up
Write for 5 minutes without stopping, starting with the phrase: "I am not sure, but..." or "I am uncertain, yet..."
Do not censor yourself; let words flow without judgment.
2. Embrace contradictions
Write a stanza where each line contradicts the one before. Let the oppositions spark unexpected connections.
Example:
I am light / I am shadow
I am courage / I am fear
I belong / I am lost
3. Question everything
Begin each line with a question: "What if...?" "Why not...?" "Could it be...?"
Use these questions to explore themes or emotions without needing answers.
4. Word associations
Write a random word in the center of the page. From there, branch out with related words, phrases, or feelings.
Turn this web into a poem by following unexpected paths.
5. Uncertainty as a theme
Write a poem dedicated to doubt or hesitation. What does it feel like? What images does it conjure?
6. The "wrong" words
Choose a word that doesn’t "fit" and build a poem around it.
Challenge yourself to integrate it meaningfully or leave it as a deliberate misfit.
7. Inspired by silence
Sit in silence for 3 minutes. Jot down any thoughts, images, or feelings that surface.
Use this as a foundation for a poem that welcomes the unknown.
8. Fragmented narratives
Write disjointed phrases or sentences without worrying about logical connections.
Rearrange them until they form a rhythm or evoke an emotional resonance.
9. Collaborative lines
Exchange one line of poetry with a friend. Build your poem around their line.
Embrace how their perspective alters your own.
10. The "not-poem" poem
Write something you don’t consider poetic (e.g., a to-do list, a weather report).
Reframe it as a poem by adding line breaks, rhythm, or metaphor.
stay grounded and motivated!
"In our work at the School of Disobedience, we honor doubt and uncertainty as essential companions in the creative process. In a world obsessed with clarity and confidence, these feelings are often dismissed or stigmatized, seen as barriers rather than bridges. But in creativity, doubt and uncertainty are neither flaws nor detours—they are the journey itself. They challenge us to dig deeper, to question the familiar, to stretch the boundaries of what we think we know. By welcoming these emotions instead of resisting them, we transform them into powerful tools for growth. Let us rewrite their story, not as hindrances but as catalysts for exploration and discovery. Normalize the wobble, embrace the questions, and trust the fertile space of not-knowing. Keep writing, keep questioning, and hold onto the serenity of knowing that every moment of hesitation, every flicker of doubt, is a step toward your most authentic voice. Until next time, let’s keep walking this path together, finding beauty and possibility in the shadows of uncertainty."
—Anna Ádám Founder of the School of Disobedience