The Process
A long time ago, I saw an interview with Metallica where one of the band members said that they’d never recorded a song and then not released it. I remember thinking “So that’s why you have so many bad songs.”
The last thing I am is a great writer. I’m still trying to find my voice. I want to get there though and I am starting to realize that it means writing more and hitting the publish button less.
Ryan Holiday is the bestselling author of Trust Me, I’m Lying, The Obstacle Is The Way, Ego Is The Enemy, and other books about marketing, culture, and the human condition. His work has been translated into thirty languages and has appeared everywhere from the Columbia Journalism Review to Fast Company. His company, Brass Check, has advised companies such as Google, TASER, and Complex, as well as Grammy Award winning musicians and some of the biggest authors in the world. He lives in Austin, Texas.
When asked what the single most important tool for the professional photographer was, Ansel Adams replied, “A trash can.”
Question: what do you do for feedback on your writing? Obviously flooding your blog with uninspired ramblings isn’t a smart move from almost any perspective, but (constructive) criticism is always helpful.
As sad as it is, the internet’s one of the few places that I can count on for an honest opinion.
It’s what Jerry Pournelle (pres. of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America) calls your “chest.” You’ve got to put thousands and thousands of words in your chest before you’re going to be any good.
What’s strange with Metallica is that from Ride the Lightning through And Justice, I didn’t think they put a bad song on an album.
I hate to float your boat, but you’re a pretty damn good writer for a 20-year-old. I used your paper process last week by the way.
You should forward this advice to “The Trixie.” Seriously.
I’m sure the Beatles could say the same, they had a hell of a lot of b-sides…
Dennis Cook: Every time I listen to it a different tune stands out as my favorite. This morning it was “We Who See The Deep.”
Chris Robinson: As a kid, that’s how my favorite records felt. I was talking the other day about how bands these days make records that are too long. It’s hard enough to get ten good songs, so why are we listening to 15? It’s because someone at a record company says you need more stuff. Maybe you should put out 10 good songs and if you come up with more later put out an EP.
From an interview at: http://www.blackcrowes.com/QnA/
I mainly try to compare it to people who are better writers than me. Or I ask.
Writing papers and being a writer are totally different though. The paper format is more about psychology than anything else.
My writing here on the other hand, I often wince when I read the archives.
I saw The Black Crowes open for Tom Petty once. Meh.
This post is great. You bring up a good insight and make fun of Metallica.
I’m curious as to why/what you wince about.
I don’t think you’re the greatest writer (you’re very well written, but that’s an entirely different story), and I often think that you’re more full of yourself than my peer group (when we were your age, I mean), but there’s obviously something that keeps bringing me back here.*
*Yes, that was a back-handed compliment.
Lil Wayne records a song a day and most of them are crap, but on the strength of his good stuff, he’s considered to be among the best.