When books are selected thoughtfully as a gift, there’s nothing better. My youngest buys me books for my birthday and Christmas. I spend hours reading them, and even more time thinking about them– taking notes. There are no other gifts that I spend more time with, except for my wedding ring. When she goes to …
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Your Face Here
A man in a car on a phone. Small talk, then the speech elevates. Soon he’s yelling, then crying. It’s only a few minutes , but feels like hours. Another time , a woman in a grocery story receives a walkie call from her manager. A few moments later, she is scared and talking to …
Curiosity is a Form of Longing
I think if you’re a fiction writer and you’re too intelligent, you cannot write. But if you’re stupid, you cannot write. You have to find a position in between. That is very difficult. — Haruki Murakami * The above quote resonates– as do most words by Haruki Murakami. The fact is, my intelligence pales in …
Directions
To develop personal taste and style, read books that others aren’t reading. Develop empathy for content other artists won’t touch. Identify forgotten heroes whose work is either ignored or censored, but resonates with you nonetheless. Mine for better mediums and materials. If that fails, make your own. Above all, have confidence in your choices .
Cover Songs ,Imitation, Scripts
Cover Songs. Most musicians and artists hate them because they aren’t original–they don’t feature one’s authentic voice. Despite that opinion, covers are generally the method for how people learn to play. To perform a great cover requires internalizing the song, interpreting it, memorizing it, then making it your own. Listening to a few versions of …