Art is made by ordinary people Creatures having only virtues can hardly be imagined making art. It’s difficult to picture the Virgin Mary painting landscapes.… Read More »David Bayles and Ted Orland on art, saints, superheroes and (closing) the skill – taste gap
These might be the most important qualities for doing anything. Talent In every interview I’m asked what’s the most important quality a novelist has to… Read More »Haruki Murakami on Writing: Talent. Focus. Endurance.
I’ve been really enjoying George Saunders’ fantastic A Swim in a Pond in the Rain. As well as showcasing some great Russian short stories it’s… Read More »George Saunders: A Hill of One’s Own
Given that you already have far more than most people in history, and are as-good-as-certain to have more stuff than you’ll ever need even if… Read More »Guidelines 2022
When asked at an event if he had more to add on the skill – taste gap: I don’t know… That was something that I… Read More »Ira Glass on the skill – taste gap (2): Do it now
Ira Glass seems to have coined (or popularised) the idea of the taste-skill gap. Here’s an extract from the original interview (video below) – the… Read More »Ira Glass on the skill – taste gap (1)
It’s two and a half months now since I resumed my old lifestyle in which, unless it’s totally unavoidable, I run every single day. Today… Read More »Haruki Murakami on running and writing, staying fresh, and building a rhythm
This is worth checking out. Here’s a snippet: I grew up in a show business family in Eastern Europe, and at a very young age… Read More »Anna Gát on Not Disappearing and other things…
Show up to work every day. Do your best to identify the most important things. Work on those things. Repeat. Footnotes Work means your job,… Read More »Recipe for progress
You’ve started practising*, tried fifty, and hit some. Now keep going until you stick five in a row. Then ten. If you can do ten… Read More »Five in a row