“We are all, in a sense, experts on secrecy. From earliest childhood we feel its mystery and attraction. We know both the power it confers and the burden it imposes. We learn how it can delight, give breathing space and protect.” – Sissela Bok, Born Dec. 2, 1934. Information is practically worthless nowadays. What you… Read More →
Inspiration Comes DURING Work, Not Before
“The great composer does not set to work because he is inspired, but becomes inspired because he is working.” – Ernest Newman, Born Nov. 30, 1868. If you keep meaning to write, but you don’t, because you can’t think of what to write… Stop being lame, you pickle. The muse isn’t going to bother dropping… Read More →
Perfection Is The Opponent of Productivity, Publication, and Profit
“Nothing is invented and perfected at the same time.” – John Ray, Born Nov. 29, 1627. Are you a perfectionist? Or maybe you’re a fiddler, just constantly tweaking and improving, but never publishing or launching? I feel you. Been there. Used to be that way myself. Oddly, it’s a holdover from having been to art… Read More →
The Secret For Transmuting Worthless Information Into Valuable Knowledge You Can Sell
“The true method of knowledge is experiment.” – William Blake, Born Nov. 28, 1757. Knowledge is power. Information, on the other hand, is worthless. Anyone can find information. Information is some shit you read, or heard, or saw. Some shit some guy told you, that he is repeating from some shit some guy told him…. Read More →
Most Writing Is Lame Because The Writer Forgot To Make It Cool
“All literature consists of whatever the writer thinks is cool. The reader will like the book to the degree that he agrees with the writer about what’s cool.” – Steven Brust, Born Nov. 23, 1955. This quote is either more authentic or more stupid, depending on whether you think that stupid hat Steven Brust wears… Read More →
Make People Feel Like They Are In Charge, And They Will Obey…
“Let every man feel that he is the architect and builder of his own life, and that he proposes to make a success of it by working.” – Heber J. Grant, Born Nov. 22, 1856. Really, though. The key part here is “let every man feel” – whether they really are or not. Let people… Read More →
Publish Your Draft Now, Revise When You Re-Publish Again In The Future
“Everything you’ve ever read of mine is first-draft. This is one of the peculiarities of the comics field. By the time you’re working on chapter three of your masterwork, chapter one is already in print. You can’t go back and suddenly decide to make this character a woman, or have this one fall out of… Read More →
Creativity Will Keep You Broke Unless You Strap On The YOKE
“To me there’s no creativity without boundaries. If you’re gonna write a sonnet, it’s 14 lines, so it’s solving the problem within the container.” – Lorne Michaels, Born Nov. 17, 1944. There is something incredibly empowering about using creative limitations. And it’s not just about placing arbitrary deadlines. It’s about limiting your materials, your scope…. Read More →
Another “Bad” Character Trait That You MUST Have to Succeed…
“Timing and arrogance are decisive factors in the successful use of talent.” – Marya Mannes, Born Nov. 14, 1904. Talent alone is no guarantee of success. There are plenty of broke ass nobodies with talent so abundant it’s oozing from their pores. You need to USE the talent you have in a way that lets… Read More →
Persuasion Is Storytelling and Storytelling is Telling Lies
“The moment kids start to lie is the moment storytelling begins. They are talking about things they didn’t see. It’s amazing. It’s a wonderful moment. Parents should celebrate. ‘Hurray! My boy finally started to lie!’ All right! It calls for celebration.” – Kim Young-ha, Born Nov. 11, 1968 The basis of persuasion is storytelling. And… Read More →
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