Woody Allen didn’t read his film reviews, which suggests two things: 1. He didn’t care what the critics thought, and/or 2. He didn’t want the critics to influence his work. It’s important to know who your customers are and what… Read More ›
inspiration
Rolfing the Theme
It’s hard to know the theme before you start writing. For me, theme emerges over time. It’s as though you know the theme sub-consciously, but need to go through an exercise requiring time and effort before it’s fully realized. I… Read More ›
Dreams and Despair
Dreams and despair are inseparable, that’s the contract. You want to dream? You get the risk that comes with it, that you won’t make it. You don’t like the risk? Pare back the dream or leave it, and get nothing… Read More ›
Course Navigation
Your life is a series of lefts and rights. Go that way, keep going…turn here, stop. The artist picks the destination and decides when you’ve arrived. It’s done. They see life a certain way: life worth imitating through art, life worth… Read More ›
Could
My heart swells at the thought of being who I thought I could “Can” is the operative part of could Forward-looking, or past.
Don’t follow me
People used to take newspapers into the bathroom, now they take their smartphones. Just because you can check the weather while you’re on the toilet doesn’t mean you should. But we do. I have bruises I don’t remember and my… Read More ›
Beginning
The coffee maker is a riot of sound, of gargling: it’s the Fourth of July climax when it sounds off and beeps three times, declaring it’s done. I’ve been through the ritual that starts by the light of the closet,… Read More ›
Sunday, Awake
Yesterday we sat on the sofa and listened to Mark Kozelek’s record Among the Leaves. It’s rare we get to sit and listen to a record, rewind to follow the lyrics and read along. The slow transition of light and… Read More ›
Block
She is a hard block of a woman who stands in my way. I am afraid of what will come out, and do nothing instead. But today I begin the 15 minute rule, to write for a short period first… Read More ›
What’s worse than being bad
Is not trying. Sitting still. Choosing fear over failure. Being untrue, it goes on and on. Instead, take the time to do the work and find the pleasure in the simple act of writing, the music of the keys as… Read More ›
Bill Pearse 