Unsolicited writing advice, #17171617:
Don't just write. Read books. Watch films. Look at paintings and sculpture. Play games. Go to plays. Listen to music. Think about how these things make you feel.
Making art is a two-way stream. To make art, you have to consume art.
How to write: Stop not writing. Keep your butt in the chair. Write really bad small sections of the whole—passages, moments, episodes, memories—til you have an incredibly shitty 1st draft. Then take out the boring parts, the lies and pretensions. Then write a better 2nd draft.
why is nobody talking about this book??!
Waterstones are giving away ALL FIFTEEN of the incredible titles shortlisted for the 2024 Waterstones Book of the Year, and you can enter FOR FREE! (you have to be a member, though).
UK only. Enter by 29 December 2024
www.waterstones.com/win/watersto...
now reading: this new (potentially juicy) true crime book about the mysterious and scandalous death of a poet in Karachi in the 1970s
the wisdom in children’s books 💛
“…there must be wicked little imps in the world, who are kept tied up so long as the sun shines, who creep into our bedrooms when we are asleep, to tease us and ruffle our tempers. Else, why, when we go to rest good-natured and pleasant, should we wake up so cross?”
A reminder of who Charles Kushner is (this is part of what he did that landed him in prison)
Word of the day is ‘sequaciousness’ (16th century): the slavish and reckless following of another person in matters of thought or opinion.
Regardless of Shyamalan’s current struggles with critics, he remains a singular voice in American cinema — and, as an NYU film school graduate, an inspiration to many students there. That was evident during the Q&A session following his lecture, when he dispensed advice to several film production students who cited him as among their favorite directors. The evening ended with a rousing moment, when one student who said he was from Mexico asked Shyamalan for professional advice. What do you want to be?” Shyamalan asked. “Writer? Director?” “Director,” the student said. “But that’s really hard to accomplish.”
Shyamalan shot back with a heated response. “Dude, I don’t like the way you talk, bro,” he said. “How can you tell me that it’s going to be hard? Do you see a lot of people like you writing stories? Give me a break, bro. That’s your strength, that you’re not like us. Go out there and tell your stories. Don’t go out there and try to be like Quentin or me or anybody else. We need you. Tell me what makes you angry, why you’re arrogant, or fearful, whatever it is. Don’t hide anything. Be honest. What is that thing that bothers you and makes you distinct? Everyone’s looking for you. A Mexican point of view to tell a story right now? I’m telling you, everybody wants that right now.” The audience erupted into applause. “I desperately need you to tell your story in your way,” Shyamalan said. “You are essential.”
M. Night Shyamalan is a great filmmaker and by all accounts a stand-up guy
narrowed down to three excellent books from this list of 350+ by using my favourite filters: family+funny+greatwriting
it’s here! the big book list that makes us all feel bad about the hundreds of books we didn’t read over the year 🥹
The key point… the right needs the liberals/left in a way that liberals/left don’t need the right.
I’m working on a book (for HarperCollins India) about a little-known community traversing borders, conflicts, histories and the idea of home. But mostly, I talk and write about other people’s books
