I really loved that Sheila Heti piece on Alice Munro. Especially this part:
"A fiction writer isn’t someone who can write anything — movies, articles, obits! She isn’t a person in service to the magazines, to the newspapers, to the publishers or even to her audience. She doesn’t have to speak on the political issues of the day or on matters of importance to the culture right now but ought first and most to attend seriously to her task, which is her only task, writing the particular thing she was most suited to write."
Food for thought as we live in a time when everyone has an opinion on f-cking everything.
The first movie I ever worked on was a Roger Corman production called STREEKWALKIN. I ran into Roger 20 years later and admitted I had no idea what I was doing on that movie. "Son," he said with a laugh. "NOBODY knows what they're doing on my movies."
Excellent advice that aligns perfectly with life/work/career advice from a book I just finished reading: “Dark Horse: Achieving Success Through the Pursuit of Fulfillment” by Todd Rose & Odi Ogas:
The most common advice to realize your life’s potential is the “Standardization mindset” (e.g., get a degree/certifications, climb the ladder etc.). But this ideology ignores anyone’s unique “jagged edge” combination of strengths and weaknesses and often leads to frustration and unhappiness.
Instead, follow the “Dark Horse mindset” to develop your potential to its fullest:
watched this after reading this comment. I too haven't laughed like that in a bit. Thank you for sharing Austin and then Gerry. BTW Austin…I love what you do.
Loved #2! Fredrik Bachman's dry humor was the perfect way to start the day. I also put a hold on W.H. Auden's selected poems at the library. They didn't have the one you recommended, but I've been meaning to read him, so I'll start there. Thanks for all the goodies you put in your newsletters each week. I always look forward to them.
I hear you on subtraction of cutting edge technology. I’ve been finding ways to move away from using my phone for everything and I gotta say, life gets better without it. I wonder if the tech giants care that this is becoming a bit of a trend? Also, happy to hear you’re working on a new book 👍🏽
I’m really getting into the AK groove here. Not sure how I first learned about your work but I’ve become a fan. Whenever it appears in my inbox, always best to read it — and follow those links —before heading to the NYT, WSJ, or my Philadelphia daily. Thanks.
4 minutes well spent. That last line brought tears to my eyes. IKEA and depression. Priceless. It brought to mind the book, The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe by Romain Puertolas. Just in case anyone needs an excuse to procrastinate.
I really loved that Sheila Heti piece on Alice Munro. Especially this part:
"A fiction writer isn’t someone who can write anything — movies, articles, obits! She isn’t a person in service to the magazines, to the newspapers, to the publishers or even to her audience. She doesn’t have to speak on the political issues of the day or on matters of importance to the culture right now but ought first and most to attend seriously to her task, which is her only task, writing the particular thing she was most suited to write."
Food for thought as we live in a time when everyone has an opinion on f-cking everything.
I remember when Fiona Apple put out an album during the pandemic and said, “this is what I know how to do” https://austinkleon.com/2020/04/19/do-what-you-know-how-to-do/
The first movie I ever worked on was a Roger Corman production called STREEKWALKIN. I ran into Roger 20 years later and admitted I had no idea what I was doing on that movie. "Son," he said with a laugh. "NOBODY knows what they're doing on my movies."
RIP Roger Corman.
I absolutely loved listening to/watching Fredrik Backman. He was brilliant! Thank you Austin.
Thanks for that Pere Ubu link. Outstanding!
Love this. Fredrik Backman talk was brilliant. And the Henrik Karlsson article- thank you so much for all of this.
3. “Study something you love in depth!”
Excellent advice that aligns perfectly with life/work/career advice from a book I just finished reading: “Dark Horse: Achieving Success Through the Pursuit of Fulfillment” by Todd Rose & Odi Ogas:
The most common advice to realize your life’s potential is the “Standardization mindset” (e.g., get a degree/certifications, climb the ladder etc.). But this ideology ignores anyone’s unique “jagged edge” combination of strengths and weaknesses and often leads to frustration and unhappiness.
Instead, follow the “Dark Horse mindset” to develop your potential to its fullest:
Get better at the things you care about most. 🙂👍
Watched the speech by Fredrik Bachman. I haven’t laughed like that in a bit…more than worthy of 4 minutes of your time. Thanks got sharing Austin! 🤣
watched this after reading this comment. I too haven't laughed like that in a bit. Thank you for sharing Austin and then Gerry. BTW Austin…I love what you do.
Ditto. And I posted it on my LinkedIn page…for all the writers and wannabes in that space.
Loved #2! Fredrik Bachman's dry humor was the perfect way to start the day. I also put a hold on W.H. Auden's selected poems at the library. They didn't have the one you recommended, but I've been meaning to read him, so I'll start there. Thanks for all the goodies you put in your newsletters each week. I always look forward to them.
I hear you on subtraction of cutting edge technology. I’ve been finding ways to move away from using my phone for everything and I gotta say, life gets better without it. I wonder if the tech giants care that this is becoming a bit of a trend? Also, happy to hear you’re working on a new book 👍🏽
I’m really getting into the AK groove here. Not sure how I first learned about your work but I’ve become a fan. Whenever it appears in my inbox, always best to read it — and follow those links —before heading to the NYT, WSJ, or my Philadelphia daily. Thanks.
Pamela
Thanks for reading!
4 minutes well spent. That last line brought tears to my eyes. IKEA and depression. Priceless. It brought to mind the book, The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe by Romain Puertolas. Just in case anyone needs an excuse to procrastinate.