I just read "Big Magic" by Elizabeth Gilbert

Here's Elizabeth Gilbert talking, and reading excerpts from her book Big Magic, about seven years ago.  I just found this book wandering the library stacks a few days ago, and read it over the weekend.  

Most of you are somewhat familiar with Elizabeth Gilbert's work, even if you don't know her name immediately.  She's a writer who has written several books.  Her best known book was the bestseller Eat, Pray, Love.  They even made that memoir into a movie, with a pretty talented actress playing the lead role.  Years later, trying to cope with everyone wondering if she was afraid to write another book, because she might have her best work behind her, Elizabeth gave one of the best TED Talks of all time.  So if she sounds vaguely familiar, that's why you've heard her name before.

My life is basically focused on two things these days, staying alive day to day in a weird set of circumstances, and doing creative work.  Mostly, that's blogging and my unusual Sharpie art.  If you've been around this, or my others blogs, for a bit, you probably know that I've been writing, and self-publishing, since I put out my first BMX freestyle zine in 1985.  I've done a bunch of creative things over the years, none of them have been incredibly financially successful (OK, I was a crew guy on American Gladiators, and that was a hit, but not my project).  The real theme of my fairly weird life, over the last 32 years or so, has been overcoming my personal issues, my fears, and coming to grips with being a writer and creative guy at heart.  

These same themes are what Elizabeth Gilbert's book, Big Magic, is all about.  If you do creative work, for fun, as a hobby, or professionally, I recommend giving this book a look.  It's now one of the three books about creative work that I would mention to anyone interested.  The other two are The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, and The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield.  

If you have any interest in creative work, check out the video above, and you'll know whether you want to read the book some day.  If not, there will be more Old School BMX stories soon.

As of the late summer of 2023, I'm doing a lot of my writing on Substack, a platform designed specifically for writers.  Check it out!

Steve Emig: The White Bear's Substack

Four Great Talks for Artists to Check Out

Simon Sinek is the Optimist/writer of books like Start With Why, and Leaders Eat Last.  I've listened to several of his talks on business and finding your "Why?" in life.  He's easy to listen to and makes a ton of sense.  This one surprised me when it popped up on my feed a couple days ago.  I found it totally fascinating.  Maybe you will, too.  Oh, among other things, he gives an actual definition of "art."  Hell, I've never managed to do that.



What do you do after you spend a year eating, praying, and loving?  You inspire the freakin' world with an epic TED Talk.  Elizabeth Gilbert's epic piece.  I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've watched this.



Why are we all afraid of asking for so many things we need?  Maybe it runs in the family.  Maybe we need a ukulele anthem to psych us up first.  Another epic TED Talk involving creativity.  Like the one above, I can't even count how many times I've listened to this.





"Let's talk about donuts..."  What?  You had me at "donuts."  Maria Popova does some serious brain picking into Amanda Palmer's thoughts.  I wasn't sure what to think when I started watching this for the first time.  Like those above, it's become a favorite I've watched many, many times.  EAT THE FUCKING DONUTS!

The thing I've learned about suggesting books, talks, music, or orgasmic techniques to other people is that what is amazing for me may not do anything for anyone else.  So I'm throwing four favorites out there.  If one calls to you a bit, watch.  Listen.  That little intuitive spark of interest nearly always means there's something in it you need to see/hear right now.  Let me know if any of you get something cool from one or more of these.