I’ve discovered that I can be very productive if I dedicate just two or three hours a day to writing. The idea that you have to write for eight hours a day to be a productive writer is ludicrous, to say the least. Such a number is completely arbitrary. The creative mind will usually experience fatigue if it never receives a reprieve from breathing life into words. For instance, I’m working on two novels at the moment, both of which are a lot longer and complex than my previous work. I’m writing one draft on a typewriter, and the other using pen and paper. I work on the typewriter story for two hours in the late morning/early afternoon. An hour before sunset, I take a walk in the woods and work on the hand written story. This process has kept me extremely busy, especially when you factor in the additional hours of editing, marketing my older books, and reading for inspiration. There’s so much more to maintaining a writing career than actually writing. It’s also important, however, to take breaks. I will probably spend most of 2022 finishing my current projects. Things could change, of course, but I will probably spend 2023 recovering from all of my arduous work, at least the first half of the year. Most people don’t understand the amount of work you have to put in to be a writer.
Art to an artist is existence. Not to create is not to live at all. And to create, for me, when I write a song it's as if I've created an immortal vivid slice of myself, but also that it connects to anyone else who hears it, and reassures them that, yes, you're not alone. I felt this too and I express it here for US. What higher mission can you serve?
Regarding some people working for 6 months and taking 2 months off, or doing an hour every night, etc: I was a professional painter/artist who worked in an artist's studio and then did my own painting 2-3 hrs per night. Now I'm in nursing school. Nurses typically work three 12 hour shifts per week with 4 days off. Many of them clump their shifts together, so you might do 6 shifts in a row and then have, say, a week and a half off. That'll leave plenty of time to write, paint, or whatever else I end up doing when I'm out. And if my art really takes off then great.
Listening to the varied schedules of creation affirms coming home from my delivery job, going to sleep at 7 because I have no creative energy and waking up at 10, 11 o'clock to work on projects for a few hours and then going back to bed. I'll be watching this video a few more times to squeeze out more good stuff. Thanks!
Thank you, Glenn for saying this!! I am done feeling like a failure because I choose to keep the career I’ve worked for and had for 25 years and still have those dreams and work toward them as I see fit. Bravo!!!
I have been following you, Film Courage, and watching your videos for years and years, making my progress as a writer. And I can't thank you enough for gathering and providing all this content of value, from all these amazing creators and artists. Thank you so so so much!
6:17 This happens in every creative field. Screenwriting, acting, novel writing, etc. What have you done for me, lately? TY Glenn for introducing me to Henri Matisse !
This is the exactly what I needed to hear this morning, although I feel guilty that I am not paying for Film Courage. The combination of inspiration and practical ideas has really been life changing - I mean I have actually made films this year because of Film Courage. Just micro-documentaries for non-profits, but I am in full creative control, and this interview makes me feel better about the amount of money I burn taking days off my regular job to shoot these films.
I use the real world as part of the project. I used to work at a call centre graveyard shift and a lot of freaky things went on there. So I'm writing a supernatural drama out of it. And I trained as a method actor so at work I would "go into character" and start reacting to things as the character. I'd actually play out scenes. Everybody probably thought I was nuts, but I was able to get real reactions and work out scenes that way. Like I'd wonder "go would someone react if I told them there are demos in the office?". So I went and told the health lady there were demons in the office and she told me to GTFOH in a very cold way and that helped me write a particular scene. I also love adapting and applying Meisner techniques in real life and letting the scene wrote itself that way. I'm autistic so I don't really know what humans would do in a situation so by going to work in these awful and weird jobs I've been able to test out my material on the peoppe there and see what real human reactions and dialogue is like. And some people are just as bored at the job, so they play along and you get this great back-and-forth. I mean, that's how Scribblebytes came about in a sense. The thing with us artists is that we want to run away from real life and go into some creative cocoon where we can "focus". For it used to be a cabin in the woods. I thought if I could just work enough to afford a few months in a cabin in the woods somewhere then I could focus and start writing. But that's a lie. You have to write where you are because that's where you are. And it sucks and it's sooooooo lame compared to what you really wanted but it has to be done. And the surprise is that it's easier that way because it helps you discover your particular system.
Glenn, your tips are exactly what I need! One of your videos was the first Film Courage post I watched! Thank you so much, and please come back for another video.
Lesson of the day (which I already knew so it's more like a personal reinforcement) - I need to finish my freaking projects before starting new ones all the time! 😅
While i have gained a great insight into the human experience via hardships related to work and financial stress I can say that recently work has taken too much of my time. In america we don't get mandatory paid vacation and its At Will work so you're really focusing all your time and energy into your job
Is there a class issue at play too? In the UK there are no visible working class artists in any medium outside music, there are no working class films/tv shows/theatre or radio. Is this because the working classes simply don't have the opportunity to devout large chunks of time to their art?
I agree about writing weird, quirky projects. I know my #TheShenganiguns project is out-of-the-box but I learn so much working on it and it's so much fun that I have decided to go ahead and make short clips based on the story universe. And I have to deliberately make time to work on it despite paid writing work and housework and life constantly demanding for my attention!
The ending advice is what I like to call *Just Shoot It* & is exactly what I did #ProjectMatriculated . So what if it's imperfect or bad? I've learned so much by finally diving into the deep end and getting my hands dirty. RUclips mentors often advise new content creators to just make 100 bad videos in order to get experience and more importantly to bypass procrastination. You'll absolutely see improvement from video #1 to video #100. I eclipsed the 200 RUclips video upload mark earlier this year and yeah the quality is better, but behind the scenes the work-flow is what really improved the most.
Kudos! I too I'm doing my best to bring my #TheShenganiguns project to life. I'm currently using stock footage and learning how to edit and yes, it does enrich my screenwriting craft.
It’s really up to the artist. One might think it’s by constantly thinking hard about their creation, but far from it. I think it really involves taking it day by day, taking bits and pieces from what we experience in our daily lives and incorporating them into our art (in my case it’s writing). That’s what makes the art seem more tangible and lived in our actual world.
Step one: Acknowledge that no one is coming to your rescue. Step two: Realize that you can rescue yourself exactly how you use to hope someone else would, maybe even better. Step three: Take a baby step in the direction you want to go and take at least one, if not more, every day. Step four: Don't stop, especially if it starts to feel like it's taking too long.
All these "that guys" that you turn your nose down on are the ones watching your movie after work. Make sure you don't become "that artist guy" who is far removed from the everyday "that guy" and aloof. Your art may become aloof to making you a living
I’ve discovered that I can be very productive if I dedicate just two or three hours a day to writing. The idea that you have to write for eight hours a day to be a productive writer is ludicrous, to say the least. Such a number is completely arbitrary. The creative mind will usually experience fatigue if it never receives a reprieve from breathing life into words. For instance, I’m working on two novels at the moment, both of which are a lot longer and complex than my previous work. I’m writing one draft on a typewriter, and the other using pen and paper. I work on the typewriter story for two hours in the late morning/early afternoon. An hour before sunset, I take a walk in the woods and work on the hand written story. This process has kept me extremely busy, especially when you factor in the additional hours of editing, marketing my older books, and reading for inspiration. There’s so much more to maintaining a writing career than actually writing. It’s also important, however, to take breaks. I will probably spend most of 2022 finishing my current projects. Things could change, of course, but I will probably spend 2023 recovering from all of my arduous work, at least the first half of the year. Most people don’t understand the amount of work you have to put in to be a writer.
Art to an artist is existence. Not to create is not to live at all. And to create, for me, when I write a song it's as if I've created an immortal vivid slice of myself, but also that it connects to anyone else who hears it, and reassures them that, yes, you're not alone. I felt this too and I express it here for US. What higher mission can you serve?
I felt this on a grand scale 🤝
Regarding some people working for 6 months and taking 2 months off, or doing an hour every night, etc: I was a professional painter/artist who worked in an artist's studio and then did my own painting 2-3 hrs per night. Now I'm in nursing school. Nurses typically work three 12 hour shifts per week with 4 days off. Many of them clump their shifts together, so you might do 6 shifts in a row and then have, say, a week and a half off. That'll leave plenty of time to write, paint, or whatever else I end up doing when I'm out. And if my art really takes off then great.
💙💙💙🤌👆👈
smart smart that's a good strategy best of luck to ya
Film Courage , thank you so much for providing consistent content that speaks to the dreamers 💐 Great interview (watching) as always 🙏🌊
Cheers!
Listening to the varied schedules of creation affirms coming home from my delivery job, going to sleep at 7 because I have no creative energy and waking up at 10, 11 o'clock to work on projects for a few hours and then going back to bed. I'll be watching this video a few more times to squeeze out more good stuff. Thanks!
Thank you, Glenn for saying this!! I am done feeling like a failure because I choose to keep the career I’ve worked for and had for 25 years and still have those dreams and work toward them as I see fit. Bravo!!!
This is the future of filmmaking.
Yeah I got the itch now to write
Completing The Process. This is one of the concise, realistic pieces of advice anyone could give. Thank you! :)
I have been following you, Film Courage, and watching your videos for years and years, making my progress as a writer. And I can't thank you enough for gathering and providing all this content of value, from all these amazing creators and artists. Thank you so so so much!
6:17 This happens in every creative field. Screenwriting, acting, novel writing, etc. What have you done for me, lately? TY Glenn for introducing me to Henri Matisse !
Thank you for this!! Some of us out here really needs to hear it...
Afterthought: I don't make time for Art...Art makes time for me...
Man, this is so true on so many level
This is the exactly what I needed to hear this morning, although I feel guilty that I am not paying for Film Courage. The combination of inspiration and practical ideas has really been life changing - I mean I have actually made films this year because of Film Courage. Just micro-documentaries for non-profits, but I am in full creative control, and this interview makes me feel better about the amount of money I burn taking days off my regular job to shoot these films.
It's a vocation.
Cheers! Keep creating!
Wow, that was some really good advice! If only I had gotten that advise 20 years ago!
Glenn is the GOAT
I use the real world as part of the project. I used to work at a call centre graveyard shift and a lot of freaky things went on there. So I'm writing a supernatural drama out of it. And I trained as a method actor so at work I would "go into character" and start reacting to things as the character. I'd actually play out scenes. Everybody probably thought I was nuts, but I was able to get real reactions and work out scenes that way. Like I'd wonder "go would someone react if I told them there are demos in the office?". So I went and told the health lady there were demons in the office and she told me to GTFOH in a very cold way and that helped me write a particular scene. I also love adapting and applying Meisner techniques in real life and letting the scene wrote itself that way. I'm autistic so I don't really know what humans would do in a situation so by going to work in these awful and weird jobs I've been able to test out my material on the peoppe there and see what real human reactions and dialogue is like. And some people are just as bored at the job, so they play along and you get this great back-and-forth. I mean, that's how Scribblebytes came about in a sense. The thing with us artists is that we want to run away from real life and go into some creative cocoon where we can "focus". For it used to be a cabin in the woods. I thought if I could just work enough to afford a few months in a cabin in the woods somewhere then I could focus and start writing. But that's a lie. You have to write where you are because that's where you are. And it sucks and it's sooooooo lame compared to what you really wanted but it has to be done. And the surprise is that it's easier that way because it helps you discover your particular system.
But there are demons in the office!
As an artist it Feels good ..to see this & 2 be felt understood !! Good Post
Wow 😳 Film Courage! Thank you! This is the most insightful realistic interview I’ve ever seen!
Cheers! Glenn Gers is great
10 minutes of straight truth. Great interview.
This content is so amazing. I’m a singer producer and I felt totally represented by the things he said 👏🏼🙌🏼💜
Glenn Gers is real talk
So encouraging 😊
I really appreciate the chat. Very helpful and encouraging.
Thank you for this specific video. It's exactly what I needed to hear as an artist.
Glenn, your tips are exactly what I need! One of your videos was the first Film Courage post I watched! Thank you so much, and please come back for another video.
Hi Candace, love to hear this. You should also check out Glenn’s channel. Link in the description
@@filmcourage Oh, yes, thank you 😊
Great interview. This guy is spot on.
I always love film courage's interviews with this guy!
Thanks Donovan, our next video with Glenn is his full interview. (Coming in about 2 weeks)
Gonna try this
Lesson of the day (which I already knew so it's more like a personal reinforcement) - I need to finish my freaking projects before starting new ones all the time! 😅
But honestly it makes art all the better when you do make time for it
Valuable.
Great advice.
All of this is 🔥
Beleza 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽
terrific advice and examples
While i have gained a great insight into the human experience via hardships related to work and financial stress I can say that recently work has taken too much of my time. In america we don't get mandatory paid vacation and its At Will work so you're really focusing all your time and energy into your job
Love this 🎬🎬
Great Stuff
Is there a class issue at play too? In the UK there are no visible working class artists in any medium outside music, there are no working class films/tv shows/theatre or radio. Is this because the working classes simply don't have the opportunity to devout large chunks of time to their art?
Thank you for pointing that out and even with music you are just expected to toll the line.
Everyone is an artist
I agree about writing weird, quirky projects. I know my #TheShenganiguns project is out-of-the-box but I learn so much working on it and it's so much fun that I have decided to go ahead and make short clips based on the story universe. And I have to deliberately make time to work on it despite paid writing work and housework and life constantly demanding for my attention!
The ending advice is what I like to call *Just Shoot It* & is exactly what I did #ProjectMatriculated . So what if it's imperfect or bad? I've learned so much by finally diving into the deep end and getting my hands dirty.
RUclips mentors often advise new content creators to just make 100 bad videos in order to get experience and more importantly to bypass procrastination. You'll absolutely see improvement from video #1 to video #100.
I eclipsed the 200 RUclips video upload mark earlier this year and yeah the quality is better, but behind the scenes the work-flow is what really improved the most.
Keep doing it, enjoy analysing your process, understand yourself - Iterate iterate iterate
Kudos! I too I'm doing my best to bring my #TheShenganiguns project to life. I'm currently using stock footage and learning how to edit and yes, it does enrich my screenwriting craft.
How does an artist take control of their creative fate?
It’s really up to the artist. One might think it’s by constantly thinking hard about their creation, but far from it. I think it really involves taking it day by day, taking bits and pieces from what we experience in our daily lives and incorporating them into our art (in my case it’s writing). That’s what makes the art seem more tangible and lived in our actual world.
Step one: Acknowledge that no one is coming to your rescue. Step two: Realize that you can rescue yourself exactly how you use to hope someone else would, maybe even better. Step three: Take a baby step in the direction you want to go and take at least one, if not more, every day. Step four: Don't stop, especially if it starts to feel like it's taking too long.
this was so interesting
1:56 He speaks of the Belgian author Paul Simenon, creator of the cycle focused on the famous Inspector Maigret.
6:00 How to control creative fate: The Artist's Gamble
some people have parents with money too. that helps
All these "that guys" that you turn your nose down on are the ones watching your movie after work. Make sure you don't become "that artist guy" who is far removed from the everyday "that guy" and aloof. Your art may become aloof to making you a living
I expected to hear a British accent 😂
Yeah man it sux because the landlord needs his rent so instead of writing in slaving away for a pahcheck. Its frustrating being an artist