Bootsy is considered a pioneer of funk music and one of the best bass players of all time. He’s played with heavy weights like James Brown, George Clinton, and enjoyed a successful solo career. This illustrious career largely happened by accident.
Bootsy spent his early years trying to impress his older brother Phelps “Catfish” Collins. Phelps was one of the best guitar players in Cincinnati, and Bootsy desperately wanted to join his band.
Opportunity struck when Phelp’s bass player didn’t show up for a gig. Catfish offered his younger brother a chance to join the band if he played bass. The problem was…
Bootsy was a guitar player at the time. He hardly knew how to play bass. In fact, he didn’t own a bass.
Did that deter him?
Not a chance!
In a stroke of inspiration: Bootsy dug up a set of bass strings, pegged them on his $29 Silver Tone Guitar, and played the gig.
This story tickles my heart strings for a number of reasons:
First, I’m a bass player and love hearing the origin story of one of my heroes!
But what I love most about this story is Bootsy’s perseverance. He could have thrown his hands up and said: “Shit! I don’t have a bass. I guess tonight is not my night.”
Instead he improvised. He crafted a makeshift solution with the materials he had. He did what he needed to get the gig! As any musician will tell you: “the show must go on”.
The best part is: Bootsy didn’t just use his makeshift bass for that gig, he used it for the first several years of his career. He credits it for developing his style. One of the most distinct bass players discovered his voice through a flash of ingenuity.
It goes to show that “greatness” isn’t just a matter of talent. It’s often the result of an individuals ability to move on the fly and stand firm in uncertain circumstances.
Infamous Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson once said:
Writing is the flip side of sex: It’s only good when it’s over.
This is a quote every writer can relate to. We love the finished product, but the act of putting words on a page can be painstakingly slow.
There is an inherent level of tedium and frustration that goes along with the writing process, but we often make matters worse. We do so by making subtle mistakes.
We don’t intend to make them. In fact, we often do them because we think they will make our writing more efficient. But in the end they only slow us down. Eliminate these 5 habits from your writing process:
Not Creating A Plan Or Outline Before You Write
Most writers hate constraints. I know I did for most of my career as a writer. And what could be a bigger constraint than having an outline: a blueprint for how your organize your piece. Writing is about freedom! Why am I limiting myself by creating an outline?
Oh boy, was I wrong! Outlines not only make you write quicker, but they actually give you more freedom to express your ideas.
There is no bigger constraint on your writing than “too much freedom”. When you have no constraints on your writing it allows your bad habits to take the wheel. You can end up spending an inordinate amount of time trying to think your way to the perfect idea. Or writing aimlessly for hours, only to realize that you’ve gone in the wrong direction.
Outlines take time up front, but they save you hours on the backend. They make your work precise. They remove the busywork of thinking of what to say, and they allow you to focus on the act of writing. Your inner “free spirit” may not want to write one, but pay them no heed. Outline your work!
Revising Your Work As You Write
Ernest Hemingway’s famously said:
“All first drafts suck”
Oof! If a writer as good as Hemingway’s first drafts suck. What hope do you or I have?
This is something that all writers know on some level, yet many of us sweat and toil over a first draft that won’t be good no matter how much time we spend on it.
This is the writing sin that I am particularly guilty of. I used to spend hours scouring my first draft. Picking apart every sentence, tweaking every word, and generally making my life a living hell in the process.
The writing and editing process are two different things. Once you create an outline (see step one), your next job is to write a first draft. And write one quick! Your best ideas come when you’re in the flow of writing. If things don’t sound perfect from the get go, don’t worry. You can polish your work when you edit.
Trying to pitch a perfect game the first time around will only slow you down and make you want to chuck your laptop out the window
Doing Research While You Should Be Writing
Got a quote you need to look up? Maybe a juicy statistics your readers will enjoy. Or a fun fact that will pump up your piece. You may be tempted to open up another tab and do some fact finding.
DON’T DO IT!
By our nature many writers are curious people. Doing research while we’re writing often puts us on a wild goose chase; it sends even the most diligent writers down a mental rabbit hole that will distract you and add hours to your writing time.
Worse yet, it is often an excuse to procrastinate. When we don’t want to sit down and write, we convince ourselves to do more “research”. This is usually code for firing up dozens of windows in our web browser. It’s more likely to end in us getting angry about the latest political news, than to aid in our writing.
If you need to get quotes and stats for your work, do it either when you’re writing an outline or when you’re revising. These things take little time and will power to look up. So never get distracted by them when there is precious writing to do!
Trying To Cram Your Writing Into One Sitting
There is a part of the writing process I like to call the “dark night of the soul”. This is when you’ve spent hours hunched over your computer. Your eyes are glazed, you’re burned out, and most of all you’re convinced what you just wrote is the biggest stinking heap of garbage that anyone has ever created. Moments like this make you question not just your career but your very existence.
There is only one remedy for this “dark night of the soul”: it is to step as far away as you can from your keyboard.
It’s really that simple. Giving yourself and your writing a little space to breath allows you to see your work with fresh eyes. Most of the time you realize what you’ve written wasn’t that bad; oftentimes it’s pretty good! If it does suck you can edit it with a sharper mind. You’ll be more calm and objective about what you need to change.
Trying to write something in one go robs you of perspective. Your time would be better spent getting some fresh air, petting your dog, or doing anything other than cursing at your work.
Not Hitting “Send” At 90%
Look, here’s the ugly truth about writing. Nothing you write will ever be perfect. You can look through it again and again and there will be subtle things you can improve. Should you make sure everything you create has standards; absolutely. But this is a sorry excuse for not shipping your work when it is “good enough”.
There are obviously exceptions if you are writing a final paper, PHD, or about to finish the next great novel. But in most cases after outlining, writing, and revising your work a couple of times it is good enough to put out in the world. If you’ve done the previous steps, you’ve done the most difficult parts. Making small tweaks is just adding another garnish to a dish that’s ready eat. It’s time to shut off your inner perfectionist and hit “send”
Author and Marketing Expert Seth Godin recently appeared on The Tim Ferriss Podcast. The conversation was stellar. Throughout the two hour run-time I routinely pressed pause to jot down notes and copy quotes.
After pawing through several chapters, I realized that most of the information was already revealed during the Podcast. At this point I could have thrown my book at the wall. Or called the store and demanded a refund. Did I do that?
No way! I was happy to pay for the information, even though I could have got most of it for free.
This seems counter-intuitive. How can someone sell me so easily while giving away their best content for free? The answer is twofold:
Free Information Establishes Credibility: By giving away many of the juiciest bits in his book, Seth showed the audience he was a credible source. He demonstrated that he was a good communicator, knew what he was talking about, and most importantly he proved he could provide value.
Free Information Shows Generosity: Generosity is a magnetic human trait. We want to be around those who have abundant knowledge and care enough to share it. This creates likability and triggers a need for reciprocity. By giving away great content Seth not only showed his credential, but presented himself as a generous person who someone could feel good about supporting.
The lesson here:
Giving away free, awesome content pays in the long run!
But you might be thinking to yourself. That’s easy for someone like Seth Godin to do. He’s a famous author, who has sold millions of books. He can afford to be generous. I’m just starting out so I need to hold onto every good idea I have.
This is where some of us get things wrong. We think that hoarding our best ideas will make us money in the future. We think every good idea we come up with is a gold mine that we must protect.
The truth is, even if you come up with the “perfect idea” no one is going to surrender their hard earned cash unless they think you’re credible and trustworthy. And the best way to appear credible and trustworthy is to prove that you are, by generously creating and sharing content.
If you do this, people will gleefully open up their wallets when you have something to sell. They’ll be happy to buy from you, again and again, because you’ve taken the time to show you can provide value, that you understand their problems, and that you care about them.
Sure, there might be some mooches out there who take the “free-bees” and never pay for anything. But these people were never going to buy anything in the first place. Don’t dwell on the freeloaders; focus on the people who will be willing to pay once you’ve established your credentials.
This is something that someone like Seth Godin understands and why he is generous with his information. After all, he is an award winning business guru… I think he knows a thing or two about marketing.
Don’t be a miser with your content. Share your trade secrets. Do this and your audience will reward you when the time comes.
To jog your memory, it is a popular televised singing competition. Each season swarms of amatuer singers compete for a chance to become the next great American Pop Star.
Within this swarm are hundreds of thousands of individuals. Each one longing for a panel of celebrity judges to validate their musical talents, and open the door to a world of success and stardom. They are hoping to “be chosen”.
A lot has changed since the first season of American Idol. The once fledgling internet is now a ubiquitous force. The external sources that once decided if we were good enough to showcase our talents have greatly diminished.
The technological revolution has birthed hundreds of platforms where people can share content. There is a near endless buffet of choices where we can upload our ideas, present our skills, and share our work.
Yet many of us are still waiting to “be chosen”
We want some external force to give us permission to do what we want. A guiding hand to reassure us that we really are the thing we want to be. Whether that’s a singer, writer, or painter.
Now technology has given us a choice.
We can choose to be a writer. Without a publishing company
We can choose to be a musician. Without a record deal.
We can choose to be a painter. Without having a gallery open.
This is a decision we choose to make. The decision to do the work and share it with the world.
There are no guarantees in this choice. Nothing is certain in the universe. But if you choose to do the work, and make the thing you are compelled to make you put the cards in your hand.
While “gatekeepers” still exist, they no longer hold all the power. With the resources available, there is no excuse to wait to “be chosen”. There is no gatekeeper to blame. It’s up to you and you alone to choose what you want to make and do it.
In today’s type A society, “the perfectionist” is a lauded title. Often one step removed from genius. A fraternal twin to the savant.
The perfectionist is a rare breed of person. He is the innovator with the tenacity to see an idea through to its most complete form. She is the artist who is ceaseless to a fault. Never stopping at “good enough”; daring to push beyond greatness.
At its worst, “perfectionism” is seen as a highly coveted “flaw”. A top shelf foible. Just think of the stock response when a potential employer asks for your biggest weakness:
“Umm… I’m a bit of a perfectionist.”
A sentence usually spoken with a twinkle in your eye and a grin on your face. It’s a cute way of saying my biggest flaw is that I have no flaws. Hire me and I might be too good at the job.
But does perfectionism really deserve this celebrated status?
Why Perfectionism Is Dangerous
Dangerous! That’s much too strong a word to use, no?
Maybe. But I think perfectionism is uniquely deceitful. Its deceit lies in that it is a flaw masquerading as a virtue.
More often than not “perfectionism” is used as an excuse for inaction. If the genius is the perfectionist’s next of kin, then the anxious procrastinator is his close cousin. Why step in the arena and get your hands dirty, when you can sit comfortably and search for the perfect idea.
This often results in telling ourselves white lies like:
I can’t begin my novel until I come up with the PERFECT subject.
I can’t improve my health until I find the PERFECT diet.
I can’t talk to that cute gal or guy until I can think of the PERFECT thing to say.
It’s not just an “excuse”, it’s a damn good one! It passes procrastination off as quality control. You’re not putting something off, you’re giving it the time and space it needs to flourish. You don’t really have a problem, you just have high standards.
We clearly recognize lying, overeating, and uncontrollable anger as undesirable traits. Yet perfectionism gets a free pass.
What’s At The Heart Of Perfectionism?
Embedded in the quest for perfectionism is fear. Fear of failure. Fear of vulnerability. Fear of losing control. And oftentimes fear of doing the dirty work it takes to make changes in your life.
Perfection is a shield against this unpleasant emotion.
The PERFECT novel shields you from the anxiety and self doubt of publishing something that may be ignored or poorly received.
The PERFECT diet shields you from doing the difficult work it takes to adjust your eating habits, and facing the negative self image you have around your body.
The PERFECT words to say to an attractive stranger shields you from the potential for rejection and embarrassment.
When someone talks about the “perfect” idea; what they really mean is one that is immune from criticism. One that, by its definition, would have to be accepted and revered. One that is failure proof.
It is your ego’s guardian angel. Its protector. It wants to save it; but it can’t.
How To Deal With Perfectionism
Step 1: Accept Imperfection As A Fact Of Life.
Perfection doesn’t exist. At least not in the world we inhabit. It may live as an abstraction, but certainly not as something tangible that you can achieve or create.
Even things we anoint as masterpieces could be improved if we combed through them enough. The “perfect” film, novel, or song could be subtly enhanced by re-shooting a scene, rewording a sentence, or re-arranging a verse.
No matter how hard you strive you will never meet this elusive standard. Lessen your burden by remembering:
Something perfect has never existed nor will it ever exist in the world.
Step 2: Question Whether Perfection Is Actually Desirable
What if you could achieve perfection? What if we lived in a world without flaws: where everyone had statuesque bodies, lightning quick wits, and genius level IQs? Is this a reality you would like to live in?
Or is there truth to the expression:” We love people because of their flaws, not in spite of them”?
In life and art there is no figure as celebrated as the flawed hero. Strife and fallibility are at the heart of the human narrative. No one has ever written a great story about an unblemished protagonist.
We relate to the faulty figure who fights to get what they want. We do this because in life we find meaning in wrestling with our imperfections. It’s what makes the human struggle, a beautiful struggle. We may be walking whirlwinds of frailty and neuroses; but dog gonnit we try our best!
Step 3: Use Perfection As A Guide Not An End Point
Some of the more contrarian readers may be thinking:
“Wait a minute! There are a lot of successful, talented people who consider themselves perfectionists. They’re not the anxious dawdlers described in this blog. What gives?!”
You know what, you’re right! There are many accomplished perfectionists. So does a healthy level of perfectionism in fact exist?
I would argue it does. But only if you view perfection as a path towards progress and not an endpoint. This means having high standards, but not letting them come in the way of getting started, moving forward, or completing something.
Perfectionism becomes unhealthy when it is used as a form of avoidance. When it becomes an invitation to beat yourself up for not living up to impossible standards. And when it deludes us into thinking that there is a pain-free shortcut to doing difficult work.
Growth comes through many imperfect attempts at something. It takes time and labor; and god knows it ain’t always pretty. But it begins with taking a courageous, crooked step; and hoping to stumble in the right direction.
“Music has always been a matter of Energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel. I have always needed Fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio.” – Hunter S. Thompson.
The quote above is from writer and gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.
While the quote specifically references music, I believe the fuel metaphor applies to all great art. And like Thompson: “I too am a serious consumer”!
One of the many things I love about the quote is the distinction between inspiration and fuel.
“Inspiration” is an abstract and indolent figure of speech. “Fuel” on the other hand is palpable and propulsive! It’s the ingredient for action.
Great art should induce action. Whether that means getting started, getting back to work, or simply getting out of bed in the morning.
And unlike petrol gas, it is a renewable resource. A force of perpetual motion, in constant supply to those who need it.
It is proof of the limitless capacity for human potential. A reminder that there is still magic in the world. Sparks and whistles that push past the dull hum of day-to-day life.
As such, it is both a marvel and a challenge. Something to gawk at, and something that dares you to improve.
You’re made of the same raw material as the people who created something sublime. You have the same potential in yourself. Are you willing to seize? Or at least try?
Nike’s tagline “Just Do It” is perhaps the most recognizable marketing slogan of all time.
For over three decades this catch phrase has served as a call to action for the slakers of the world to get off their ass, go for a run, and most importantly buy sneakers!
On the first day of class Florida photography professor Jerry Uelsmann, separates his students into two groups.
One group of students are graded on the number of pictures they take. The more pictures they submit, the better the grade. The quality doesn’t matter.
The other group of students are graded on the quality of their photos. If they choose, they could spend the entire semester composing one perfect photo to submit for a grade.
Which group do you think submitted the best quality photo?
At the end of the semester the best photos came from the group graded on the quantity of photos they took.
Why is this?
While the members of the “quality group” sat around thinking about how to produce the perfect photo, the “quantity group” were out experimenting with different forms of lighting and composition, learning from the mistakes, and mastering their craft.
This experiment is a punch in the gut to the dawdling perfectionists out there.
It disproves the notion that you can think your way to a great idea. And suggests that “great ideas” are often built on the breadcrumbs of the hundreds of good, bad, and ugly ones that came before them.
“Morning pages” is a creative exercise popularized in Julia Cameron’s book “The Artist’s Way”. The practice itself is straightforward. First thing in the morning you pen three pages of longhand writing. That’s it.
What you choose to write about is unimportant. There is no aim other than to fill three pages. As Cameron herself puts it:
“There is no wrong way to do Morning Pages– they are not high art. They are not even “writing.”
There are many purported benefits to doing morning pages: some people use them as a way to purge their mind of unconscious baggage, others to prioritize and create a to-do list. But I like to think of them as a way to practice writing without “writing”.
Much of what we think of as “writing” is polishing. It is transforming raw ideas into something coherent, and readable. It is a necessary, perhaps the most necessary, part of the process. But also the most stressful.
Morning pages remove the polish. They let ideas flow without judgement. It is meditation through the written word.
No one is meant to see your morning pages. Your High School teacher will not give you a grade on them. Your editor will not pick them apart. They will not appall or astonish your audience. They exist, simply, to get your thoughts on page in their crudest form.
Paradoxically, a lot of good ideas come when you relinquish effort and just write. Your self consciousness doesn’t always serve your work… especially in it’s infantile stages. So why not suspend your judgement, let your pen move, and practice writing without “writing”.
I find it to be a creative Rorschach Test: an individual’s answer reveals their unconscious beliefs, fears, and prejudices about themselves and their craft.
For this particular quandary people usually fall into one of two camps:
Camp 1: The lucky optimist who views the blank page as fertile ground to fill with thoughts and ideas… a representation of the endless possibilities that writing offers.
Camp 2: The neurotic pessimist who sees the blank page as an empty void. One that can never be filled, and spits their deepest anxieties back at them.
Which camp do you belong to?
Unfortunately, I find myself in the latter camp. One of, I think, a silent majority of writers who are both titillated and terrified by the blank page.
It’s the creative equivalent of Agoraphobia. Too much space means there is nowhere to hide from your inner thoughts and neuroses.
Yesterday I started a writing challenge called the Anxious Writer’s Power Hour. In the challenge I gave myself a strict deadline of one hour to write an article.
What you’re reading is my first entry. I have 10 minutes left on the clock so I don’t have the luxury of going into more details…
But my hope for the project is that it tempers my anxiety about writing. That setting time constraints can make the process less overwhelming.
And most importantly, that I can inch my way towards Camp 1 and have an amicable relationship with the beloved, and often maligned blank page.
