Welcome to Litsy!

Exception to this rule, kindle and when I‘m reading a book on my phone :)

I just listened to all three of these audiobooks. They were a super quick read and I think got me in a mind to try to get back on track with my writing. It‘s fallen to the wayside as of late so I appreciated his tips and tricks.

I'm listening to the trilogy, but I just finished the first book. It was an inspiring read filled with quotes from influential people. There was just one section that put me off. Kleon talks about the importance of keeping a day job and working relentlessly without breaks, through holidays and sick days. For someone with chronic illness, this is disheartening and unreasonable. The book was written years ago, but I'm just so over hustle culture.

“It seems contradictory, but when it comes to creative work limitations mean freedom.“

“It's often what an artist chooses to leave out that makes the art interesting.“

“Telling yourself you have all the time in the world, all the money in the world, all the colors in the palette, anything you want, that just kills creativity.“

Jack White

I feel this. If I have too many options in front of me, I feel far too overwhelmed to do anything at all. Same thing with time. I work much better under a deadline, even if it is stressful in the moment.

“In this age of information abundance and overload, those who get ahead will be the folks who figure out what to leave out so they can concentrate on what's really important to them. Nothing is more paralyzing than the idea of limitless possibilities. The idea that you can do anything is absolutely terrifying.“

“The work you do while you procrastinate is probably the work you should be doing for the rest of your life.“

Jessica Hische, Graphic Designer

So it should have something to do with either Litsy, Goodreads, or Steepster then. Got it. 👍

“So: Copy your heroes. Examine where you fall short. What's in there that makes you different? That's what you should amplify and transform into your own work.“

“It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique.

From Conan O'Brien's Dartmouth Commencement Address on June 12, 2011.

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2011/06/14/conan-to-grads-your-dreams-will-change

“Nobody is born with a style or a voice. We don't come out of the womb knowing who we are. In the beginning, we learn by pretending to be our heroes.“

EDIT: Just thinking - in the beginning, aren't our parents our first heroes? How much of this will influence the people we eventually become? How much of this “pretending“ is fixed in us during those early years? I'm reading a book on parenting and the self, so that's where my mind's at right now.

“When you first get started, there's usually a big gap between what you are and what you want to be. If I'd waited to know who I was or what I was about before I started being creative, well I'd still be sitting around trying to figure myself out instead of making things. In my experience, it's in the act of making things and doing our work that we figure out who we are.“

I especially love that last line. Really trying to take this book to heart.

“Don't wait until you know who you are to get started.“

I'm 36 and I still don't really feel like I know who I am. Maybe that's why I haven't actually started anything, lol. Someone send self-help books. 📚

“Carry a notebook and pen with you wherever you go. Get used to pulling it out and jotting down your thoughts and observations. Copy your favorite passages out of books. Record overheard conversations. Doodle when you're on the phone. Go to whatever lengths necessary to make sure you always have paper on you.“

Love these practical tips! Of course this makes so much sense. With nearly everyone having a phone in their pocket now, it's even easier.

“If you try to devour the history of your discipline all at once, you'll choke. Instead, chew on one thinker, writer, artist, activist, role model you really love. Study everything there is to know about that thinker, then find three people that thinker loved and find out everything about them. Repeat this as many times as you can. Climb up the tree as far as you can go. Once you climb your own tree, it's time to grow your own branch.“

Doable. ✔

“Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work, and theft, will be authentic.“ - Jim Jarmusch

Much of this book consists of quotes from other people, such as the one here. I've pulled a few I like most. According to Goodreads, this is from an issue of MovieMaker Magazine, specifically Issue #53 - Winter, January 22, 2004. He goes on to say, “Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent.“

“Every new idea is just a mashup or a remix of one or more previous ideas. A good example of this is genetics. You have a mother and you have a father. You possess features from both of them, but the sum of you is bigger than their parts. You're a remix of your mom and dad and all of your ancestors.“

I've never thought about ideas in this way, but I love the comparison. Creative energy passed on, reworked, re-formed, and made new again and again.

"If we're free from the burden of trying to be completely original, we can stop trying to make something out of nothing and we can embrace influence instead of running away from it."

So many feelings! Even as a child, I felt like anything I had to offer must be new to the world or else what is the point. It really is a great burden that we put on ourselves. What a relief to know that we can learn from others instead of trying to outsmart them.

I'm only one chapter into the first book of the trilogy and I've had to pause the audiobook five times already to take notes. It looks like I'll be reading the ebooks next so that I can go back through and highlight every page. Apologies in advance for all the quotes that are about to overtake your feed.

"Always be reading. Go to the library. There‘s magic in being surrounded by books. Get lost in the stacks. Read bibliographies. It‘s not the book you start with, it‘s the book that book leads you to."

Really just get yourself to do it. The possibilities are endless.

#unmotivatedmonday
At least this book looks somewhat work related.😇😛
Anyone else not very productive today?

From the book fair today

While some things validate what I already do, there were a few that I needed to be reminded of such as the importance of a schedule. Even if you only write one page a day, at the end of a year you could have a finished book. Or in my case, if I knit a row a day....

Book 30/100

"Nothing is more important than an unread library."

I'm already loving this.

I need a little inspiration at work today.

Read this little gem on the plane home from Utah.

This is my second time reading. The first time was early 2013, when I gave it 3 stars. I was more engaged this time, so I'm popping it up to 4 stars. Good stuff!

ATTENTION
Do not
leave your
longings
unattended

A short punchy book with lots of good advice.
#NFNov
Also ticking off the #somethinginspirational box for #NonFiction2019 as this book has inspired me to just do the art. 😄
@rsteve388 @Clwojick

Getting in some reading at a local tea cafe.
#NFNov
@rsteve388
@Clwojick

#quotsyoct19 #apprentice @TK-421

When I picked this book up today, I was not expecting to read it all during my breaks at work. I love the creativity and simplicity of this book. So much to unpack in the short pages. I borrowed this one from the Library, but I am going to buy it. It will make a good reminder in those times when I can't figure out where my creativity comes from.

having so much fun with this book, loving the day-to-day exercises!

Book 71 of 2019

Short fun read, inspiring and laugh out loud funny. I had to stop to read bits aloud to my roommate a lot.

"Nothing is more paralyzing than the idea of limitless possibilities. The idea that you can do anything is absolutely terrifying." - Austin Kleon

Short and filled with pithy tidbits to inspire creativity. Not a lot of depth here, but I think it‘s a nice book to go back to for a little motivation.

➡️ You can read this for free on Amazon if you are a Prime member.

Good advice. Good input. Now to put them into practice.

Short, sweet, and brimming with wonderful quotes from artists and creatives.

“Collect books, even if you don‘t plan on reading them right away. Nothing is more important than an unread library.”

I am liking this little book of inspiration right from the beginning!

A group of artist friends chose this for their next book club pick. Although I am still working on the last one about Picasso, this seems to be a quick read!

Liked the read ☺

Just THE best. Easy yet provoking just like this pic from the book!

The amazing insights in the book will give you all the tools required to be as creative as you can be.

Travel more meet more people expand your adjacent possible and get creative!

Lightning-fast read. The odd gem but not much new / appealing to me. Also annoyed at the very limited references / quotes to female creators.

I love when a book ends up in my life at just the right time. I‘ve been wrapping up the Chasing Portraits docfilm, writing new things, and generally feeling a bit lost in my creative path. And then along comes this small and delightful book with ideas about how to keep moving forward. Some great wisdom and practical advice packed in these pages.

FAVOURITE NON-FICTION OF 2017 (4/5)
While I love losing myself in fictional worlds, sometimes it‘s just as fulfilling to learn more about the world I‘m in. Here are my favourite non-fiction books I read last year.

Kleon‘s little black book played a large part in inspiring me to get back into drawing. Since I‘ve read it I‘ve done more drawing in a few months then I have in years. For that it gets a spot on my list!
#favouritebooks2017