Ira Glass gives advice to beginning creative artists ...

[Los Angeles]

Ira Glass is the creator/host of Chicago Public Radio's "This American Life".

This excerpt is a loose transcript of an interview from a few years ago.

I thought a number of you might find a bit of wisdom in these words.

Enjoy!

Kent

Nobody tells this to people who are beginners. I wish someone had told me.

All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap.

For the first couple of years you make stuff, it's just not that good. It's trying to be good, it has potential, but it's not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you.

A lot of people never get past this phase; they quit.

Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn't have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know that it's normal and the most important thing you can do is DO A LOT OF WORK. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week or month you finish one piece.

It's only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions.

And I took longer to figure out how to do this than ANYONE I'VE EVER MET.

It's gonna take a while. It's NORMAL to take awhile.

You just gotta fight your way through.

 

[lonepine]

He said it so succinctly. It's about growth. Very few people are born with expert knowledge, skills, and abilities. OK, most teenagers already know everything, but as they get a little older they seem to lose their omniscience and get as dumb as their parents were.

Excuse me, I've got a LOT of work to do.

- Paul Meske, Wisconsin

 

[Salem Straub]

I'm interested in many things. Life is just full of great skills and arts to learn. I'm no stranger to the frustration of starting out with no skill and a long uphill battle to go. In just a few arts do I think I'm beginning to get somewhere. That's a great thing about this craft, there is no point at which one no longer has fascinating areas to explore and learn in.

I'm a big fan of NPR, and "This American Life." Thanks for posting that.

 

[tryppyr]

I love NPR too, but somehow never catch Ira's show. I can certainly relate to Ira's words. Wish someone had said that to me 30 years ago... when I was writing bad stories. Or 20 years ago... when I was painting awful pictures. Oh well, at least I finally saw the words. I'll just be thankful for that.

 

[Mark Behnke]

I've been thinking of quitting lately, because of just those reasons. Can't seem to get my work up to my expectations. I want every piece to be, the one, flawless, extraordinary. I just need to do as he says.
Thanks for posting that, I thought I just didn't have it.

Mark Behnke

 

[Michael Rader]

That is very nice. All beginning knifemakers here should read that. Good thread.
-M

 

[lonepine]

I've been thinking of quitting lately, because of just those reasons. Can't seem to get my work up to my expectations. I want every piece to be, the one, flawless, extraordinary...
Mark Behnke

I recall watching the segment of the Red Green show called "Ask the Experts". The question was simple enough, "What is the secret to happiness?" The answer surprised the heck out of me, "Lower your expectations."

I expect that there are reasons why this is not necessarily good advice for everyone, and I am not implying that it applies to you, but it struck me as making a lot of sense, in a funny sort of way.

- Paul Meske

 

[SBuzek]

Never lower your expectations......just realize it may take longer to achieve them than you expected.
Stan

 

[Mark Behnke]

I once heard Europeans are happier because they have low expectations.

I just need to do more work, accept and learn from my mistakes instead of getting depressed and stopping my work.
Quote: "Put yourself on a deadline so that every week or month you finish one piece."

This is very valuable advice, I drag along when there is a problem, or I stop when my work doesn't meet my unreasonable standard.

When I was in my electricians apprenticeship, a journeyman once said "Don't be afraid of your work"

I took that to mean don't be afraid to make a mistake. Still applys. Just need to heed his advice.

 

[4ever3]

Thanks for posting this Los Angeles, I took a screen shot of it and printed it to hang in the shed...