TED Talk For Writers
Posted under: I love TED talks.
I love how random they can be, how interesting or inspiring or useful they are.
I love how everyone involved with them seems to value KNOWLEDGE and SHARING.
Here’s a TED Talk I found on a list of talks for writers. Although I found value in many of the others, this one struck just the right chord with me. Before seeing this, I didn’t have much of an opinion at all about Elizabeth Gilbert (author of the crazy runaway bestseller Eat, Pray, Love) but AFTER seeing it, I am struck by how honest, open, and REAL she seems.
This talk is about separating the “muse” from the “writer”, but also about the terrors of BEING a writer, and worse! being a successful one who can reasonably expect their most important and lauded work to already be behind them. The notion of genius as she describes it is an interesting one (and I’d love to hear your thoughts on it in the comments!) but through it all, it’s her almost naked passion for what she’s talking about that draws me in.
And that, my friends, is what I love about TED talks. <3
Not Writing Related
Totally not related to writing at all, but below, I’ve linked my all-time FAVORITE TED Talk, the one about bringing puppets to life, which has a life-sized horse puppet so ALIVE it’s gorgeous.
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/handpring_puppet_co_the_genius_puppetry_behind_war_horse.html
I love TED talks, and I especially love this one. It’s up there with Jo Rowling’s talk to the (I think) Harvard graduating class in terms of speeches that make me think about writing and thinking in new ways. I really like the idea of a separate genius, especially with how mental illness sometimes makes the creative process. It’s easier (and healthier, I think) to think of manic weeks as visits from a muse or genius than it is to start analyzing it as crazy (which kind of kills the fun and creativity and productivity of a good manic week).
I read that Rowling talk and you’re right, it was WONDERFUL.
And that’s a great point, about the “crazies”.
It’s SO EASY to draw “crazy” parallels when writing.
Characters take on a life of their own, often defying attempts to control their actions. Best-laid plans go awry ALL THE TIME. Fits of brilliance, followed by darkest depression. Voices in our heads. Talking to ourselves.
But I don’t FEEL crazy, you know? (That’s the first sign!).
I feel … like I’m doing something right.
I have not taken the 19 minutes to watch or listen to this clip, but I did take about 15 seconds and this is my impression.
I have seen naked passion before, and THIS is not it.
I think you are crazy. And I bet you are not doing something right if you think that is naked passion.
There are some kinds of naked passion I would not post on my site. *laugh*
This is one of my favorite TED talks! I can’t go on there, every time I do, I leave ready to quit my job, sell all my belongings, and save the world : )
I know EXACTLY what you mean!!