June 15, 2006

4 Writing Tips I Learned from Peter Gabriel

published this at 6:08 am

When I sat down to write this post, nothing seemed to be working. The words just didn’t behave. I didn’t like anything I wrote. Nothing was good enough. I wanted more than what was happening. So I got some advice from a friend.

I put on some Peter Gabriel. He had some wise words for me. Here are a few of the words he had for me and what they mean to me.

    1. Don’t give up. I know you can make it good. Writing is work. There’s no doubt about that. Every writer has a problem getting started every now and then. I start writing in the middle or sneak in through a side door using a photo for an idea. Sometimes I put on some music or take a walk and then try again.

    2. How you feel can make it real. Get alive with the dreamer’s dream. They say the best advice for any writer is write about what you know. I think the best advice might be write what you care about. Readers can sense when your heart is in the words. They can feel the power. I think they know when I’m laughing, singing, and dancing to the music as I’m typing.

    3. All my instincts they return. Once I start to write about something that I care for, the words cooperate again. My writing starts to sound like I am writing it. I get a kick out of reading it. Something called fun is happening.

    4. My heart is going boom, boom, boom. Nothing is more fun than writing that has gone well, especially after it started out stuck.

Peter Gabriel taught me that.

—ME “Liz” Strauss

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Filed under Successful Blog | 25 Comments »


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25 Comments to “4 Writing Tips I Learned from Peter Gabriel”

  1. June 15th, 2006 at 8:22 am
    Steve Remington said

    Good old Peter Gabriel! :)

  2. June 15th, 2006 at 10:05 am
    Jonic said

    One of the best ways to write great content that I’ve learnt from Peter Gabriel is to write specifically to shock (the monkey).

  3. June 15th, 2006 at 10:08 am
    Chris Cree said

    Good stuff. I told some friends the other day that my dream concert would be a Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Genesis marathon. Each of them could perform solo for a while then get the whole band back together.

  4. June 15th, 2006 at 10:14 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Steve,
    Great to see you!
    Yeah, Peter’s a wise one. He helped a lot last night.
    Liz

  5. June 15th, 2006 at 10:41 am
    ME Strauss said

    Jonic,
    Thanks for that. Writing specifically is one that’s missing from this post for sure.

    Thanks too for playing along with the post too!
    Liz

  6. June 15th, 2006 at 10:42 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hey, Chris,
    Upi set up the concert. Then we’ll live blog it.

  7. June 15th, 2006 at 1:45 pm
    Brad said

    Peter Gabriel has that amazing music video too. What a creative player. And also I couldnt find your email Liz, but if you get a chance ‘d like to ask you a question so plese fire me off an email.

    Thanks,

    Brad

  8. June 15th, 2006 at 2:11 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Brad!
    Great to see you commenting. Peter Gabriel is creative in so many ways.

    I won’t be home until late, late tonight, but feel free to email me at lizsun2@gmail.com
    Liz

  9. June 15th, 2006 at 5:17 pm
    Shawn Morrissey said

    …and through the wire, we push our tailor-made speeches…

    - from PG3

  10. June 15th, 2006 at 6:53 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Thanks Shawn,
    I was worried that not enough folks were Peter Gabriel fans . . . Guess I should give myself a talking to. :)

  11. June 16th, 2006 at 1:28 am
    Cat said

    You read my mind Liz. I was just this minute (while waiting for the rental to arrive) collecting resources to help with writing, and … there you were. Again. Thanks. Again.

  12. June 16th, 2006 at 5:51 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hey, Cat, you are delightful to keep in touch with.
    I’m glad the blog can help you.
    If you have a specific need, let me know. The answer is probably here somewhere.

  13. June 16th, 2006 at 6:23 am
    Visions and Dreams: Do We Need Them? at CREEations said

    [...] Visions and Dreams: Do We Need Them? Published June 16th, 2006 in Life, God, Principles Tags: No Tags. No TagsOver at Successful-Blog Liz Strauss wrote yesterday about learning writing tips from Peter Gabriel.Now I was a Peter Gabriel fan back in the day. His lyrics are thought provoking and his music is emotional. He was incredibly entertaining (not to mention having a completely Biblical name.) [...]

  14. June 16th, 2006 at 7:16 am
    Cat said

    Thanks Liz. I’m compiling a number of writing resources to assist me when I start up later on this year. I’m not a writer, so will need a great deal of practical assistance to clean up my act. I’ll be going through your archives as, among other things, you are spot on for advice when it comes to common sense.

  15. June 16th, 2006 at 7:20 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Cat,
    Thanks. I’m happy to help in any way I can.

    I’m putting together a seminar program for in the fall. I’d be interested in what you, and other readers, think I should be sure to include in the program. What you think you’d want me to talk about of all the things I write about.

  16. June 16th, 2006 at 7:28 am
    Cat said

    Liz,
    I’ll need a month (realistically) to get my notes together and get back to you. As you know, I’m setting up a blogging team and in the process I’m doing a range of research, so there is a chance what I come up with will help you in a small way.

  17. June 16th, 2006 at 8:10 am
    ME Strauss said

    Cat,
    I’m always interested in feedback, particularly observational (even negative, maybe especially negative), whenever anyone has a chance.

    No pressure and no worries. Is there anyone who doesn’t have a million things to do. Take your time and don’t forget those g&ts. Drink one every time for me. :)

  18. June 16th, 2006 at 7:13 pm
    Cat said

    Liz, forget G&T’s? LOL! Never. This country was the one who introduced them to me back in ’94 or so. Colonial living without would be a sad state of affairs for the nine years I was here. And yes, tonight while I’m gazing across the South China Sea, I will indeed toast one to you. :-)
    So soon, tomorrow is home again … I’m going from the land between the land of the chicken butts n beer and the land below the waves, to the land of Singh and sugar smiles.

    Gawd, I need another cuppa for sure …

  19. June 16th, 2006 at 7:49 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Whew! Cat, what a relief! I’d hate think of you being thirsty in the middle of Borneo. I would worry about you.

  20. September 15th, 2006 at 7:16 pm
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  21. September 15th, 2006 at 8:30 pm
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  22. October 16th, 2006 at 3:58 pm
    Joerg Petermann said

    A wonderful place to say “Thank you” for inspirational wirting and sharing tips around the topic I love! :)

  23. October 16th, 2006 at 5:21 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Juerg,
    Welcome! It’s nice to have follks around like you who can makes use of what I do so that feeling is mutual . Thank you also. :)

  24. May 26th, 2009 at 8:25 am
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    [...] june 15, 2006 1. Don’t give up. I know you can make it good. Writing is work. There’s no doubt about that. Every writer has a problem getting started every now and then. I start writing in the middle or sneak in through a side door using a photo for an idea. Sometimes I put on some music or take a walk and then try again. 2. How you feel can make it real. Get alive with the dreamer’s dream. They say the best advice for any writer is write about what you know. I think the best advice might be write what you care about. Readers can sense when your heart is in the words. They can feel the power. I think they know when I’m laughing, singing, and dancing to the music as I’m typing. 3. All my instincts they return. Once I start to write about something that I care for, the words cooperate again. My writing starts to sound like I am writing it. I get a kick out of reading it. Something called fun is happening. 4. My heart is going boom, boom, boom. Nothing is more fun than writing that has gone well, especially after it started out stuck. [...]

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