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4 Writing Tips I Learned from Peter Gabriel

June 15, 2006 by Liz Leave a Comment

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 Tagged With: bc, Peter-Gabriel, Power-Writing-for-Everyone, writers-block, writing-advice, writing-ideas

Comments

  1. Steve Remington says

    June 15, 2006 at 8:22 AM

    Good old Peter Gabriel! 🙂

    Reply
  2. Jonic says

    June 15, 2006 at 10:05 AM

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

    Reply
  3. Chris Cree says

    June 15, 2006 at 10:08 AM

    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.

    Reply
  4. ME Strauss says

    June 15, 2006 at 10:14 AM

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

    Reply
  5. ME Strauss says

    June 15, 2006 at 10:41 AM

    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

    Reply
  6. ME Strauss says

    June 15, 2006 at 10:42 AM

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

    Reply
  7. Brad says

    June 15, 2006 at 1:45 PM

    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

    Reply
  8. ME Strauss says

    June 15, 2006 at 2:11 PM

    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

    Reply
  9. Shawn Morrissey says

    June 15, 2006 at 5:17 PM

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

    – from PG3

    Reply
  10. ME Strauss says

    June 15, 2006 at 6:53 PM

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

    Reply
  11. Cat says

    June 16, 2006 at 1:28 AM

    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.

    Reply
  12. ME Strauss says

    June 16, 2006 at 5:51 AM

    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.

    Reply
  13. Cat says

    June 16, 2006 at 7:16 AM

    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.

    Reply
  14. ME Strauss says

    June 16, 2006 at 7:20 AM

    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.

    Reply
  15. Cat says

    June 16, 2006 at 7:28 AM

    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.

    Reply
  16. ME Strauss says

    June 16, 2006 at 8:10 AM

    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. 🙂

    Reply
  17. Cat says

    June 16, 2006 at 7:13 PM

    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 …

    Reply
  18. ME Strauss says

    June 16, 2006 at 7:49 PM

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

    Reply
  19. Joerg Petermann says

    October 16, 2006 at 3:58 PM

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

    Reply
  20. ME Strauss says

    October 16, 2006 at 5:21 PM

    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. 🙂

    Reply

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