How to Construct a Classic Rock Song (Courtesy of Steely Dan)

Here’s a really cool video (below) about the making of Steely Dan’s classic song Peg. I thought you’d enjoy watching the process of how they created it with their session musicians. Enjoy!

Feel free to leave a comment!

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Have you been to The Creative Zone lately?

It’s a great place to visit, isn’t it?

I’ve been there for the past few days, in case you were wondering.

Here’s how I got there:

I started playing guitar again. Mind you, I’m not a very skilled musician. I know how to play maybe five or six chords. I write simple melodies and sometimes record them on Guitar Tracks.

Despite my limitations as a musician, I absolutely love playing music. It puts me in The Creative Zone.

So what exactly is The Creative Zone? What does it feel like? How can you find it?

Allow me to describe my Zone experience these past few days as I recorded my latest song.

Maybe you’ll relate, and if you can’t, well, consider these the signs that let you know you’ve arrived:

1. I felt total passion, joy, and love for what I was doing.

2. Time does not exist in The Creative Zone; I started recording at 9am. A minute later I looked up and it was 3pm.

3. There is no hunger (for food) in The Creative Zone. I didn’t eat all day - didn’t even think about it - I was totally focused and immersed.

4. I felt challenged the entire time - frustrated by my lack of musical skill, singing ability, and engineering know-how, yet forging ahead anyway. I loved the entire process and was determined to record the music the best I could.

5. I left The Creative Zone when things got frustrating. I felt like I’d ruined the music. I took a walk and sat under a tree and let the sun shine on me. When I re-entered The Zone I felt clearer. I could hear the song with fresh ears and repaired the problems quickly.

6. I felt excited by the process - like I was on a mission. I wanted to record the melody for posterity. My friend Samantha sang harmony on the song, and I wanted her to have a nice recording.

7. When the tune was finished, I could hear the imperfections, but I knew I was done. I liked it. I felt tremendous satisfaction. I was exhausted…the good kind of exhaustion that comes from working hard at something meaningful to you.

The song is an instrumental - six minutes of a dreamy, repetitive guitar melody.

It’s called Epiphany.

Would you like to hear it?

Are you sure?

Okay…Go here.

(To read more on the subject of getting into The Creative Zone, check out a book called Flow.)

What about you? Are you in The Creative Zone? Be sure to leave a comment, describing what it feels like when you’re there!

What tools do you need for your creativity?

Do you already have them? If not, how come?

If you do have them, are they quality tools? Professional? Do they function properly?

I thought I’d post about this, because it’s a factor for a lot of creative people, including myself.

Sometimes I’m guilty of not owning the best tools. Tools that will make my creative journey easier, maybe even earn me more money.

Ironically, money is often the reason - or the excuse - why we don’t buy the best tools.

I have a talented musician friend who sometimes asks to borrow my microphone whenever he performs live. This guy writes songs as good as Kurt Cobain for godsake. He needs to buy his own damn mic! He’s worth it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maybe that’s another reason we don’t get proper tools. We don’t take our creativity, our talent, our passion, our calling, seriously enough.

Whenever I deliberate about buying a new computer, my buddy John says, “It’s an investment, man…an investment in your art and your business!”

He’s right. We owe it to ourselves to paint with the best brushes we can afford.

I’m so glad my novelist buddy has a new computer, because for months he wrote his stories on a laptop that took 15 minutes just to boot up. When it finally did, typing on it was like…oh I don’t know…using spraypaint to do calligraphy. It was torture. There’s no excuse for suffering like this when you’re a creative genius!

Let’s think about it:

~ Did Babe Ruth step up to the plate with a broken bat?

~ Does The Iron Chef buy woks at Walmart?

Nope!

Don’t misunderstand. Maybe you only need Photoshop 3 to achieve your goals like illustrator Bob Staake. Or maybe, like Willie Nelson, you play an acoustic guitar with a dozen holes in it but it still sounds fantastic.

The question is, do you have tools that enable you to do your creative magic and perform at your best, smoothly and easily?

Maybe you can make a list right now. Call it Dream Tools for My Creativity.

Make the list…then save up and get what you need.

‘Cause you’re talented.

And you’re worth it.

What quality tools do you use for your trade? Care to share? Leave a comment!

[I’d like to thank Lucie’s Weddings & Events for sending me a donation. I appreciate it!]

Do you have a sketchbook? A notebook? Something you can pull out anytime, anywhere, and be creative?

A sketchbook (let’s call it a sketchbook) is your best friend; you can say anything to it and it doesn’t judge. It’s always there for you - when you’re bored, when you’re fidgety, when you need to express yourself.

(below are samples from my personal sketchbook)

Open your sketchbook - it’s open-minded. It can’t see you, but it’s all ears.

Do you know what I like to do with my sketchbooks?

I like to spill things on them accidentally. Coffee, food, beer, it’s all good.

This does two important things:

1. It reminds you that your sketchbooks aren’t mean to be perfect.

2. It gives your sketchbook character.

Go ahead - make your weirdest, worst art in your sketchbook. Write those bad song lyrics, draw that lady’s head out of proportion - who cares! Nobody has to see, because it’s yours. It’s private. Don’t show anybody. Or show everybody - it’s up to you.

There are many different kinds of sketchbooks. They come in all shapes and sizes. The style you choose is personal. Don’t buy just any old sketchbook you find in Barnes & Noble. Get something you love, something that feels good in your hands, fits in your back pocket, or tucks conveniently in your bag.

Me? I always buy the same sketchbook: a Cachet Classic Hardbound Sketchbook (never spiral) with over 200 acid-free blank pages. (Acid-free means the paper won’t yellow.) I get one of two sizes: either the horizontal 6″x9″, or the small square 4″x6″ size. Both are portable and give my hand room to stretch. This sketchbook is bound like a real book, so you can’t easily tear pages out, but I do sometimes if I want to give a drawing away.

The Moleskin notebooks and sketchbooks are very popular; apparently Hemingway used them, among other famous creators. (They make a really nice watercolor book.) But I’ve yet to meet a Moleskin that suits my needs. (Again, you gotta buy a book that’s right for you - not just ’cause Hemingway used it.)

So, what are you waiting for? Get yourself a sketchbook or notebook! Scribble, doodle, jot down that brilliant idea. Whatever. Use it everyday. Whether it’s a cheapo spiral-bound notebook you buy at Walgreens, or a nice one like the ones I mention above. Sketchbooks are an invaluable part of the creative process and a fantastic way to record and archive your creative journey.

Leave your sketchy comments, or tell us about your favorite sketchbook/notebook!

Do you have a particular creative goal? A destination you want to reach?

Are you enjoying every step along the journey?

You might appreciate this:

Last Friday I took the ‘day off’ and went to Martha’s Vineyard. My goal - my ultimate intention - was to reach a beach at Gay Head (Aquinnah) where colorful cliffs loom over the sea.

That was my goal for the day; get to that beach.

But I noticed something along the way: every step getting there - and back - was exciting, even if it was ‘boring’.

For example:

1. Buying a ticket to get on the ferry was kind of exciting. So was waiting for the ferry to arrive (I sketched people).

2. Being on the ferry itself, with all the excited people, was kind of exciting.

3. Cruising out of the harbor (starting the journey) was exciting. So was noticing the names of boats we passed (which gave me an idea for a future post).

4. Arriving at Martha’s Vineyard - exciting.

5. Finding the restaurant my friend told me about - the one that served great fish tacos - exciting.

6. Catching the shuttle bus to Edgartown was exciting (we passed a beach where they filmed Jaws).

7. Seeing my book on a shelf at the Edgartown bookstore was exciting.

8. Arriving at my destination - Aquinnah - was exciting.

9. Walking the mile-long path to get to the beach was exciting. The path cuts through grassy dunes and bushes filled with flowers and butterflies. (You can hear the ocean…anticipation builds.)

10. Finally, reaching the beach itself. Awesome!

But wait - the journey doesn’t end there!

11. Leaving the beach, the old bus driver told me his life story. Like how he almost died - should have died - 3 times in his life, but didn’t. He once drowned. He got shot in the heart! He survived a terminal cancer diagnosis…

He said God must have a reason for keeping him around - maybe so he can help others in some small way - give them strength, or comfort, or help them appreciate life in general, the way he does.

I tipped him five bucks, but his stories were worth the whole trip.

Granted, a day on Martha’s Vineyard doesn’t give a man a lot to complain about. Life is filled with challenge and hardship in many places around the world. I guess my point is, sometimes we get so fixated on getting our prize that we dismiss the amazing things that happen along the way.

It’s about the journey, not the destination, as they say. I thought of how true this was as the ferry carried this lucky boy away from the Vineyard, with the orange sun setting on the water.

What a beautiful ride.

Your thoughts? Leave a comment.

“There’s no time for quotes.” - Mark Penta

Are you in a creative hurry?

Have you got a deadline?

Like me, right now?

I’m typing this from a library, and there’s a crowd of people waiting to use the computer. I want to post something creative, but I have no ideas. I’ve got 20 minutes to be brilliant, and I’m feeling the pressure. But there’s no time to feel pressure; all I can do is type these words and hope something great happens - something worthy of your time and attention.

Garrison Keillor was once asked how long it takes him to write an episode of his radio show, A Praire Home Companion. He said if he has a week’s deadline it takes him a week to write the show. But if he only has a day it takes him a day.

Deadlines are a good thing. Like just now - a little window just warned me that I have 10 minutes to finish. Yikes!

That means I have barely enough time to finish this line and edit the post. Could I save it and refine it later? Sure, but I’m not going to. Why? Because this is an exercise.

This is creativity to go.

See ya!

Comments?

“When I pray to God I say, ‘It’s your call - when it’s time to go it’s time to go. But as long as you’re going to leave me here then I’m going to cause much ruckus!’”
- Prince

Fireworks are exploding across America this weekend, and every booming burst is a reminder to us creative types, spoken in language we can understand (color, design, sound).

Here’s what the fireworks have to teach us about creativity:

BOOM!

1. Be spectacular. Get a reaction from your crowd.
Whatever you create, why not strive to make something that’ll make your audience gasp “ooh!” and “aaah!”? That’s what Michelangelo did. That’s what Spielberg does. What about you and me?

SHHHHHHH!

2. The quiet moments in between the (creative) explosions are necessary.
After a firework explodes, the sky goes black and things stay quiet for a while. Nothing happens. Suspense builds. New fireworks are being loaded. What will they look like? This ‘nothing’ period is part of the whole experience, isn’t it? We can’t explode creatively non-stop, can we? Nope. Breaks are necessary. Time to reload.

BANG!

3. Keep the crowd guessing.
Each firework explosion is a surprise that delights us. This one is red and bursts in huge streaks. The next one is blue, glitters like diamonds and sssssizzzzzzles. Every explosion is different; a different color, shape, and sound. When you listen to a Prince album, it’s the same thing. What about your creations? Are you surprising us each time with something a little bit different?

BOOM! BANG! BOOM! B-BOOM! BOOM! B-B-BOOOOOMM!

4. The grand finale.
The finale is the most exciting part of the show. It’s when they pull out all the stops and give us everything they’ve got. When we give all we’ve got creatively, there is nothing more thrilling or satisfying, is there?

Any dazzling insights you’d care to share? Leave an explosive comment, and have a great weekend!

“I thought of that while riding my bike.” - Albert Einstein, on the Theory of Relativity

When you’re about to embark on a creative project, do you have faith that your Muse will show up? Or do you wait for inspiration to strike before you begin?

The more I think about it, the more I realize how important faith is to the creative process. You might have an inkling of an idea - just a sketch - but it’s not enough. You need more - more ideas - but they’re not coming to you. This can be scary enough to keep you from proceeding.

I think the solution can be found in bike riding.

To ride a bike, you first have to get on an object that isn’t moving (like your project). You have to climb on, put your feet on the pedals, exert some effort, and get the thing going.

When you first start pedaling there’s resistance. It’s a little slow and difficult. But soon your effort pays off, because the wheels turn faster and faster and the bike gains momentum. You don’t have to pedal so hard now - you’re gliding. It’s a balancing act; you’re in control, you’re steering the bike, but the bike is taking YOU for a ride.

I think that’s how it is when we trust that The Muse will show up. Once we get those creative wheels spinning, something takes over; something magical that carries our imagination to places we’ve never been before.

Then we can relax, enjoy the ride, and break when necessary.

Thoughts? Leave a comment!

“You have to have an idea of what you are going to do, but it should be a vague idea.”
- Pablo Picasso

So you’ve got a blog, and you’re getting ready to write your next post only - oops - you’re stumped for ideas. Well, you don’t have to stay blocked for long. Here are some things I do that keep the ideas constantly flowing:

1. Notice little everyday moments and ask yourself, How does this apply to my blog’s theme?
You’re waiting in line at the supermarket. Notice what’s happening around you. Notice how the cashier smiled at you, or how long the line is, or how many candy bars there are. What does any of it have to do with your blog? Can you make any associations?

2. Use photos to trigger ideas.
Can you take pictures with your cell phone? If so, start snapping photos of things that interest you as you journey through your day. Or flip through a magazine and look at the pictures. Ask yourself what the photos have to do with your blog. Let’s say you find a photo of an empty park bench. If your blog is about health, the bench might inspire a post about getting proper rest. If your blog is about marketing, the empty bench might inspire a post about getting customers.

3. Use a book of quotes.
Buy yourself a book of quotes - maybe one that pertains to your blog’s theme - and keep it near your computer. When you feel stuck you can flip through it and find a quote that inspires you, then write an article expanding on it.

4. Find inspiration from comments on other blogs.
Last week I perused the comments at Christine Kane’s blog, and a woman mentioned her fear of creating artwork. Her comment inspired me to write my recent series about how to conquer these fears.

5. Eavesdrop.
When you’re in a cafe, or on the subway, what are the people around you discussing? What does it have to do with your blog? Jot it down and write about it later.

6. Get inspired by conversations with friends.
If a friend or associate calls you to vent about a common creative problem, and the conversation fits with your blog’s theme, it could inspire you to write a post filled with solutions to that problem. (Of course, you should never mention your friend’s name or betray their trust in any way.)

7. Blog about nothing.
When I sat down to write this post I had no ideas. My mind was blank. Then I remembered an assignment I once gave in my cartooning classes. Whenever a student was stuck for ideas, I had them draw a comic strip of their character having no ideas. Just draw them walking down the street. Next thing you know, like magic - boom - a clever idea suddenly appears in your head.

8. Ask your readers a question.
It might seem like passing the buck at first, but it’s a neat way to come up with a great post and get your community involved. After all, isn’t blogging about sharing information, wisdom, and resources?

9. Use the news.
What does the presidential race have to do with your blog? What does global warming have to do with your blog? At first you might say ‘nothing’, but keep asking that question - something will come to you.

10. Use the latest, hottest entertainment to trigger a post idea.
What does the new Batman film have to do with your blog? What does American Idol have to do with your blog? It’s a fun way to grab attention and a creative way to bring it all back to your blog’s theme.

Do you have any ideas to share? Any tricks up your sleeve? Leave a comment!

“I used to call it Scrambled Eggs.” - Paul McCartney, referring to the working title of his famous Beatles song, Yesterday.

I’m convinced that a great title is one of the biggest keys to success for any book, movie, song, or business.

A great title gets you in the door. It sparks a flame of curiosity in your audience that makes them want to investigate further.

I’m amazed at how many Hollywood films are released with really boring, forgettable titles. Even with big-name stars attached, these movies are dead on arrival.

Basic
Man of the Year
Hollywood Homicide
Two For The Money

Do you remember those films? Do you care? Me either! Guess what? They all came out within the past six years and starred John Travolta, Robin Williams, Harrison Ford, and Al Pacino. They could be the best movies in the world but the titles don’t excite me enough to want to see them. They’re too bland and vague.

Compare them to these memorable titles:

Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars, Mission Impossible, Back to the Future, The 40 Year-Old Virgin, The Karate Kid, Kill Bill, Sex and the City, Desperate Housewives.

Kinda grab you, don’t they? They’re intriguing, urgent, funny, interesting. They spark our curiosity. They’re also visual - they put pictures in our heads that tease us and make us want to see the action they promise.

How about hit songs?

Heartbreak Hotel, When Doves Cry, Werewolves of London, Sunday Bloody Sunday, All My Exes Live in Texas, Runnin’ With The Devil, Careless Whisper, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Lady is a Tramp.

Or some popular books:

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Conversations With God, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Alice in Wonderland, Green Eggs and Ham, Where the Wild Things Are.

‘Name’ titles tend to be popular and safe:

Charlotte’s Web, Carrie, Casablanca, Jerry Maguire, Ocean’s Eleven, Forrest Gump, Titanic.

Name titles make you curious about who the people are and why an entire movie or book is devoted to them.

Sure, there are many successful creations with bland titles. I can’t name one song title by the band New Order, but I can still sing their tunes. Titles like A Few Good Men, and Contact don’t elicit much excitement, but they have great plots and actors attached. Battlefield Earth is a pretty cool title, but we know what happened there. So who knows why some succeed while others don’t.

Why not strive to make your titles stand out? Why not make them memorable, catchy, intriguing, funny, quirky, or mysterious?

Give us a title we’ll always remember!

Thoughts? Leave a comment!