Maybe the best modern-day author:
Neil Gaiman
He’s sold 45 million books but rarely does interviews.
In 2019, Neil shared the 3 constraints he uses to drive productivity and creativity.
Here’s a breakdown of each one:
Neil Gaiman
He’s sold 45 million books but rarely does interviews.
In 2019, Neil shared the 3 constraints he uses to drive productivity and creativity.
Here’s a breakdown of each one:
After years of "politely asking," Tim Ferriss convinced Neil to come on his pod.
It's 109 minutes of pure gold.
I especially enjoyed the bit on Neil's constraints.
Listen here: podcasts.apple.com
It's 109 minutes of pure gold.
I especially enjoyed the bit on Neil's constraints.
Listen here: podcasts.apple.com
Neil says there are loads of things he’d rather do than write
Namely hangout with his young son.
So he sets 3 forms of constraints to keep himself on task + creative:
— His tools
— His space
— His activity
Namely hangout with his young son.
So he sets 3 forms of constraints to keep himself on task + creative:
— His tools
— His space
— His activity
Tools
When writing a first draft, Neil doesn’t use a computer.
He uses a fountain pen and a notebook.
Why?
Because your medium affects your output.
When writing a first draft, Neil doesn’t use a computer.
He uses a fountain pen and a notebook.
Why?
Because your medium affects your output.
Writing on Twitter → punchy with no nuance.
Writing a newsletter → longer form, more nuance.
Neil noticed the same is true comparing pens and computers.
Writing a newsletter → longer form, more nuance.
Neil noticed the same is true comparing pens and computers.
With a computer you “write and look at it and then fiddle with it to get it to be the thing that you mean.”
With a pen you “slow up a bit, think the sentence through to the end, and then start writing.”
Computers let your writing balloon.
Your story loses its shape and focus.
With a pen you “slow up a bit, think the sentence through to the end, and then start writing.”
Computers let your writing balloon.
Your story loses its shape and focus.
But writing with a pen forces you to consider every word, every sentence, before writing.
Your story stays sharp.
His other suggestions: Leuchtturm notebooks over Moleskines. Visconti fountain pens.
Your story stays sharp.
His other suggestions: Leuchtturm notebooks over Moleskines. Visconti fountain pens.
Space
Neil’s friend Ian Fleming booked the crappiest hotel in the most boring town he could find.
Decided he couldn’t check out until the book was done.
Result?
He wrote the first James Bond in 2 weeks.
Neil’s friend Ian Fleming booked the crappiest hotel in the most boring town he could find.
Decided he couldn’t check out until the book was done.
Result?
He wrote the first James Bond in 2 weeks.
Neil isn’t as extreme – he’ll get a beach house.
But the idea is the same:
Limit the amount of distractions in your work space.
– No phone
– No other tabs open
– Definitely no Twitter
Ask yourself: does your creative space invite distraction? Mine certainly did.
But the idea is the same:
Limit the amount of distractions in your work space.
– No phone
– No other tabs open
– Definitely no Twitter
Ask yourself: does your creative space invite distraction? Mine certainly did.
Activity
Neil limits himself to two possible activities:
1. Do nothing
2. Write
Neil can sit and do nothing. Just stare into space. Or write.
After a few minutes, writing becomes a lot more appealing than doing nothing.
Neil limits himself to two possible activities:
1. Do nothing
2. Write
Neil can sit and do nothing. Just stare into space. Or write.
After a few minutes, writing becomes a lot more appealing than doing nothing.
Neil controls his external environment — the tools available to him and the space he occupies — while also limiting his possible activities within that environment.
The right constraints incentivize focus, creativity and, as a result, better stories.
The right constraints incentivize focus, creativity and, as a result, better stories.
I study the best storytellers ever and share with you what I learn.
Follow @nathanbaugh27 so you don’t miss those.
Here’s another you might like:
Follow @nathanbaugh27 so you don’t miss those.
Here’s another you might like:
If you want to become a better storyteller, join 40,117 readers here: getrevue.co
Neil’s quote on second drafts is one of my very favorites:
“Write down everything that happens in the story, and then in your second draft make it look like you knew what you were doing all along.”
“Write down everything that happens in the story, and then in your second draft make it look like you knew what you were doing all along.”
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