I wish I had good advice for getting past this (I mean, I suffer the same lack of confidence). But it is on you and you need to trust what other people say when they praise you. Finding people you trust and value is vital. As much as anything, I've never found that kind of person who I trust to engage with (which is, nevertheless, mostly on me).Kory wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 5:16pmYeah, I do value them in that sense, but as somebody who was so obsessed with music as a kid that I decided I needed to make my own, I'm forever haunted by my inability to create at least one thing that's truly (and I hate this word) special, if that makes sense. It always seems just out of reach, even conceptually. Reminds me of that Calvin & Hobbes comic where Calvin tell Suzie that he imagines being a girl must be like being a bug—they have a dim perception that nature has played a trick on them, but lack the brainpower to comprehend the magnitude of it. I often feel like whatever it is that makes for really good songwriting is beyond me, to the point that I don't even know what I'm missing, in order to fix the situation.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 5:08pmIt's a document of who you were. That's its value. You're actually lucky in that, as a creative person, you do have those documents as evidence and measures.Kory wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 4:53pmYeah I usually go back to listen to a couple choice albums maybe once a year. There have been a couple times where I say to myself "this isn't so bad, I guess," but more often than not it tends to be more "this is mixed very poorly," or "this track is too long and that transition is stupid." I also wind up seeing it through the lens of whatever I'm working on at the time, too, so that doesn't help. I recognize that heavy self-criticism is integral to improvement, but it does leave me feeling like I'm wasting my time a lot.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 4:48pmDo you ever go back and revisit older stuff? I ask because I don't think I've ever written anything of real value, but when I've had to go back to stuff to mine for lecture material, I've warmed to it somewhat—i.e., I can find a couple decent ideas or turns of phrase that I think are okay. Time does sand down some of our self-criticism.
B.A.D. Observations Thread
- Dr. Medulla
- Atheistic Epileptic
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Re: B.A.D. Observations Thread
"Ain't no party like an S Club party!'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
- Marky Dread
- Messiah of the Milk Bar
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Re: B.A.D. Observations Thread
How about a story about a musician who can't find the self belief he needs.Kory wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 5:18pmDo you write drunk and edit sober? I've often thought about doing some writing, but I've never been able to think of anything compelling to write about.Silent Majority wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 5:13pmI'm the opposite. I write short stories, think they're at standard and go back to them and learn they needed about five more drafts.
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
"Without the common people you're nothing"
Nos Sumus Una Familia
- Marky Dread
- Messiah of the Milk Bar
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Re: B.A.D. Observations Thread
Said Noel Gallagher ever.Heston wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 4:41pmI just write and play music because I like it. I love playing live even though it can be stressful, but nothing is better than writing a song. You suddenly have something that never existed 24 hours or whatever previously. I guess I just enjoy the creative process, and would do it even if no one heard the songs.Kory wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 4:05pmI'd give my firstborn to do anything on that level. As it is, I've recorded 10 solo albums since 2001, and two albums and some singles with my hip hop group since 2006, and don't feel like I've really achieved anything.
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
"Without the common people you're nothing"
Nos Sumus Una Familia
Re: B.A.D. Observations Thread
Oh, I'm not looking for any kind of validation or solutions, just making conversationDr. Medulla wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 5:39pmI wish I had good advice for getting past this (I mean, I suffer the same lack of confidence). But it is on you and you need to trust what other people say when they praise you. Finding people you trust and value is vital. As much as anything, I've never found that kind of person who I trust to engage with (which is, nevertheless, mostly on me).Kory wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 5:16pmYeah, I do value them in that sense, but as somebody who was so obsessed with music as a kid that I decided I needed to make my own, I'm forever haunted by my inability to create at least one thing that's truly (and I hate this word) special, if that makes sense. It always seems just out of reach, even conceptually. Reminds me of that Calvin & Hobbes comic where Calvin tell Suzie that he imagines being a girl must be like being a bug—they have a dim perception that nature has played a trick on them, but lack the brainpower to comprehend the magnitude of it. I often feel like whatever it is that makes for really good songwriting is beyond me, to the point that I don't even know what I'm missing, in order to fix the situation.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 5:08pmIt's a document of who you were. That's its value. You're actually lucky in that, as a creative person, you do have those documents as evidence and measures.Kory wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 4:53pmYeah I usually go back to listen to a couple choice albums maybe once a year. There have been a couple times where I say to myself "this isn't so bad, I guess," but more often than not it tends to be more "this is mixed very poorly," or "this track is too long and that transition is stupid." I also wind up seeing it through the lens of whatever I'm working on at the time, too, so that doesn't help. I recognize that heavy self-criticism is integral to improvement, but it does leave me feeling like I'm wasting my time a lot.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 4:48pm
Do you ever go back and revisit older stuff? I ask because I don't think I've ever written anything of real value, but when I've had to go back to stuff to mine for lecture material, I've warmed to it somewhat—i.e., I can find a couple decent ideas or turns of phrase that I think are okay. Time does sand down some of our self-criticism.
"Suck our Earth dick, Martians!" —Doc
Re: B.A.D. Observations Thread
I had a friend once critique a piece of writing I did about myself with "who's gonna care about this?" So I don't think of writing about myself as an option really.Marky Dread wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 6:08pmHow about a story about a musician who can't find the self belief he needs.Kory wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 5:18pmDo you write drunk and edit sober? I've often thought about doing some writing, but I've never been able to think of anything compelling to write about.Silent Majority wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 5:13pmI'm the opposite. I write short stories, think they're at standard and go back to them and learn they needed about five more drafts.
"Suck our Earth dick, Martians!" —Doc
-
Silent Majority
- Singer-Songwriter Nancy
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- Location: South Londoner in the Midlands.
Re: B.A.D. Observations Thread
Honestly, I barely drink at all these days. And enjoyable drugs don't help me write. Maybe speed would, but who wants to come down from that?Kory wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 5:18pmDo you write drunk and edit sober? I've often thought about doing some writing, but I've never been able to think of anything compelling to write about.Silent Majority wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 5:13pmI'm the opposite. I write short stories, think they're at standard and go back to them and learn they needed about five more drafts.
Here's my most recent work, which needs to be expanded, but I think it's got a point which you'd dig, Kory.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/47628810
Re: B.A.D. Observations Thread
Hello,
I'm jumping in late to the conversation but when I look at my creative output (lectures, powerpoints, etc.), it helps to realize everything is a work in progress. No lecture I deliver is ever the same - just as no song you play is ever the same twice. I continually tweak lectures, etc. (just as I proofread this post and amended it).
I'm jumping in late to the conversation but when I look at my creative output (lectures, powerpoints, etc.), it helps to realize everything is a work in progress. No lecture I deliver is ever the same - just as no song you play is ever the same twice. I continually tweak lectures, etc. (just as I proofread this post and amended it).
Re: B.A.D. Observations Thread
Cool, I'll check this out!Silent Majority wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 10:35pmHonestly, I barely drink at all these days. And enjoyable drugs don't help me write. Maybe speed would, but who wants to come down from that?Kory wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 5:18pmDo you write drunk and edit sober? I've often thought about doing some writing, but I've never been able to think of anything compelling to write about.Silent Majority wrote: ↑18 Mar 2021, 5:13pmI'm the opposite. I write short stories, think they're at standard and go back to them and learn they needed about five more drafts.
Here's my most recent work, which needs to be expanded, but I think it's got a point which you'd dig, Kory.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/47628810
"Suck our Earth dick, Martians!" —Doc
Re: B.A.D. Observations Thread
"Hey, the 90s just called. Mick Jones wants his style back."
Who pfaffed the pfaff? Who got pfaffed tonight?
-
Silent Majority
- Singer-Songwriter Nancy
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- Location: South Londoner in the Midlands.
Re: B.A.D. Observations Thread
Sure, I'll walk around like Mick Jones in the 90s.
Re: B.A.D. Observations Thread
Hell yeah, Stussy all day.
"Suck our Earth dick, Martians!" —Doc
Re: B.A.D. Observations Thread
More a Screaming Target observation than a BAD one, but here's a picture of King Tubby. I don't think I'd ever seen one before because I assumed he was rather a robust fellow
That's his homemade custom KT88 amp behind him. I dread to think of the tinnitus his fans must have.
That's his homemade custom KT88 amp behind him. I dread to think of the tinnitus his fans must have.
Putting a little stick about. Putting the frighteners on flash little twerps
-
Silent Majority
- Singer-Songwriter Nancy
- Posts: 18757
- Joined: 10 Nov 2008, 8:28pm
- Location: South Londoner in the Midlands.
Re: B.A.D. Observations Thread
What a cool photo.
- Marky Dread
- Messiah of the Milk Bar
- Posts: 59051
- Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 11:26am
Re: B.A.D. Observations Thread
Rather than referring to his waistline (which was definitely slim), the nickname ‘Tubby’ stems from his mother’s surname, Tubman.oliver wrote: ↑03 Apr 2021, 7:48pmMore a Screaming Target observation than a BAD one, but here's a picture of King Tubby. I don't think I'd ever seen one before because I assumed he was rather a robust fellow
That's his homemade custom KT88 amp behind him. I dread to think of the tinnitus his fans must have.
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
"Without the common people you're nothing"
Nos Sumus Una Familia
Re: B.A.D. Observations Thread
I do indeed have terrible tinnitus.oliver wrote: ↑03 Apr 2021, 7:48pmMore a Screaming Target observation than a BAD one, but here's a picture of King Tubby. I don't think I'd ever seen one before because I assumed he was rather a robust fellow
That's his homemade custom KT88 amp behind him. I dread to think of the tinnitus his fans must have.
"Suck our Earth dick, Martians!" —Doc