|
Author: Sophfronia Scott Article source: http://www.articlecity.com/. Used with author's permission.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the release of Bruce Springsteen's groundbreaking album Born to Run. Columbia Records is celebrating by re-releasing the disc with lots of audio and video goodies including interview material of Bruce discussing the writing of this seminal work. I'm a fan, so you can imagine I've been gobbling up this stuff like Thanksgiving came early!
What's hitting home for me is hearing about how Springsteen's back was really up against the wall while he was creating this album. His record label was considering dropping him so he knew he had to make something happen. When people ask me "how do I know if my work is good enough?", I think of Springsteen because surely he wasn't asking that when he was trying to figure out what to write. The answer could have been "it's not" if he had asked someone at his record company. He had to work and learn for himself how to tell if his work was good enough. This is what I learned from how he did it.
1.) Learn From the Great Ones
In the summer of 1974 Springsteen could have been lamenting the fact that his first two albums had not been successful and he was living in a tiny house in New Jersey while the country was in the throes of a severe economic depression. But he wasn't. He was focused on his songwriting. "I had a record player by the side of my bed," he wrote in his book, Songs. "At night I'd lie back and listen to records by Roy Orbison, the Ronettes, the Beach Boys, and the other great '60s artists. These were records whose full depth I'd missed the first time around. But now I was appreciating their craft and power." Notice he wasn't saying "There's no way I can create songs like that!" Instead he was considering "what can I add to the conversation?" He was getting inspired and educated at the same time.
2.) Aspire to Be Great Yourself
In an interview about Born to Run, Springsteen says he knew his record company was about to drop him. He added, "I knew I had to write something great." Springsteen didn't have to write something great. He could have folded up his tent and said, "they don't like me, I'm just gonna stay in Asbury Park and play where people appreciate me and that's it." But he didn't do that. He also didn't ask whether he was good enough. He simply challenged himself to go beyond himself--to be great. Ask yourself: what are you writing right now and is it challenging you to be great? What would it take for you to start thinking this way?
3.) Find Trusted Ears for Feedback
Yes, it is hard to know on your own whether you're on track with your writing. That's when you recruit your own inner circle of readers whose ears and eyes you trust. Jon Landau became one of those trusted pairs of ears for Springsteen. They became friends during the writing of Born to Run and Bruce often sent Jon, then a Boston music critic, tapes of the work as it progressed. When the work stalled, Landau was the one who came in and helped Bruce put it all together. Who can be those ears or eyes for you? Try to keep the inner circle small. If you have too many opinions showered on your work it may cloud your creative judgment.
4.) Try Something Different
Most of the songs on Born to Run were written on piano--this from a guy known for his raucous Fender guitar. But writing on piano gave Springsteen new ideas and presented new opportunities for him to explore. It also gave the album an amazingly emotional and intimate vibe that I find intoxicating. What can you do differently that can inspire a leap to your next level? Set your novel in 1905 instead of 2005? Write from the point of view of the opposite sex? Be a little creative with your non-fiction? Take a chance. No effort is ever wasted even if you're writing badly--you can still learn from what you've done wrong.
5.) Think Local, Write Global
One of the changes Springsteen made with Born to Run was that the characters in his songs were "less eccentric and less local" than the ones on his previous albums. The people in Born to Run "could have been anybody and everybody," he says. "When the screen door slams on 'Thunder Road', you're not necessarily on the Jersey Shore anymore. You could be anywhere in America." And it's true. Millions of people connected with--and bought-- Born to Run. I sought the same kind of connection for my novel. Though the family in All I Need to Get By is African-American, I've had readers of all races tell me how they have seen themselves in one or more of the characters and how they related strongly to the book's family issues. Touching people in this way is key to developing an attentive audience. How can you open up your work to a larger audience while still being true to your story?
If you still have doubts, think of this quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires...courage." Be courageous for yourself and your writing. Your own Born to Run may be waiting to come out.
© 2005 Sophfronia Scott
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can! If possible, please include this information with the story: Author and Writing Coach Sophfronia Scott is "The Book Sistah" TM. Get her FREE REPORT, "The 5 Big Mistakes Most Writers Make When Trying to Get Published" and her FREE online writing and publishing tips at www.TheBookSistah.com Sophfronia Scott, "The Book Sistah," is author of the bestselling novel, All I Need to Get By.
If you liked today's issue, stay tuned for more because The Book Sistah also offers FREE audio classes, FREE articles, workshops, and other resources to help aspiring authors get published and market their books successfully.
The Book Sistah, 230 South Main St. Ste. 319, Newtown, CT 06470
203-426-2036, Info@TheBookSistah.com
Lesson #4: Six Powerful Places to Advertise Your Autoresponder!
Seven-lesson email course that will power up your email marketing and profits...
Free Money Saving Auto Insurance Tips
Interested in saving money on your auto insurance policy? Our free money saving auto insurance tips can help you get the insurance you want at a price you can ...
Marketing Brain Trust
Use the mastermind principle which says more brainpower brought to bear on an issue means more ideas and greater insight. Gather together a mixed bag of thought...
Dating On The Internet Is Growing! See How Online Dating Can Help You Find Available Singles Today
Dating on the Internet is growing rapidly year after year, because it has become very difficult for most people to meet quality singles in their local communiti...
Alcohol & Events
Alcohol is an important ingredient for many events. People associate having a drink with relaxing and having a good time. However, it can also be the cause of a...
The Benefits of Goose Down Comforters
Goose down is incredibly insulating, while still lightweight and breathable. That is why bedding made from goose down is such a popular choice.
Dr. Will Horsley, M.D.
After over 10,000 LASIK procedures and thousands of other refractive procedures, Dr. Will Horsley Medical Director of the Lasik Vision Institute in Burlington i...
Building eCommerce Websites that Work - Part 2
The second of a series of articles on the basic factors that contribute to a successful eCommerce website...
A Diet Made For You Will Make All The Difference
To achieve your goals you need a diet that takes into account who you are and what you want. People diet for lots of reasons, and with lots of aims in mind. No ...
The Most Under-Rated Aspect of Weightloss
When you learn about the wonderful power of water...you can use these simple tips to turbo charge your weight loss program.
Is Email Marketing Still An Effective Option For Network Marketing?
Too many people claim that email marketing is dead. They want to bury it alive. The truth is email marketing is still a viable option for building your networ...
Personal Branding: Characteristics of a Strong Personal Brand
Learn ways to develop your own persoanl brand to maximise your networking efforts. Be confident and tactful when "self-selling" and avoid awkward networking mom...
Start Your Own Photography Business from Home
Anyone with the right camera equipment, and the necessary skills can set up a home business, marketing photography. You need only to convert a room of your hous...
Credit Repair: How To Deal With Your Creditors
If you're having financial problems and your creditors are threatening drastic action, there are things you can do to turn things around and make them at least ...
OCD Victim Why We Do What We Do
Once an OCD victim always a OCD victim. If you let it
Payday Loans, A Viable Option?
Payday loans, often referred to as cash advance loans, are amounts lent by specialized lenders to borrowers until the next pay day. This article will help you u...
Important Features to Consider When Buying a Baby Crib
This article reviews a lot of the "bells and whistles" on baby cribs. It will give you an idea of the different options that you have and will review the pros a...
Small Business Website Design - How to Get Professional Results on a Shoestring Budget
Designing Your Website to Get the Most Bang for Your Buck
COMING SOON……Online Attractions
In my attempts to find the love of my life, I knew that they were not going to be found in the town where I lived, so I took to the Internet. My first experien...
Boston Brand Building - Brand Identity Guru
MAKE BIG PLANS. Aim high in hope and work." So wrote Daniel H. Burnham in the last century. The big plans are important. They capture your vision.
12 Reasons to Market With Postcards
You are overlooking a highly effective and very low-cost sales tool if your marketing activity does not include postcards. Here are 12 of the many reasons why y...
Content Is King
Search engine spiders are assigning more and more weight to good relevant page content. Page content is considered by many as a major part of any good search e...
T.L.S. Part II: Maximizing Tier Level Selling Through Incentives
Incorporating a Tier Level Selling program without reviewing the way sales representatives are paid may lead to improved results, but these results will likely ...
An Introduction to Alternative Energy
An Introduction to Alternative Energy.
|
Print this page