Revelations from the last few weeks

There’s a book coming out about writing a book about Bill Watterson. It doesn’t look like it’s so much going to be a book about Bill Watterson because you can’t really write about someone who hides all the source material about himself. But you can write a book about trying, and that seems almost good enough. The artist who created Calvin and Hobbes is famously reclusive and has not really permitted interviews nor released new work since he left comics in 1995. I’ve heard rumors that he’s been painting landscapes with his dad, but who knows.

Philadelphia has an organization that helps playwrights finish plays. As the last part of their process, they stage plays in progress for the public to come see for free. I saw four of them this year, and really enjoyed them all. My favorite was probably Blood and Gifts by J.T. Rogers, about various secret agents working in Afghanistan.

Here’s what I learned from watching these plays and their readings: a play is mostly about the writing. PlayPenn has good actors and there was a modest amount of staging, but, mostly, it was just the essential play. Almost no set or blocking or much action, even if the script called for it. Just the words, and I can’t imagine I would have found them a lot more compelling with more.

Lastly, it’s not a good idea to tell other people about your goals. I think this is especially important for the artistically inclined. You know how people talk about writers who talk about writing and writers that actually write? Right. Well, economists have apparently had an explanation for this for years. They argue (and data backs it up), that for many people, telling others that you have a certain goal scratches that identity itch enough that you don’t have such a strong need to do the work.

So, for example, if you’re at a cocktail party and you tell someone a great idea for a painting that you want to do, you won’t feel nearly so compelled to actually paint. They’ll tell you it’s a great idea and sounds “awesome” and, voila! You feel like a painter!So why paint?This is one of the most stunning ideas I’ve come across. Incidentally, I have a feeling that it applies to things like fitness, learning languages, career goals and whatever else might require a little extra sweat from you, too. So keep it in mind.

I am, that’s why my goal is… whoops! That would be telling. Till next time…