Zen Pencils by Gavin Aung Than for January 24, 2014
January 20, 2014
January 27, 2014
Transcript:
Nobody tells people who are beginners... is that all of of us who do creative work... we get into it... because we have good taste. But there's a gap. For the first couple of years what you're making isn't so good. It's trying to be good, it has ambition to be good. But it's not quite that good. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game... is still killer. And your taste is good enough that you can tell what you're making is kind of a disappointment to you. A lot of people never get past that phase. A lot of people at that point...they quit. Everybody who does interesting, creative work, went through a phase of years where they had really good taste but they could tell what they were making isn't as good as they wanted it to be. They knew it fell short. It didn't have this special thing that we wanted it to have. Everybody goes through that. It's totally normal. And the most important possible thing you can do is a lot of work. Do a huge volume of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week or every month you know you're going to finish one story. Because it's only by actually going through a volume of work, that you're going to catch up and close that gap. And the work you're making will be as good as your ambitions. It's going to take you awhile. It's normal to take a while. You just have to fight your way through. -Ira Glass
jemgirl81 about 10 years ago
Thank you for sharing your inspiring story!
Lyons Group, Inc. about 10 years ago
This also can be said for another cartoonist….Aaron Neathery ( Ed Deadeye, Endtown)
shamest Premium Member about 10 years ago
Thanks I am still in that phase so I won’t give up
j2p2 about 10 years ago
That is an absolutely fantastic piece! And so very apropos to my life at the moment. There are those who do and those who plan to do but never quite get there…For the last few years, I’ve been squarely in the latter camp. THIS is the perfect time to change that.
emptc12 about 10 years ago
I am often bemused when young children hear me play the piano. If they’re old enough, I let them touch the keys. They seem to expect music such as I just made to instantly come forth. They are so puzzled when it doesn’t, and usually that’s as far as they ever get. Blessed be the teacher who leads them to the path of their own music-making, as did my own teacher.
716PMedGuy about 10 years ago
well said
Chrystos B Minot Premium Member about 10 years ago
Bravo! … I hike / walk and take many photos almost every day. (And process them in Potoshop every night.) Since I got my most recent camera a month ago, I’ve taken over 1000 photos. It’s my exquisite torture (mostly fun), my mentor of quietude, colors, & life. So I can reate to your wonderful strip this week. Kudos to you, Gavin. [ps, nice variety of females :-) ]
Vet Premium Member about 10 years ago
As you put we all have our talents.Its keeping to it that is the struggle.One well worth it when you get there.Today a milestone. 33 years as a police officer and still going and learning.
dankelly57 about 10 years ago
Thank you. I’ve learned this through a lifetime of work. Wish I knew this much earlier.Good advice for young people.
GopherBaroque about 10 years ago
Is Amy Tan sitting under the phrase, “It’s totally normal”?
Thriller87 about 10 years ago
Very nice.
ccballard about 10 years ago
Exactly what I needed to see today. Thank-you.
popomatic about 10 years ago
Thanks for this one. I am at that stage as well of struggling but knowing it’s in there somewhere. You have to dig throw a lot of dirt and mud before you hit treasure.
kaffekup about 10 years ago
Reminds me of the philosophy that it takes 10,000 hours at something to become an expert. Which is not to say that 10,000 hours makes you an expert by itself. Or that one hour repeated 10,000 times will, either.
Omniman over 7 years ago
This applies to any skill that has to be developed with practice. I wish someone had taught me about plateaus when I was a child.