Gary Corby, author of two mysteries set in ancient Greece, posted a video last week of a 2009 TED talk about the nature of creativity. The speaker is Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love.
Gary calls it “the best talk on writing ever.” I can’t verify that, not having heard all the talks on writing that have ever been given, but it’s One. Fine. Talk. I’m jumping on the bandwagon because it’s worth calling it to the attention of folks who missed it the first time it made the rounds online. It might be just what you need to get going on whatever’s sitting on your desk scaring you to death.
The video is about 20 minutes long; my attempt to embed it in this post follows.
In case the video doesn’t work, here’s a link to it on Gary’s blog. Actually, you oughta visit his blog anyway. Then check out the rest of his posts. His two books, The Pericles Commission and The Ionia Sanction just might do for you what Survey of World Lit and various translations of Homer, Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles failed to do: turn the ancient Greeks into real people.Not to mention giving a house elf’s face to one’s muse.
© 2012 Anne Bingham and Making It Up as I Go
Anne Bingham: Making it up as I go 
Fantastic post and clip. Thank you. It strikes me that I have never seen a writer who was as comfortable in this sort of motivational/inspirational live presentation. ‘Olé!’ all around.
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Plus I learned how to insert a video clip! Pitifully easy. Thanks for stopping by, Mirka, especially as I seem to be unable to reciprocate due to some apparently unsolvable incompatibility between my browser and the updated blogspot (as you’ve probably read by now in the “twitchy” post on the Blueboards).
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Thanks for the kind words, Anne!
Mirka, yes, I can explain that. I’ve done bucket loads of talks, and every time I walk on, I remind myself that with public speaking, the first draft is what gets released.
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I love first drafts, but public speaking? 😦
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Good one! Of course, I plan to apply the seat of my pants to my chair after I’ve dithered with some shorts … not brilliant, but a necessary procrastination.
Vijaya (from the BB)
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May the house elf in your walls be with you!
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Ohhh, yes, this talk this one of my favorites ever! I often think about that poor rock star, driving his truck, searching like mad for a pen. Ole, indeed!
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I might have seen this the first time around myself, but for some reason it really struck home this time around.
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Thanks, Anne, for this post. And for the record, I have driven my car while desperately looking for a pencil. Have to try the Ruth Stone approach of holding onto the tail of the poem. Love it!
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I always have the pencil and paper handy right below the mileage log, but inspiration seldom comes on the road. For that I’m grateful!
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I loved this! Thanks so much for sharing.
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