Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Gary Giddins

Quote by Gary Giddins

“You're writing for some version of yourself. You're writing the kinds of things that you like to read or wanted to read at a certain point. So, primarily for most of my career, I've written the kind of criticism that fascinates me. The things I discovered the things that get me going, that I'm excited about.”

Quote by Gary Giddins

Create image

Author

Gary Giddins
Gary Giddins

Gary Giddins, born on March 21, 1948, is an accomplished American music critic and writer. His work spans across various genres including jazz, pop, and classical music, known for his profound insights and unique style. more

You May Also Like

“Writing style is something is a consequence of who you are. I think that I had a certain propensity for a style that I recognize in my early work, but that doesn't mean I didn't have to learn certain basics and the longer you write the better you get. The rhythms come from you. If the rhythm seem to echo the music, then that's delightful if people see that, but it's certainly not something that's intentional on my part. I'm trying to be as clear and precise as I can be and at the same time, I'm trying to be eloquent and witty and entertaining. I mean, writing should be a pleasure.”

PeopleThinkingWritingTryingMeanPleasureStyleConsequenceWho You AreWittyRhythmEloquentWriting Style
Author:Gary Giddins
Create image

“One of the things I always underscore when I teach criticism is that young critics, or would be critics, frequently have this illusion that if they write about music they're somehow part of music, or if they write about movies they're part of movies, or of they write about theater they're part of theater, or write about literature. Writing is a part of literature, we belong the species of literature. If you add all the music reviews together that have ever been written, they don't create two notes of music.”

WritingTogetherLiteratureTeachIllusionCriticismCritics
Author:Gary Giddins
Create image

“I'm a critic. That means you are a writer. So, yes, you have to make yourself an authority on whatever subject it's going to be. Music, movies, literature, whatever it's going to be, but what you really want to do is learn your trade by reading other writers. I think you have to read veraciously, especially people who have done what you have done to see how it's been done in the past; what works, what doesn't work.”

PeopleThinkingMeanDonePastReadingLiteratureAuthorityTradeCritics
Author:Gary Giddins
Create image