“There is always something of the writer in the work but I don't think Melville had to be swallowed by a whale to write a great novel. If I had lived the lives of all the characters of the songs I've written, that would truly be an extraordinary story.” IfsThinkingWritingCharacterStoriesSongNovelWrittenExtraordinaryWhalesGreat NovelsMelville Author:Michael Stipe
“I am always amazed by the novel angles that people come up with for kids' Christmas books. Even if a family is not religious, who could resist, say, "Olive, the Other Reindeer," about Olive the dog who thinks the song refers to her and heads for the North Pole to help Santa out?” PeopleIfsThinkingBookHelpingKidsSongReligiousNovelDogCome UpAmazedAngleSantaOlivesNorth PoleReindeer Author:Jabari Asim
“So, in some ways, the political songs tend to be a bit more like reportage, whereas the love songs tend to be like novels, you can pick them up off the shelf and go into them any time.” WayPoliticalSongBitsNovelPicksShelves Author:Billy Bragg
“Gail Anderson-Dargatz has a noticing eye, a voice as unique as the countryside she writes about, and a heart large enough to love her entire cast of distinct and memorable characters. In The Cure for Death by Lightning she fashions an irresistible song out of the joys and dangers of growing up, the mysteries and wonders of life on a farm, the thrilling terror of trying to outrun the awful unseen force that pursues a growing girl. This novel opens a door to a shining, surprising world.” WorldWritingTryingHeartEnoughCharacterEyeJoySongGirlForceVoiceWonderNovelGrowing UpGrowingDoorsMysteryFashionDangerUniqueShiningCastsTerrorPursueCuresAwfulMemorableFarmsSurprisingLightningUnseenThrillingIrresistibleNoticingCountrysideOutrunWonder Of LifeUnseen ForcesMemorable CharactersGail Author:Jack Hodgins
“Whether it's a letter, song lyrics, part of a novel, or instructions on how to fix a kitchen sink, it's writing. You keep your craft honed, you acquire the discipline to finish things. You turn into a self-taskmaster.” WritingSelfSongTurnsNovelDisciplineLettersCraftsKitchenAcquireInstructionKitchen Sinks Author:Jimmy Buffett
“People didn't know certain things about me, which... I was out of creative writing class in school, Syracuse University; had a B.A. in English and wanted to write the great American novel but I also loved rock and roll. I was in bar bands all through college, playing fraternities and have to know all the songs in the top 10. That kind of thing.” PeopleKnowsWritingKindWantedSchoolCertainSongClassNovelCreativeRocksCollegeBandUniversityBarsRock And RollCreative WritingGreat AmericanFraternityTop 10SyracuseClasses In School Author:Lou Reed
“In a novel, the biggest symbiosis exists between plot and character. In a song, it would be the lyrics and the melody.” CharacterWould BeSongNovelPlotMelodySymbiosis Author:Jesse Michaels
“With a song, it only takes a couple of minutes to go back to the beginning and try it again to see if it works. The novel freaks me out because, what if you get into the eighth chapter and think, 'Let's go to the top and see if this works again? It's going to take me three weeks.' I'm in awe of that.” IfsThinkingWritingTryingSongThreeNovelWeekMinutesCoupleAweWhat IfSongwritingTake MeFreakChapters Author:Ben Folds
“One thing I've found that I can do that I really enjoy is rereading my own writing, earlier stories and novels especially. It induces mental time travel, the same way certain songs you hear on the radio do ... the whole thing returns, an eerie feeling that I'm sure you've experienced.” WayWritingI CanWholeStoriesFeelingsCertainSongFoundEnjoyCan DoMy OwnNovelOne ThingReturnRadioTime TravelEerieRereading Author:Philip K. Dick
“Learning is available at the library for free; under a tree with a dog-eared paperback; at a job with a boss who gives you responsibility and mentorship; while traveling; while leading a cause, movement, or charity; while writing a novel or composing a poem or crafting a song; while interning, apprenticing, or volunteering; while playing a sport or immersing yourself in a language; while starting a business; and now, while watching a TED talk or taking a Khan Academy class.” GivingWritingJobsSongLanguageCausesSportsResponsibilityClassNovelTreeDogMovementCharityLibraryStartingAvailableBossVolunteerAcademyComposingStarting A BusinessTed TalksImmersing Yourself Author:Michael Ellsberg
“If you want meaning, you read poetry or a novel or something, you don't read song lyrics. You're supposed to listen to them with music.” IfsWantSongNovelWant MeYou Want MeIf You Want Me Author:Roddy Woomble